Table Tennis: Lomas leads England forward

ENGLAND'S women, whose runners-up position in the European Super League earlier in the year was a competition-best, started their campaign to go one better with a 4-1 victory over Poland at Ashford in Middlesex last night.

The outstanding player was Lisa Lomas, the former European silver medallist, who produced mixtures of defence, attack and counter-attack to gain three victories. Lomas put England 2-0 up by overcoming the former Polish champion Agnieszka Gierage 21-11, helped Andrea Holt win the doubles then prevailed 21-9 21-9 against the Polish champion Anna Januszyk.

The only disappointment was the defeat of the former national champion, Alison Gordon, in her 50th European League match, beaten by the 18-year-old Polish No 1, Joanna Narkiewicz.

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE (Ashford, Middx) Super Division: England bt Poland 4- 1 (Eng names first): A Holt bt A Januszyk

21-19 21-14; L Lomas bt A Gieraga 21-11 21-14; A Gordon lost to J Narkiewicz 21-14 9-21 19-21; Holt and Lomas bt Januszyk and Narkiewicz 21-14 21-14; Lomas bt Januszyk 21-9 21-9.