Press Correspondent:   Peter Thompson      
ETTA Senior Coach
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Leeds lose out in Finals

 Pudsey table tennis club three ladies Joanna Roberts, Sarah Noutch and Sandra Rider were representing the Leeds League at the weekend in Draycott. They were competing in the National Ladies cup the JM Rose bowl. In their opening match against Hastings they came through a tight match to win 3-2. They had a comfortable 5-0 victory over Aldershot to set up a match with Derby who had won both their opening matches. Joanna took the opening match against Helen Rainford in three straight games. Sandra took the opening two legs against the much higher ranked Jane Vickers. Vickers pulled the third leg back but Sandra was not to be denied winning a tight fourth end. Joanna and Sarah combined to win the doubles to establish a 3-0 lead as Leeds then ran out 5-0 winners. Leeds faced Leicester in the Final and Joanna give Leeds a 1-0 lead but Leicester soon levelled and in the crucial double match with the score a 1-1 Leeds led 7-1 on the third leg but Leicester came back to snatch the leg and the doubles. This was the turning point of the match and Joanna lost a hard fought match in the fifth end to former England International Karen Smith to leave Leeds as runner up.
Pudsey top cadet girls Nicole Finn and Ellen Auty had a busy weekend competing in Doncaster and Grantham. Ellen Auty winning the U13 girls title at the Grantham one star in a tense final 3-2 over Greta Pocaite. Nicole reached the quarter Finals of the U13 England schools individual losing to the winner. Both girls then represented the Yorkshire regional squad which finished fifth.
 Simon Noutch failed to add the restricted title to the one he won at Blackpool recently losing in the final at Doncaster Grand Prix to the much higher ranked Michael Marsden.