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Sunraysia Table Tennis Winter Pennant round 9: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Brodi Thomas 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Mark Dorman 2, Nick Dorman, Lee Thomas 1)
– Fishers IGA 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Leon Brown 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Gavin Carmichael, Shane Carmichael 2, Ed Hung 1)
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Shannon Bowen 3, Arthur Paar, Andrew Cannard 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Mark Ljubic, Matt Ljubic 2)
PENNANT TWO:
– Fishers IGA 5 (Leon Brown 3, Geoff Peters 2) d Spanline 4(Andrew Jones 2, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Arnold Jago 3, Sony Sefer 2, Jess Dorman 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley 2, Terry Martin 1)
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Ashley Morrison, Cole Keegan 3) d Tankard Dental 3 (Ross Humphreys, Matt Avers, Josh Carmichael 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Mallee Bearings 6 (Jess Dorman 3, Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Helen Frania 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Peter Edwards 2, Bernadette Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick 1)
– Fishers IGA 8 (Jeremy Corrin 3, Jol Peters 2, Ajay Chowdrey 1) d Dunkley Scales 3 (Karly Leach 2, Leonie Dunkley 1)
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Rod Healy 3, Jol Peters 2) d Bishop Builders 4 (Brian Hosking 2, Mick Bacon, Peter Kelly 1)
PENNANT FOUR:
– Fishers IGA 6 (Cambell McKenzie 3, Ben Hosking 2, Soyel Zahidi 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Quentin Clark 2, Kim Avers 1)
– Sunny Daily 6 (Paulo Reyes 2, Shirley Whitecross, John Fitzpatrick 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Kumail Jaffry 3, Gloria Jago 2)
Here Comes ‘The Money Man’
Leon ‘Money Man’ Brown has had a busy 2 weeks in Stta action. Last week he took out Shane Carmichael as a fill-in in P1 and this week his P1 scalp was Eddy Hung. See Leon, hard work does pay off. Whispers are his destiny to be promoted to P1 may be just around the corner.
PENNANT ONE:
With a 7-4 win in round nine action of the Sunraysia Table Tennis winter pennant, Dunkley Scales have moved to first position on the ladder for the first time this season. This was the ‘dream team’s seventh win in succession after dropping the first two matches of the season.
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Shannon Bowen 3, Arthur Paar, Andrew Cannard 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Mark Ljubic, Matt Ljubic 2)
Their opponents Mallee Bearings were brave, on the stage court, but the loss of both doubles was crucial in this result. Shannon Bowen for Dunkley’s played well to win three singles as well as participating in both doubles victories.For Mallee Bearings the father and son combination Mark and Matt Ljubic played well to win two singles each. 
Youngster Matt Ljubic in particular played well taking Bowen to four sets and then later proved too strong for Andrew Cannard in a top class five setter winning 10-12 11-9 11-9 5-11 11-6. This would be his best win of his short pennant one career. Earlier he did receive a scare in a match he was expected to win when he just took the points 15-13 in the fifth against veteran Arthur Paar.
Although Paar lost this singles he had a good night defeating Kate Carmichael in four sets as well as combining with Shannon Bowen to win the important second doubles.
– Fishers IGA 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Leon Brown 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Gavin Carmichael, Shane Carmichael 2, Ed Hung 1)
Fishers IGA outlasted Max Miller Carpets to win 6-5 and despite this they dropped from first to second on the ladder albeit by a narrow percentage. After losing two on the trot this was an important win for Fishers and again Wayne Carmichael lead the way winning three singles and both doubles. Against brother Shane he did not have it all his own way and at nine all in the fifth an upset was not far away however as he can he maintained the pressure and went on to win in a thriller 11-6 10-12 11-5 9-11 11-9.
For the second round in succession Leon Brown was promoted from pennant two, this time filling in for Fishers, 
and again played against the Carpeters and again he won an important singles this time downing Ed Hung in four sets, living up to his tag- the money man !!
Doubles are always crucial and without any success at this concept of the contest the Carpeters would always struggle. Their defeat, on the grandstand court, dropped them out of the four.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Brodi Thomas 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Mark Dorman 2, Nick Dorman, Lee Thomas 1)
Weightmans Packaging moved into the four with a solid 7-4 victory over Tankard Dental. The inability of Tankards to extract a doubles proved costly for them like all the losing teams this round.
Joel Thomas again won three singles, and again had to survive a five set contest for the second week in succession, as Mark Dorman put in a spirited display against Thomas leading two games to one before Thomas steamed through the fourth and fifth to keep his unbeaten singles record intact. His brother Brodie filled in for Weightmans and despite a long break from the game he was able to win two important singles, one of these at the expense of his mother Lee. It was good to see Brodie back at the table and hopefully it won’t be the last time this season.
This match was a real family affair with brothers Joel and Brodie Thomas up against their mum Lee, while Lee’s teammates were Mark and his son Nicholas Dorman.
