St Bernard’s School flew the flag for Furness as three of their teams took part in the English Schools Table Tennis Association national team finals.

The three sides were among 32 competing for glory in Hinckley, with the best four in each age group from around the country taking part.

Only one school was represented by more teams, the renowned Peniel Academy, who had four, so St Bernard’s had achieved a great feat before play even began.

For three of the girls in the under-16s team, it was their fourth appearance at the finals, and for the other player her third visit, in probably their last match as a team.

They began against holders Morpeth School, Tower Hamlets.

Anna Donohue played well to defeat their number two Yasmin Majeeda, and also took a game against number one Sally Hoang.

It was a similar story against Peniel, who were to take the title this year.

Donohue defeated their number two and was narrowly beaten by number one Evangelica Collier in a five-game battle of push and quick counterattack.

Shannon Trainor, playing at number two, also went to five games, but could not quite contain the hitting power of Estelle Purkis.

St Bernard’s had to battle it out for third place against old rivals Bramhall High School, from Stockport, a team they lost to in the North West finals.

Again Donohue showed great form, defeating Olivia Brookes. However, St Bernard’s fell behind after sisters Natalie and Nicolle Dodd gained wins against Trainor and Adele Bassett.

Emily Edwards used her improved backhand to take a 3-1 win against Jenny Szakal and tie the match.

The two number ones produced some fast, attacking table tennis, Donohue beaten in the decider by Natalie Dodd.

Having already lost against the opposing number four, it seemed a hard task for Bassett to gain a result against Olivia Brookes, the number two.

It looked even more unlikely when she lost the opening game 11-4, but the Furness player battled back for victory.

Trainor’s straight-games win against Szakal put St Bernard’s 4-3 ahead before Edwards played the younger of the Dodd sisters, Nicole.

Bramhall could only deny St Bernard’s third with a straight games victory and it looked likely as the first two games went against Edwards 11-7, 12-10.

However, the resilient Barrow girl took the next 11-5, and although she lost the match, this was enough to claim third place in England.

For the under-13s boys, this was a step beyond their previous experience at area or regional finals at primary schools level.

Things started well when James Coward took the opening game against Joseph Langham-Ferreira, the number two from Ernest Bevin College, Tooting Bec.

However, the next 19 games all went the way of the team from Surrey, who were to finish the day as champions. Brendan Trainor took the Barrow school’s only other game.

When St Bernard’s came to play their next match they seemed more composed and less in awe of their opponents, Harefield Academy, Uxbridge.

Ross Ahern, the youngest member of the team, chalked up the first win when he beat Mitchell Jones in a nail-biting finish, 13-11 in the decider.

Anton Vacca looked to have let his chance slip when his opponent came from 2-0 down to level at 2-2, but he held his nerve and took the fifth game 11-8.

Coward was unfortunate not to give St Bernard’s the lead when he played his opposing number one, Baiden Thoroughgood. He lost the first 12-10, but won the next two games. It was only in the decider that he was pipped to victory before Harefield wrapped up a 6-2 win.

The last match was a battle of the northern champions against Crossleyheath School, Halifax.
Marcus Reynolds gave the Halifax school the lead when he beat Trainor, but St Bernard’s hit a purple patch, with Coward, Ahern and Vacca all winning to take a 3-1 lead.

Crossleyheath then won three in a row to go 4-3 ahead, but third place was St Bernard’s’ if Ahern could win the last match.

He did so with some very consistent attacking play, returning a score of 11-6, 11-3 11-7.

The under-13s girls featured the same line-up that had finished third last year and they were hopeful of a repeat.

They began against the team who had beaten them in the race for second last year, Blackminster Middle School, from Evesham.

Emily Cotton was beaten by Shannon Johns and Robyn Holden went 2-1 down against Gemma McKay before changing her tactics to come home 11-9 in the decider.

There followed another extremely close match between Katie Linton and Chloe Johns, with Linton winning the decider 11-7.

Louise Keneally and Cotton both won to put the Barrow school 4-1 up, but Blackminster then closed to 4-3 with two victories.

The match would be decided by the final rubber between Linton and Laura Dyson, with St Bernard’s needing to win this as they were behind on games count back.

With good all round play and a consistent forehand topspin shot, Linton won easily in three games.

With confidence high, St Bernard’s returned to the table to play Horsforth School, Leeds.

Cotton showed her best form with sharp attacking forehands and won the opener comfortably, while Holden was even more comfortable, winning 11-1, 11-1, 11-6.

It was not until Keneally played Chardae Chaggar-Brown that the Yorkshire team won games, but Keneally managed to win the decider.

Holden was faced with a five-game battle against Abigail Harrison, the Horsforth number one, which she eventually won.

Further wins from Cotton, Keneally and Linton earned St Bernard’s an emphatic
8-0 win.

In the final they met holders and favourites Peniel. There were strong performances from the St Bernard’s girls, with Holden on the point of beating Kristelle Brook before a despairing forehand clipped the net cord and just dropped over to deny her match point.

Linton was also narrowly denied at 11-9 in the decider against Holly van Haver.

Despite losing the match, the team finished second in England.