The UHC Cougars triumphed at the LJRC intra-communal five-a-side football tournament where £3,000 was raised for charity. John Fisher reports.
The sixth LJRC intra-communal five-a-side football tournament proved to be a triumph for victorious UHC Cougars.
The event, staged at the GSAL sports hall, began with a moving tribute to its main sponsor, the late Leslie Silver OBE, in recognition of his support for the event and his work within the community. As well as the main trophy, the winners took home the Leslie Silver Diamond award.
The event, organised by Daniel Kaufman and David Bransby, saw all four main Leeds synagogues, comprising of both senior and junior teams, competing in the friendly yet competitive tournament watched by over 100 spectators.
In the group games the BHH Hawks, the defending champions, and the UHC Cougars, junior and senior teams, were too strong for the Etz Chaim Eagles and Sinai Sharks with both cruising into the final losing only one game each.
Some great football was played by the juniors with standout performances from Kit Wade of UHC who won the junior player of the tournament and Joshua Jacobs of BHH who scooped the Reynolds family junior fair play award.
The Big Change senior fair play award went to BHH’s Marcus Shaffner while the senior player of the tournament was awarded to UHC’s Mark Korn.
The final was a repeat of last year’s event with the junior team putting UHC into a 6-1 lead at half-time.
Although some spirited fight back was on display from the Hawks adults, it was too much of a lead and the Cougars triumphed.
Trophy presentations were made by Duncan Wood, presenter of ITV Calendar News. Openers were Sarah and Ian Doerfler and the charities benefiting from the £3,000 raised were LJWB’s Neshama and the West Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Finalist and winners medals were sponsored by Michael Lewin Solicitors.