PENNANT TWO:
Weightmans Packaging now sit one game clear at the head of the ladder after a win by them over Pinnacle Packers, as former joint leaders Spanline stumble against Fishers IGA.
– Fishers IGA 5 (Leon Brown 3, Geoff Peters 2) d Spanline 4(Andrew Jones 2, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
This game was reduced to a 2 v 2 match when replacements could not be found for Spanline’s Geoff Wright and the late withdrawal of Fishers Seval Fuat.
Still, it was a close contest, if short.
Fishers Leon Brown warmed up for the first two sets in his first rubber against Peter Fitzpatrick, then took the last three sets comfortably 2, 7 and 7 to give his side the early lead.
Andrew Jones then squared the books with a straight sets win over Geoff Peters 7, 5 and 4.
The doubles gave the lead to the Spanline duo when they held Brown and Peters at bay to win in three 9, 9 and 7.
The two number three’s met next, Peters for Fishers and Fitzpatrick for Spanline. Fitzpatrick could only hold Peters in check for the first two sets, losing the first and taking the second. Peters then took control in the last two, winning them 11-6, 11-8.
So it was up to Brown and Jones to decide the fate of this match. Brown looked like he would take the game easily with wins in the first two sets 11-4, 11-9. But steady Andrew Jones plugged away to equalise and force the game to the fifth set. Brown put the hammer down, though, and ran away with the last set 11-4.
Final scores (adjusted): 5 sets to 4 and 15 games to 17.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Arnold Jago 3, Sony Sefer 2, Jess Dorman 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley 2, Terry Martin 1)
With Spanline’s loss, and a win in this game, Weightmans Packaging are now clear ladder leaders.
Pinnacle Packers aggregate leader Peter Midgley was defeated again this week (only the third time this year), this time by Arnold Jago. 
Like last week Arnold scored three singles wins, to again outdo his captain Sony Sefer, who claimed two.
Weightmans Packaging resident Giant Killer Tony Malycha was absent, and Jessica Dorman subbed for him. She proved her worth, providing one singles win and paired with Sefer, defeated Midgley and Glen Bell in straight sets in the second doubles.
For the Packers, only Midgley and Terry Martin did any winning. Midgley took two singles wins (both in straight sets, against Dorman and Sefer), and Martin one (against Dorman). Together they won the first doubles in four sets against the strong pairing of Sefer and Jago in a tough match, 11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 17-15.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 22 games to 17.
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Ashley Morrison, Cole Keegan 3) d Tankard Dental 3 (Ross Humphreys, Matt Avers, Josh Carmichael 1)
Max Miller Carpets took a dominant win over their opponents in this game to put another game between themselves in fourth spot and Tankard Dental. Going into this match, the sides were fourth and fifth on the ladder, that did not change, but now the Carpeters are three games ahead of Tankard’s. Also, they join Pinnacle Packers on 20 points, and with the big win here, are not far shy of jumping the Packers on percentage.
Both Ashley Morrison and 
Cole Keegan had an enjoyable night for Max Miller’s taking three singles wins each, pairing together in the first doubles to down Tankards’s Ross Humphreys and Josh Carmichael in four sets, and later Morrison and Aidan Moore downed Humphreys and Matt Avers in a closer doubles, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9.
Tankard Dental could only amass three rubbers for the contest, all three players defeating Aidan Moore.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 27 games to 17.
PENNANT THREE:
The big movers in this Pennant after this round of play is Fishers IGA. Disposing of their opposition, and with losses to the two teams above them, Fishers jumped from fourth to second in one fell swoop.
– Mallee Bearings 6 (Jess Dorman 3, Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Helen Frania 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Peter Edwards 2, Bernadette Fitzpatrick, Paul Fitzpatrick 1)
Mallee Bearings put themselves back on the winning list in this game with a win over the more fancied Pinnacle Packers combination.
The Bearings captain Peter Mikhaeil was absent, and Jessica Dorman subbed for him. 
In a fine performance, she played the major role in this win, as she took three singles wins (in three sets against Peter Edwards and Paul Fitzpatrick), and a hard fought five setter over Rachel Fitzpatrick in the last round of singles. Jessica also took the first doubles rubber, when teaming with Sabrina Fitzpatrick, they accounted for Rachel and Peter Edwards in straight sets, 9, 2 and 9.
Sabrina and Helen Frania also chipped in with a singles win – Sabrina against son Paul 16-14, 11-5, 11-7 and Helen over Rachel Fitzpatrick. That was something of a surprise – a number three defeating number one, and the garbled message that reached this correspondent mentioned something about duct tape for future encounters !!
For the Packers, rubbers came from Rachel when she defeated her mother in four hard sets, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 15-13; Peter Edwards took two (in three sets over Frania, and in a close five setter against Sabrina 9-11, 13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9; and Paul scored a win in the final rubber
against Frania (perhaps someone found some duct tape?).
