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Sunraysia Table Tennis Summer Pennant results Round 7: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Gavin Carmichael, Kate Carmichael, Matt Avers 2) d Fishers IGA 4 (Wayne Carmichael 3)
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Joel Thomas 3, Shane Carmichael 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Mark Ljubic, Nicholas Dorman 2, Jackson Murphy 1)
– Mallee Bearings 6 (Rick McMeekin 3, Jackson Tung 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Mark Dorman, Matt Ljubic 2, Kevin Johns 1)
PENNANT TWO:
– Tankard Dental 6 (Rod Healy, Tony Malycha 2, Arthur Paar 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Lee Thomas 3, Connor Lavery 1)
– Fishers IGA 6 (Sony Sefer 3, Brendan Alderton 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Ashley Morrison 2, Arnold Jago 1, Cambell McKenzie 1)
– Mallee Bearings 7 (Reece Kurrle 3, Andrew Jones 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley 2, Geoff Peters, Ross Humphreys 1)
– MJM Automotive 8 (Glen Bell, Ajay Chowdhry, Geoff Wright 2) d Bishop Builders 3 (Peter Bishop 3)
PENNANT THREE:
– Fishers IGA 6 (Kerry Wallace 3, Stefan Ljubic 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Sam Hensgen 2, Quentin Clark, David Sergi 1)
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Huseyin Ismail 2, Karly Leach, Daniel Griffiths 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Claire Ljubic 3, Michael Hensgen 2)
– MJM Automotive 7 (Mick Bacon, Ben Hosking2, Anthony Sergi 1) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Lachlan Prothero 3, Kim Avers 1)
There’s a ‘Cool Breeze’ moving through the stadium. Rick McMeekin was at his best in guiding Mallee Bearings to an important win in rnd 7 action. They sit 3rd on the ladder as we approach the halfway mark and it could be argued that the quietest spoken team in P1 may make the finals race an interesting one. Not that ‘Cool Breeze McMeekin’ would be talking it up.
PENNANT ONE:
After remaining undefeated for the first six rounds of the Sunraysia Table Tennis winter pennant top of the ladder Fishers IGA have been defeated by Weightmans Packaging 7-4 in a hard fought round seven match.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Gavin Carmichael, Kate Carmichael, Matt Avers 2) d Fishers IGA 4 (Wayne Carmichael 3)
Fishers have been consistent and at times under the pump but have managed to find a way to win each week. In this contest Weightmans were off to a flyer taking an early four rubbers to one lead and from here, whilst they tried hard, Fishers were unable to recover.
In the first game 
Matt Avers gained some revenge for an earlier in the season loss when he recovered well in the first game after trailing Graeme O’Neill. Avers then was able to maintain a lead in the second and third.
The first doubles was important as Weightmans took a two – one lead after the first block of singles. The form of Kate Carmichael was outstanding in this match and she and Gavin Carmichael were able to defeat Wayne Carmichael and Leslie Ncube in three.
Weightmans were again consistent with Gavin Carmichael, Kate Carmichael and Matt Avers winning two singles each. While Wayne Carmichael for Fishers played well to win three singles his team mate and hero last week Leslie Ncube was unlucky to say the least. After losing to Gavin Carmichael in four sets he later lost to both Kate Carmichael and Matt Avers in two tremendous five set slogs. Both matches went on and on and with a little more luck he could have changed the overall result but it was not to be.
After losing to Fishers when they first met in round two Weightmans have now strung together five wins on the trot to move to the top of the ladder by percentage.
– Mallee Bearings 6 (Rick McMeekin 3, Jackson Tung 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Mark Dorman, Matt Ljubic 2, Kevin Johns 1)
Mallee Bearings in a solid display took the points against Max Miller Carpets on the grand stand court and hold third position on percentage. 
Skipper Rick McMeekin, dubbed “Cool Breeze” by a former team mate continued his fine season again winning three singles as well as featuring in both doubles victories. He maintains a calm exterior and has a positive influence on his team mates.
