0
0
Sunraysia Table Tennis Winter Pennant results round 2: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Fishers IGA 7 (Gavin Carmichael 3, Darren Robinson 2, Ashley Morrison 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Mark Ljubic 2, Andrew Cannard 1)
– Pinnacle Packers 10 (Wayne Carmichael, John Gray 3, Peter Midgley 2) d Bishop Builders 1(Jackson Tung 1)
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Rick McMeekin 3, Shane Carmichael, Kevin Johns 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Mark Dorman 2)
PENNANT TWO:
– Spanline 6 (Arnold Jago 3, George Papanicolaou 2) d Fishers IGA 5 (Andrew Jones 2, Lachlan Kelly, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
– Tankard Dental 6 (Nicholas Dorman 2, Peter Fitzpatrick, Bernadette Fitzpatrick 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Matt Ljubic 3, Seval Fuat 2)
PENNANT THREE:
– Bishop Builders 7 (Claire Ljubic 3, Graham Southwell, Sosefa Fevaleaki 2) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Jessica Dorman 2)
– Fishers IGA 7 (Cole Keegan 3, Sam Hensgen 2, Helen Frania 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Karly Leach 2, Mick Bacon 1)
– Mallee Bearings 9 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Michael Hensgen 3, Peter Edwards 2) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Glen Bell 1)
After two rounds of pennant one table tennis two teams remain undefeated. The Wayne Carmichael led Pinnacle Packers and the Rick McMeekin skippered Max Miller Carpets sit at the top of the ladder and will line up against each other after the school holiday break in what will be a top class match.
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Rick McMeekin 3, Shane Carmichael, Kevin Johns 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Mark Dorman 2)
McMeekin continued his excellent “comeback” to table tennis with another three singles victories this round in the 8-3 win by Max Miller Carpets over Mallee Bearings on the grandstand court.
The singles between McMeekin and opposing number one Mark Dorman was a highlight with McMeekin prevailing in four sets with his heavy top spin game which is proving a powerful weapon. Both of McMeekin’s team mates Shane Carmichael and fill in Kevin Johns offered excellent support winning two singles each. 
Carmichael topped off a good night by teaming with McMeekin in the first doubles to defeat Dorman and Graeme O’Neill 9-11 9-11 11-9 11-9 11-4 a great contest.
– Fishers IGA 7 (Gavin Carmichael 3, Darren Robinson 2, Ashley Morrison 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Mark Ljubic 2, Andrew Cannard 1)
Fishers IGA kick started their season, after a close loss last round, by defeating Weightmans Packaging 7-4. In an even team performance on centre court Gavin Carmichael, Darren Robinson and Ashley Morrison won three, two and one rubbers respectively. In the first round of three singles 
Robinson recorded what was to be an important victory when he outlasted training partner Andrew Cannard 5-11 11-8 11-6 11-6. The first doubles saw Weightmans Cannard and Mark Ljubic remain undefeated in this format of the game when they accounted for Darren Robinson and Gavin Carmichael in four sets.
For Weightmans Mark Ljubic played well to win two singles with his contest against Robinson a thriller going to five sets. Robinson held the edge late in the fifth and in one particular rally was attacking strongly however Ljubic’s defence stood up under extreme pressure and he remained calm to grab the match 9-11 11-8 11-9 4-11 11-9. This win shows why he has become known as the “five set king.” The second doubles also featured a five setter with Fishers IGA pair Gavin Carmichael and Ash Morrison recovering from a two games to one deficit to defeat Mark Ljubic and Ross Humphreys 9-11 11-8 8-11 11-7 11-2.
– Pinnacle Packers 10 (Wayne Carmichael, John Gray 3, Peter Midgley 2) d Bishop Builders 1(Jackson Tung 1)
In the remaining match Pinnacle Packers strolled to a 10-1 victory over Bishop Builders on the stage court, in a match made easier by the unavailability of Builders number one Shannon Bowen which put them right behind the eight ball right from the start. Rumour has it that opposing skipper Wayne Carmichael may have indicated to Bowen the school holiday break started a week earlier than it really did, leaving Bowen sitting at home watching the Good Wife on TV while his team were in battle without him !!
In Bowen’s absence both Wayne Carmichael and John Gray won three singles each while team mate 
Peter Midgley won two including a tremendous five set struggle against opposing number three Peter Bishop with Midgley taking the points 10-12 11-8 3-11 12-10 11-6 a great tussle. The only player to trouble the scorers for Bishop Builders was Jackson Tung when he accounted for Peter Midgley in another five set struggle 6-11 11-4 5-11 11-8 11-4.
PENNANT TWO:
Two close matches again this week, both with a 6 rubbers to 5 result.
– Spanline 6 (Arnold Jago 3, George Papanicolaou 2) d Fishers IGA 5 (Andrew Jones 2, Lachlan Kelly, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
Arnold Jago continued his good form, picking up another three singles win in this match against Fishers IGA.
