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Sunraysia Table Tennis Winter Pennant round 3: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Shannon Bowen 3, Andrew Cannard 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Mark Dorman 2, Darren Robinson, Lee Thomas 1
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Bernadette Fitzpatrick, Michael Hogarth 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Gavin Carmichael, Shane Carmichael 2)
– Fishers IGA 5 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Tung 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Matt Ljubic, Mark Ljubic 2)
PENNANT TWO:
– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Peter Midgley 3, Terry Martin, Glen Bell 1) d Spanline 5 (Geoff Wright 2, Andrew Jones, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
– Tankard Dental 6 (Ross Humphreys 3, Josh Carmichael 2, Matt Avers 1) d Fishers IGA 5 (Leon Brown 2, Seval Fuat 1)
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Ashley Morrison 3, Cole Keegan 2, Aidan Moore 1) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Sony Sefer, Tony Malycha, Arnold Jago 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Leonie Dunkley 3, Karly Leach 2, Sam Hensgen 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick 2, Peter Mikhaeil 1)
– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Rod Healy 3, Jol Peters 2, Jai Green 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Jeremy Corrin 2, Tom Douglas 1)
– Bishop Builders 9 (Matt Avers 3, Mick Bacon, Jeff Hards 2) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Rachel Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick 1)
PENNANT FOUR:
– Fishers IGA 7 (Campbell McKenzie 3, Ben Hosking 2, Soyel Zahidi 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Quentin Clark 2, Kim Avers 1)
– Sunny Daily 7 (Paulo Reyes 3, Shirley Whitecross, Tim Lee 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Kumail Jaffry, Rahullah Mirzai 2)
Enter the Wolverine! Shannon Bowen juggling family duties and Stta commitments. Bowen was on fire taking some big scalps along the way.
PENNANT ONE:
– Fishers IGA 5 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Tung 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Matt Ljubic, Mark Ljubic 2)
Fishers IGA remain the only team unbeaten after they defeated Mallee Bearings 5-4 in round three action of the Sunraysia Table tennis pennant one competition. With both teams missing a player this was a two versus two affair with the doubles being the crucial match of the night.
For Fishers Wayne Carmichael and Jackson Tung lined up against Mark and Matt Ljubic in what was a tough four set match in which the Fishers pair were able to keep their nose in front. Carmichael and Tung won 9-11 15-13 11-9 11-8 in a top class match. 
With Wayne Carmichael winning both his singles the doubles proved to be the decider in this match where going into this round both teams were undefeated.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Bernadette Fitzpatrick, Michael Hogarth 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Gavin Carmichael, Shane Carmichael 2)
With Joel Thomas in excellent form and leading the way Weightmans Packaging proved too good for Max Miller Carpets on centre court winning 7-4 resulting in Weightmans advancing from fourth to second on the ladder. 
Thomas breezed his way through the match winning three singles and participating in both doubles victories.The highlight of this contest was the five set victory by Bernadette Fitzpatrick against the experienced Ed Hung. Fitzpatrick took the first two games narrowly before Hung won the following two games to take the match to the fifth where Fitzpatrick grabbed the early initiative. Late in the match Hung reeled off three points to reduce the deficit to one point however Fitzpatrick showed excellent composure to go on and win 11-9 11-9 10-12 4-11 11-9.
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Shannon Bowen 3, Andrew Cannard 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Mark Dorman 2, Darren Robinson, Lee Thomas 1
In the final match on the stage court both Dunkley Scales and their opponents Tankard Dental were in search of their first win. After the first six matches it was neck and neck at three rubbers all. Included in these results were three five setters with the match between Dunkley’s Andrew Cannard against Mark Dorman which went to five sets. In the fourth the hard working Cannard had several match points however Dorman who never throws in the towel worked hard to level the match with a 20-18 win. In the fifth Dorman maintained control to win this game 11-7.
Dunkley’s skipper Shannon Bowen was the star of this match winning three singles with his singles match against Dorman a real highlight. Dorman took a two games to one lead before Bowen fought back with some amazing points as he only can. At the conclusion of what had been an excellent contest Bowen prevailed 8-11 11-4 10-12 11-7 11-7. Success in both doubles by Dunkley’s also assisted them to get their first taste of victory for the season.
PENNANT TWO:
Peter Midgley claimed bragging rights over Geoff Wright when they clashed in their game – Midgley now sits alone at the top of the aggregate after a close five set win. Sony Sefer’s Weightmans Packaging team continue to play below their ability, whilst Tankard Dental took their first win.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Ross Humphreys 3, Josh Carmichael 2, Matt Avers 1) d Fishers IGA 5 (Leon Brown 2, Seval Fuat 1)
Tankard Dental, scoreless so far this season, finally showed what they were capable of. 
With captain Ross Humphries not short of experience in the game, and having previously played in the highest grade, backed up by Josh Carmichael, who appears to have a bright future, the team displayed plenty of fighting spirit to take the win, despite losing both doubles.