In a successful switch McMeekin opted for number three player Michael Hogarth to partner him in the first doubles and this was to prove a successful move as they were able to win a close five setter against Mark Dorman and Matt Ljubic 11-9 6-11 11-7 8-11 11-8. Later McMeekin teamed with Jackson Tung in the second doubles to defeat Dorman and Kevin Johns in four sets to set up victory. Despite Mark Dorman and Matt Ljubic winning two singles each and Kevin Johns one, the loss of both doubles by the Carpeters was the difference.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Joel Thomas 3, Shane Carmichael 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Mark Ljubic, Nicholas Dorman 2, Jackson Murphy 1)
In another close encounter
Joel Thomas was the standout player winning three singles for Exposed Signage/ Apparel in their 6-5 win over Tankard Dental. Thomas now remains undefeated in twenty one matches however this round he was pushed to a five setter by Mark Ljubic who was returning from a three week injury break. Ljubic took an early lead in the fifth before Thomas lifted to go on and win 11-7 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-5. Despite being at the foot of the ladder Tankard Dental were brave in defeat with Mark Ljubic and Nicholas Dorman winning two singles each while team mate Jackson Murphy won one.
Ljubic almost pulled off a match winning move when he stepped aside from the second doubles and teamed up the inform Nicholas Dorman and Jackson Murphy against Joel Thomas and Leon Brown. When they took a two games to one lead it appeared that this may have been a masterstroke however their opponents lifted to win 9-11 11-7 6-11 11-7 11-4 in a victory which would seal the four points.
PENNANT TWO: –
Arthur Paar, for the second time in two matches has a shocker, winning just one singles contest, and his teammates get the side home. On the aggregate ladder, John Gray lost the aggregate lead for the first time, not adding to his score due to absence, and Ashley Morrison and Reece Kurrle pounced, both these players now having a two game break to Gray at the head of the table.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Rod Healy, Tony Malycha 2, Arthur Paar 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Lee Thomas 3, Connor Lavery 1)
Tankard Dental had to come from behind to win this match, when Weightmans Packaging led five rubbers to four with two to play. Weightmans Packaging capain Lee Thomas was in good form, winning three, so Tankard Dental had to pick up the wins elsewhere.
They accumulated three rubbers with wins against Andrew Alderton, the third of these a five set contest against 
Rod Healy in the eleventh rubber to decide the match.
Tony Malycha and Rod Healy both defeated Connor Lavery, but Tankard Dental captain Arthur Paar failed to do what his team-mates could.
Lavery is a much improved player this season, and against Paar led 11-3, 15-13 before Paar could get a handle on Lavery’s game. Paar levelled at two sets all, but Lavery then accelerated away in the fifth, winning that 11-3.
Earlier in the night Lavery had duked it out with Rod Healy in a high standard match, Healy winning 13-11, 13-15, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10. And in the final round of singles Tony Malycha, with the game score at 4-5, kept his team in the match by defeating Lavery in four sets.
The doubles matches were shared, Paar and Malycha winning the first in three sets against Thomas and Lavery, but Weightmans took the second: Thomas and Andrew Alderton, after trailing two sets to one, steadied in the final two sets, taking them 11-8, 11-8.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 25 games to 22.
– Fishers IGA 6 (Sony Sefer 3, Brendan Alderton 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Ashley Morrison 2, Arnold Jago 1, Cambell McKenzie 1)
Sony Sefer continues his great run of form, when this week, filling in for Fishers IGA captain John Gray, he took his fifth three game haul of the season. So, although “only” a fill-in, Sony sits fourth on the aggregate.
Sefer conceded a set to both Arnold Jago and Cambell McKenzie, but in the final round of singles played his best table tennis against opposing captain Ashley Morrison, getting better as the match progressed, winning 9, 7 and 6.
Brendan Alderton did a great job supporting his captain, once again playing above his ranking, on this occasion defeating Cambell McKenzie in a very close five set contest 11-8, 14-16, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10, and later accounting for Arnold Jago in a fine four set display 11-9, 6-11, 14-12, 11-5.
