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Three appears to be the unlucky number for Lauren Smith aftershe fell to her third consecutive AJ Bell National Badminton LeagueChampionship Final defeat on Wednesday night.

Smith'sTeam Derby side were beaten 3-1 by University of Nottingham Badminton atcentre:mk in Milton Keynes, with the 25-year-old having already picked upsilver medals in two previous Finals with former side Loughborough Lightning.

TeamDerby had entered the final top of the AJ Bell NBL league table, having lostjust a solitary fixture during the regular season.

Butthey couldn't finish the campaign on a high, and despite recording Team Derby'sonly victory of the night in the women's doubles alongside Kate Robertshaw,Smith admitted bitter disappointment as her side fell at the final hurdle.

“Westarted so well but then to lose that momentum means it's tough to take,” saidSmith, who represented Team GB at the Rio Olympic Games.

“Theteam put in a really strong performance and I think we should be proud of how wehave done all season.

“Nottinghamare such a strong team, they've got real depth, so we were up against it, wedid all we could, but unfortunately it wasn't enough.

“Wewere really happy with our performance in the doubles, we played a really solidmatch despite a little dip at the start of the second game.

“Butwe came back and really showed our fighting spirit, so we were really glad toget the win, and we hoped the momentum could carry on for the rest of the team.

“Wewaited until our very last doubles match of the season to record our first 3-0win, so that's a nice way to finish.”

Smithand Robertshaw had breezed through their women's doubles tie with Jess Pugh andLi Lian Yang, prevailing in straight sets for the first time this term to giveTeam Derby the initial advantage.

Buta battling performance from University of Nottingham's Keiran Merrilees quicklyrestored parity, as he triumphed over three-time Olympian Scott Evans despite acomeback effort from the Irish player.

Victoryfor Adcock and Olympic silver medallist Nina Vislova swung the tie inUniversity of Nottingham's favour, as they came from a game down to defeatMarcus Ellis and Smith 3-1.

Andin an all-Malaysian clash across the net, Yang clinched the title for her side,defeating Lyddia Cheah Yi Yu in straight sets as her teammates stormed thecourt in celebration.

Butwhile the season didn't end the way Smith had hoped, she insisted she couldn'tbe more thrilled to see the AJ Bell NBL continuing to grow.

“Itwould have been fantastic to get our hands on the trophy tonight, that's why weplay in the NBL,” she said.

“Weare all really competitive people, we don't just do this for a little knockaround.

“Ithink the league has been so even this year, every team has been so good andthere have been loads of 3-2 results.

“Thestandard throughout has probably been the highest it has ever been and I thinkthat is a really positive thing for badminton.”