Rachel and Paul also had an enjoyable win against Sabrina and Helen in the second doubles 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-3.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 23 games to 18.
– Fishers IGA 8 (Jeremy Corrin 3, Jol Peters 2, Ajay Chowdrey 1) d Dunkley Scales 3 (Karly Leach 2, Leonie Dunkley 1)
In a dominant display Fishers IGA completely outplayed Dunkley Scales to jump up to second on the ladder.
Fishers had too many guns in this match; captain Jeremy Corrin scored a hat-trick of wins, Joel Peters subbing for Michael Hensgen took two, and Ajay Chowdrey doing the same for Tom Douglas, one.
On top of that, the side came away with both doubles: Corrin and Peters were untroubled against Karly Leach and Leonie Dunkley, winning in three sets, and later Corrin and Chowdrey, after dropping the first set to Leach and Sam Hensgen 8-11, recovered to take the match 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 against the improving Dunkley Scales pair.
For the Scalers, captain Karly Leach had a hard night – she defeated the number three Chowdrey in five sets, against the number two Joel Peters in four, and then fell to the rampaging Corrin in another four setter.
The only other rubber to come their way was Leonie Dunkley’s close win in four sets over Chowdrey 14-12, 5-11, 11-3, 13-11.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 28 games to 13.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Rod Healy 3, Jol Peters 2) d Bishop Builders 4 (Brian Hosking 2, Mick Bacon, Peter Kelly 1)
Ladder leaders Weightmans Packaging took another confident win in this clash with Bishop Builders.
Rod Healy again took three singles wins (now 26 from a possible 27). Mick Bacon gave him a run for his money in the first round of singles, but could not match Healy’s potent backhand and brick-like defence. Healy won that one 14-12, 12-10, 11-5. Healy’s two other wins were more straight-forward, against Brian Hosking subbing for Jeff Hards it was 3, 2 and 2; and in the last round of singles against opposing captain Peter Kelly he won 7, 7 and 2. Healy helped his team-mates to wins in both doubles, too. He and Jai Green defeated Kelly and Bacon, 9, 6 and 6, and then with Peters, another three setter against Bacon and Hosking 12-10, 11-4, 12-10.
Jol Peters played well – he contributed two rubbers: he defeated the returning Peter Kelly in four sets 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 and later he got the better of Mick Bacon in a good five setter 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6.
Best performed for the Builders was Brian Hosking with two wins – over Jai Green in the very first rubber 11-9, 9-11, 12-14, 11-2, 11-5 after Green tired in the final two sets. And in the final rubber he had no trouble with Jol Peters, winning there 5, 8 and 6.
Mick Bacon and Peter Kelly also took a win apiece, Bacon over Jai Green in four (11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8), and Kelly also over Green, in five 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11, after Green led two sets to love.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 26 games to 15.
PENNANT FOUR:
– Fishers IGA 6 (Cambell McKenzie 3, Ben Hosking 2, Soyel Zahidi 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Quentin Clark 2, Kim Avers 1)
While they did not have it all their way Fishers IGA continued on their unbeaten way by defeating a brave Weightmans Packaging 6-5. The ladder leaders lost both doubles but despite this an even team performance saw them home.
Skipper Cambell McKenzie continued his fine season with three singles victories despite coming into the match under an injury cloud. He received excellent support from the ice man, Ben Hosking who won two singles while 
Soyel Zahidi chipped in with one important victory.
For Weightmans Quentin Clark continued his fine season with two singles victories, his only loss in singles was his amazing match against Cambell McKenzie, the first game bought back memories of the old days going to 21-19 in Cambell’s favour. Quentin grabbed the second but went down fighting in four. Quentin also fronted up in two doubles with success coming in both. In the first doubles he teamed with skipper Kim Avers and in a lengthy match they proved too good for Cambell and Ben winning 7-11 6-11 12-10 12-10 11-4 a great come back after trailing early.
– Sunny Daily 6 (Paulo Reyes 2, Shirley Whitecross, John Fitzpatrick 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Kumail Jaffry 3, Gloria Jago 2)
Sunny Daily moved two games clear of third by defeating Max Miller Carpets 6-5 in another close match in this pennant. Despite Kumail Jaffry and fill in Gloria Jago winning three and two singles respectively the Carpeters could not grab the points as Sunny Daily won both doubles.
Apart from both doubles victories, Paulo Reyes won two singles with Shirley Whitecross and fill in John Fitzpatrick both winning one each in their narrow victory.
The highlight match was between the two young number one players, 
Kumail for the Carpeters and Paulo for Sunny Daily. This went to five and was a beauty with Kumail grabbing the points 7-11 11-1 9-11 11-5 11-9 another great contest.
The singles aggregate is really hotting up in this pennant with six rounds to go. Leading is Cambell on 24, Kumail 20, Paulo19 and Quentin 18.