So it was only fitting that Sefer and Alderton should be the pair to win a doubles, which were shared. These two downed the strong combination of Ashley Morrison and Arnold Jago in four sets. After dropping the first 5-11, the Fishers pair held their nerve in the next three, winning them 11-9, 15-13, 14-12.
That was enough for the win, Mallee Meats taking five rubbers, courtesy of wins against Seval Fuat, Morrison downing Alderton, and an entertaining five set second doubles match, Morrison and McKenzie defeating Sefer and Fuat 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 23 games to 21.
– Mallee Bearings 7 (Reece Kurrle 3, Andrew Jones 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley 2, Geoff Peters, Ross Humphreys 1)
Pinnacle Packers were outgunned by Mallee Bearings in this match, Reece Kurrle picking up three wins, Andrew Jones two, and the team taking both doubles contests.
Kurrle took wins against Ross Humphreys and Geoff Peters in three sets, but his match against opposing captain Peter Midgley was in doubt until the final point. Kurrle led early, taking the first two sets 6 and 9, Midgley responded in the next two, hitting his stride in the third 11-6, and just hanging on in the fourth 16-14 to level at two sets all. Midgley blinked first, and Kurrle took the fifth set 12-10 to take the win.
Jones continues his climb up the aggregate ladder with another two game haul, in four and three sets against Peters and Humphreys respectively, then with his captain took an easy three set win in the first doubles.
The second doubles was somewhat different, Midgley and Humphreys, playing his first game since last year’s pennant season, led two sets to love against Kurrle and Peter Edwards 8 and 7. The game lifted a level or two, then, Kurrle and Edwards playing great table tennis to take the next three 11-9, 11-9, 14-12.
For Pinnacle Packers, not much to get excited about … Peter Midgley for the seventh game in a row took two singles wins, and Humphreys and Peters one each.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 24 games to 17.
– MJM Automotive 8 (Glen Bell, Ajay Chowdhry, Geoff Wright 2) d Bishop Builders 3 (Peter Bishop 3)
In this very one-sided match, only Bishop Builders captain Peter Bishop provided any competition to MJM Automotive.
None of the MJM Automotive trio of Geoff Wright, Glenn Bell and Ajay Chowdhry could defeat Bishop, who only conceded one set in singles play, but the three of them accounted for Josh Carmichael and Jeremy Corrin.
Carmichael, who has won seven of his last nine singles rubbers, was kept winless for the first time this season, falling to Wright and
Chowdhry in four sets, and after leading Glenn Bell two sets to love, lost the fifth set 14-12.
With six rubbers in singles, MJM Automotive put the icing on the cake with wins in both doubles: Wright and Bell the stronger pair against Bishop and Carmichael, winning 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3, and later Wright and Chowdhry in straight sets against Bishop and Jeremy Corrin.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 25 games to 15.
PENNANT THREE:
The big news from this round was the defeat of the aggregate leader Quentin Clark. Up until this round, Clark had a perfect record, 18 singles wins from 18 matches, but in this round, he faltered, not once but twice, in a match which saw his side lose also, for the first time this season.
– Fishers IGA 6 (Kerry Wallace 3, Stefan Ljubic 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Sam Hensgen 2, Quentin Clark, David Sergi 1)
Fishers pair Kerry Wallace and Stefan Ljubic led the attack on Mallee Meats in this game.
Wallace was in great form, dropping only one set in singles play, and this to the previously undefeated Quentin Clark. Clark took the first set 11-8, but Wallace put him on notice after that, bouncing back in the second 11-7. The third was a bit of an arm-wrestle, Wallace took that 13-11, to lead two sets to one. She cleaned Clark up quickly in the fourth 11-2 to do what no-one else has previously done this season.