For this game, Matt Avers doubled up with his regular game in Pennant 3 to sub for the absent Peter Kelly and proved his worth, taking a solid five win over Geoff Peters. Carmichael took wins against Seval Fuat and Peters – both in five sets. And captain Ross Humphreys had his best night so far, taking wins in all his singles – in straight sets over Fuat and Peters, and when drawn to play the last rubber, he and Leon Brown slugged it out in five sets, Ross winning 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10.
Either of the doubles could have gone to the winners, but Fishers too, were keen to get the win here. Brown and Peters defeated the stronger pairing of Humphreys and Carmichael in five, being two sets to love down, they rallied to take the win 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10. The second doubles almost slipped away from them. Brown and Fuat led two sets to love 11-7, 11-6, only for Humphreys and Avers to take the next two 11-6, 11-9. Brown and Fuat hung on though, taking the last 11-7.
Fishers’ other wins came from captain Leon Brown with two (over Carmichael in three, but needing four sets to down fill-in Avers), and Fuat, having a very quiet season taking just the one, against Avers, and needing five sets to get there.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 25 games to 23.
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Ashley Morrison 3, Cole Keegan 2, Aidan Moore 1) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Sony Sefer, Tony Malycha, Arnold Jago 1)
In a fairly one-sided contest, Max Miller Carpets easily accounted for Weightmans Packaging.
Max Millers rubbers came in two bursts – after being two rubbers to love down, they took the next four, then Weightmans took another, only for Max Millers to take the last four to romp away with the game.
Weightmans started well, with wins to Arnold Jago over the improving Cole Keegan 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, followed up by captain Sefer taking a regulation three set win over Aidan Moore, 6, 6 and 3.
But then Max Millers hit back. Ashley Morrison, a little short on match practice downed the consistent Tony Malycha in four sets, the first doubles pairing of Morrison and Keegan just edging out Sefer and Jago 13-11, 11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 12-10. Keegan then faced up to Sefer, and in a see-sawing contest Keegan took the win 7-11, 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 to take a surprise win and put his team in front 3 rubbers to 2. Morrison backed up Keegan with his own five set win over Arnold Jago. That made it 4 rubbers to 2.
The two number three’s met next, and a five set win to Weightmans Tony Malycha over Aidan Moore gave Weightmans what was to be their last rubber.
Morrison and Moore, after losing the first set in the second doubles to Sefer and Malycha, came back strongly to take the win 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3.
Three more wins in the final round of singles gave Max Miller’s a big win. The two number one’s played a five setter, Morrison too strong for Sefer winning 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7; 
Cole Keegan continued his good form, defeating Malycha also in five 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 14-12, 11-4. And finally, a surprised Aiden Moore ran through Arnold Jago in three sets 13-11, 11-5, 12-10 to complete his team’s domination.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 26 games to 21.
– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Peter Midgley 3, Terry Martin, Glen Bell 1) d Spanline 5 (Geoff Wright 2, Andrew Jones, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
The only two teams which were previously undefeated met in this round.
A close game ensued, but a win for Spanline went begging.
Spanline’s Andrew Jones failed to front in time for two rubbers, and so forfeited those to the opposition. Despite that, this was still a close match.
Pinnacle Packers had the early ascendency, leading 4-1, after wins to captain Peter Midgley over Peter Fitzpatrick, the first doubles of Midgley and Glen Bell over Geoff Wright and Fitzpatrick also in three, and the two forfeited games.
A solitary win by Wright over Terry Martin had put Spanline on the scoreboard.
The second half of the match was more indicative of these two sides.
Spanline’s Wright took an easy win over Glen Bell in three sets. Terry Martin responded for the Packers with a similar win over Fitzpatrick.
The score was then 5 rubbers to 2 with four to play.
The second doubles fell to Spanline: Wright and Jones just edging Midgley and Martin in five 8-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9.
Next was the match which would decide the contest. The two number one’s also seeking to retain top spot on the aggregate. 
The match got better as it went along, Midgley seemingly in total control with an 11-4 win in the first set. Wright, however, dug in and took the second 11-9. Midgley took the third 11-7, Wright responded in the fourth 11-9, and in the fifth, the bounce of the ball went to Midgley to take the win 11-9.
That gave the Packers six rubbers and the win, but to show how the result could have been different, Jones defeated Martin easily in three, and Fitzpatrick got up against Glen Bell in four.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 21 games to 17.
PENNANT THREE:
The three teams victorious in Round 2 again won in this round, each recording confident victories.
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Leonie Dunkley 3, Karly Leach 2, Sam Hensgen 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick 2, Peter Mikhaeil 1)
In the closest game of the round, Dunkley Scales overcame Mallee Bearings when they ran away with the game in the last round of singles.
Led by Leonie Dunkley, the Dunkley Scales trio all took singles wins; Dunkley 3, Karly Leach 2 and Sam Hensgen 1.
