Press Correspondent:   Peter Thompson      
ETTA Senior Coach
Tel or Fax 0113 2047082                             

Derby Ends Winning Run

Pudsey’s table tennis A team’s winning run of over 40 matches in two years in division one was ended this week in their derby clash with the B team. The B team made a fine start as Chris Parker took the opening set against Joanna Roberts 13-11 in the fourth. Sets swung end to end to 2-2 before the A team took the vital doubles to establish a 3-2 Lead. Nicola Smith grabbed a vital fifth end 11-9 victory over Lee Orange which left the match score at 4-4. Joanna then beat James in four sets to give the A team a 5-4 lead. With Simon Pugh, last year's top first division player to play the last match against Chris, the A team were strong favourites to win. Chris lost the first game 11-4 but bounced back to win the second, Simon took the third 12-10 but Chris was up to the challenge and took the fourth. Chris came home 12-10 in the fifth to give the B team a hard earned draw to end the A team's winning run.

In another local derby in division two the D team had a hard fought 7-3 win against the E team, Rudi Itoe leading the team to victory with his three wins. Fourteen year old Nicole Finn in her first season in division two can be pleased with her performance winning two and combining with John Ainley to win the doubles.

Pudsey’s top cadet Ellen Auty was part of the successful Yorkshire Junior second team at the weekend which played at Halifax. The team won all four matches and Ellen’s contribution was vital to the team’s success as she won seven out of eight of her individual matches, including the decider under pressure against a strong Shropshire team.

Posted 18 October 2010 08:55 BST