Except that team-mate Stefan Ljubic did it later in the game! By that time Fishers IGA led five rubbers to four, with two to play. Mallee Meats needed the win to stay in the game, and a win for Fishers would see victory for the night. Clark started like it would go to Fishers; the first two sets fell to him 11-6, 11-9. 
Ljubic hit form in the third with an 11-3 scoreline. The fourth was crucial … Clark close to a win, and Ljubic needing the set to stay in the match. For the second time, Clark lost the extended set, Ljubic taking this one 16-14 to even up at two sets all. The fifth set was close, but Ljubic had Clark’s measure, and took the set 11-8 to give his side the six rubbers needed for the win.
Ljubic certainly gave his all throughout this game. Every match he played went to five sets: against David Sergi a win 10-12, 15-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, the first doubles with Wallace against Clark and Sam Hensgen a loss 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-13, his second singles another loss against Sam Hensgen 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 4-11, 6-11.
The sixth rubber for Fishers IGA came in the second doubles: Wallace and Tom Denning downing Clark and David Sergi in straight sets.
So, whilst Clark was kept very quiet, Sam Hensgen managed to rack up two singles wins, against Ljubic and Denning, to go with Clark and 
Sergi’s wins against Tom Denning, and their win in the first doubles.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 25 games to 20
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Huseyin Ismail 2, Karly Leach, Daniel Griffiths 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Claire Ljubic 3, Michael Hensgen 2)
In a see-sawing match, Weightmans Packaging defeated Tankard Dental in the final rubber to cling to fourth spot on the ladder.
Weightmans quickly went to a 3-1 lead, thanks to straight sets wins by captain Karly Leach and Huseyin Ismail, then the first doubles featuring these same two players against Michael Hensgen and Claire Ljubic. Whilst the singles wins came in those three sets, the doubles was in five.
Tankard Dental then evened the score at three rubbers all. Claire Ljubic, in a great display against Karly Leach, took the honours after five sets. Her captain Michael Hensgen took the next rubber in four sets, playing the ever-improving Daniel Griffiths 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 17-15.
Weightmans then jumped away again, taking the next two rubbers; Ross Douglass falling to Ismail in three sets, preceding the second doubles in which Leach and Griffiths, after leading two sets to love, defeated Hensgen and Douglas 11-5 in the fifth.
Once again, though, Tankard Dental evened the score, at five rubbers all. The two captains met, Hensgen, after dropping the first set to Leach 8-11, was never really in trouble in the next three, taking them 6, 1 and 5. 
Claire Ljubic won her third singles for the night, against Ismail to even the score and leave it to the number three’s to decide.
As it turned out,Griffiths was too steady for Douglass, and won the rubber in three sets.
Although still winless, and sitting at the bottom of the table, a win for Tankard Dental is not too far away. The addition of Claire Ljubic to this side has given the team some real fire power. A win in this match would have been as simple as taking the first doubles, which was decided in the fifth set.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 22 games to 19.
– MJM Automotive 7 (Mick Bacon, Ben Hosking2, Anthony Sergi 1) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Lachlan Prothero 3, Kim Avers 1)
The absence of John Fitzpatrick from the MJM Automotive side, and his mother Sabrina from Dunkley Scales, saw Ben Hosking and Lachlan Prothero at the table.
Of the two, Prothero had the most success, taking three singles to Hosking’s two, but Prothero’s efforts were not enough for his team. Only Kim Avers could score a singles win, and the team conceded both doubles contests.
MJM Automotive certainly played more consistently than their opponents. Captain Mick Bacon, whilst going down to Prothero in four sets, made sure of the other two singles, winning them in three sets. In the doubles, he extracted the best from this team-mates; he and Hosking survived against improving Prothero and Avers in the first doubles, winning 11-6, 11-9,6-11, 13-11. In the second doubles, Bacon and 
Anthony Sergi were too good for Prothero and Shirley Whitecross, winning in three sets.
These four rubbers, added to the two by Hosking, and Anthony Sergi defeating Whitecross gave the team a 7-4 win.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 23 games to 15.