Dunkley, although playing at number two, outscored her captain, Karly Leach in this game – and she was pretty much untroubled in doing so. Three set wins over Mallee Bearings captain Peter Mikhaeil and Helen Frania preceded her four set win over Sabrina Fitzpatrick in the last round of singles.
Although she took two singles wins, Karly Leach made hard work of it. 
After being two sets to love down against Helen Frania, Karly had to work hard to get back into the match – this she did, and she took it in five sets. Her third round match was against Mikhaeil; Mikhaeil took the first set 11-6, but Karly bounced back to take the next three in a close game 12-10, 11-8, 11-8. In between Karly had fallen in straight sets to long-time opponent Sabrina Fitzpatrick. Karly has had the better of her for at least twelve months, but in this game, she had no answers, and lost in straight sets.
Fitzpatrick was the best performed player for Mallee Bearings, taking two singles – one against Leach as explained, and also another three setter against Sam Hensgen.
Games were level at the completion of the second doubles, and the stage was set for an exciting finish. The Scalers were having none of it though, and they took the last three rubbers to run away with the game.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 25 games to 16.
– Bishop Builders 9 (Matt Avers 3, Mick Bacon, Jeff Hards 2) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Rachel Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick 1)
Bishop Builders took their third straight win of the season, this time at the expense of Pinnacle Packers.
Rubbers flowed fairly quickly to Bishop Builders – six were decided in three sets, although Peter Edwards and Paul Fitzpatrick did put up a spirited contest in their games against Jeff Hards and Matt Avers. After leading two sets to one, 
Edwards lost in five, as did Fitzpatrick when he met Avers.
Avers once again scored a hat-trick of singles victories (filling in in Pennant 2 didn’t slow him down too much !!). Both his team-mates, Mick Bacon and Jeff Hards scored two wins each – Bacon against Paul and Peter Edwards and Hards against Rachel Fitzpatrick and Peter Edwards.
Both doubles went to the Builders to add to their singles tally.
Only Rachel and Paul Fitzpatrick were able to take rubbers for their side, Rachel defeated Bacon in three, as did Paul against Jeff Hards in the last singles of the night.
Final scores: 9 rubbers to 2 and 27 games to 11.
– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Rod Healy 3, Jol Peters 2, Jai Green 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Jeremy Corrin 2, Tom Douglas 1)
Weightmans Packaging continued their good form in this game, with captain Rod Healy again scoring three wins, to keep him at the head of the aggregate table.
Healy was untroubled in his singles, taking all wins comfortably, in three sets.
Healy’s number three, 
Jol Peters picked up two wins, downing Tom Douglas in four sets, then later running through Michael Hensgen in three. Such was Jol’s form, he took opposing captain Jeremy Corrin to five, going down 11-5 in the last.
For Fishers, only Tom and Jeremy (Jerry ?) scored for their team: Douglas with a win over Jai Green in a close four setter 10-12, 18-16, 11-9, 11-9. Corrin with two wins- in four over Jai Green, and later getting up against Jol Peters in five.
Both doubles also went to Weightmans – Healy and Green in three sets over Corrin and Hensgen and later Healy and Peters in four sets over Corrin and Douglas.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 28 games to 12.
PENNANT FOUR:
– Sunny Daily 7 (Paulo Reyes 3, Shirley Whitecross, Tim Lee 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Kumail Jaffry, Rahullah Mirzai 2)
For the second round in succession Chilean visitor Paulo Reyes has won three singles and in doing so was able to lead his team Sunny Daily to a 7-4 victory over Max Miller Carpets. As well as success in his singles Paulo also participated in both doubles victories with team mates Shirley Whitecross and Tim Lee who both won one singles in support of their number one player.
Both Kumail Jaffry and Rahullah Mirzai won two singles each for the Carpeters. The best match of the night was between Rahullah and Shirley. Rahullah took a two games to nil lead however
Shirley then drew on all her experience to level the match. Rahullah did not panic and in the end won the fifth comfortably, the final score line reading 11-8 11-8 10-12 9-11 11-3.
– Fishers IGA 7 (Campbell McKenzie 3, Ben Hosking 2, Soyel Zahidi 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Quentin Clark 2, Kim Avers 1)
Fishers are on the march, three wins in three rounds. This was a real even team performance with first year player Campbell McKenzie winning three singles for the first time for Fishers IGA while team mates Ben Hosking won two and Soyel Zahidi one.
McKenzie could be a real find for the STTA. He brings a tennis style game to the table using his big top spin forehand well. The match was in the balance at three rubbers all however Fishers IGA were able to grab three of the last four rubbers to win 7 – 4. Weightmans were not disgraced and tried hard. 
Quentin Clarke had a good night winning two singles including an excellent four set victory over arch rival ‘The Ice Man’ Ben Hosking 11-7 7-11 11-7 11-7. Quentin also teamed up with Kim Avers to win the first doubles in four over tough combination McKenzie and Hosking.
The highlight match was the marathon five setter between Kim avers and
Soyel with Kim winning 11-6 11-7 10-12 11-13 11-6 in what was a great
contest.