Jago was hardly extended all night, dismissing fill-in Peter Fitzpatrick in three, likewise with Lachlan Kelly, and only needing a further set to account for Fishers captain Andrew Jones. The only match Jago did not win was the second doubles when he and new recruit Mina Mikhail went down fighting against Jones and Fitzpatrick in five sets 11-13, 2-11, 11-6, 13-11, 12-14. Jago’s performance set his team up for the win, and aided by his developing number two George Papanicolaou who contributed two singles, they defeated Fishers 6 rubbers to 5.
The game however, was not all Spanline’s way. The game score of 20-20 shows what a close contest this was. Still with Spanline, Papanicolaou picked up rubbers against Lachlan Kelly, defeating him in four, and getting revenge on Peter Fitzpatrick who defeated him only last week in three sets, this time George getting the better of the game and taking Fitzpatrick in five.
For Fishers, captain Andrew Jones won two (against Papanicolaou and Mikhail) and both Kelly and Fitzpatrick also defeated Mikhail. The match was actually decided after seven rubbers (games being played out of order, due to late arrivals etc., Andrew); at that stage Spanline had the required six, and after that it was a matter of damage control for Fishers, and they did well to take the last four.
Jago is now a clear leader on the aggregate, having two perfect weeks with six wins from a possible six.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Nicholas Dorman 2, Peter Fitzpatrick, Bernadette Fitzpatrick 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Matt Ljubic 3, Seval Fuat 2)
This was a very even match, and the Tankard Dental trio will have to be aware that future match-up with this team will probably be a little more difficult than this time.
Pinnacle Packers captain Matt Ljubic scored three singles wins, and his deputy Seval Fuat scored two, and is capable of three. On this occasion their number three Brian Hosking was kept winless by the Tankard trio. What saved the victors was that they took both doubles, Nick Dormanand Bernadette Fitzpatrick proving much too strong for Ljubic and Fuat 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 and later Dorman and Peter Fitzpatrick got the better of Ljubic and Hosking, in five, after being two sets to one down, 11-4, 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-2.
Dorman’s only singles loss was of course to Ljubic. Dorman was rightly upset with himself after coming off the table after this match. He led comfortably two sets to nil 11-7, 11-9, but then failed to control Ljubic who fought his way back into the match 11-7, 11-7. In the end Ljubic took control of the game and only allowed Dorman 4 points in the fifth set to win easily.
Both Bernadette and Peter Fitzpatrick contributed one rubber, both defeating Brian Hosking, and coupled with Dorman’s victories and the doubles it was enough to get them home.
They will have to lift their game next time.
Bishop Builders and Mallee Bearings followed up wins in Round One with a further win in this round. Bishop Builders win was fairly easy, and Mallee Bearings recorded a convincing win.
PENNANT THREE:
– Fishers IGA 7 (Cole Keegan 3, Sam Hensgen 2, Helen Frania 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Karly Leach 2, Mick Bacon 1)
These two sides were defeated last week, and so were keen to put a score on the board.
In a strong team performance Fishers IGA won this encounter 7 rubbers to 4. Captain Cole Keegan won three singles, Sam Hensgen two, and Helen Frania one.
Keegan had a tough first-up match with Karly Leach. After leading two sets to love 11-6, 11-9, Leach forced her way back into the game to square at 11-9, 13-11. The game was up for grabs in the fifth, but Keegan had enough in reserve to get him over the line 11-9 to record a good victory. He later defeated Quentin Clark in three sets and Mick Bacon in four.
Hensgen had an interesting night. He met Quentin Clark first up, and found that after leading two love, Clark grabbed a set from him. This is Clark’s first year of table tennis, and is improving rapidly. Hensgen had to regroup, which he did, and took the fourth. Later he had a slugfest with Mick Bacon. After losing the first set, Hensgen took control to lead two sets to one, only for Bacon to take the fourth and force the match to the fifth set. Sam prevailed against Mick, and took the win. However, when he met Karly Leach, he was not so lucky. Same scenario, lost the first, took the next two, Leach took the fourth, and she then went on to dominate the fifth 11-4.
Helen Frania chipped in with a win for her side, taking a hard-fought five setter against Clark 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-0, 11-6. The doubles went one apiece, Bacon and Leach controlling their match against Keegan and Hensgen 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. Keegan and Frania, however, were too good for Bacon and Clark taking that match 11-4, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10.
So despite a 7-4 scoreline, Pinnacle Packers proved they are no easy pushover. The game scores tell the real story, 24 games to Fishers to the Packers 21.
– Bishop Builders 7 (Claire Ljubic 3, Graham Southwell, Sosefa Fevaleaki 2) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Jessica Dorman 2)
Bishop Builders recorded their second win of the season, this week downing Dunkley Scales, who likewise lost for the second straight week. This game was close, although the rubbers’ score does not say so. The game score was much closer, 23 to the Builders and 21 to Dunkley Scales.
For the Builders, Claire Ljubic won three singles and her team-mates Graham Southwell and Sosefa Tevaleaki two each.
Ljubic held fill-in Peter Edwards at bay in her first match, winning in three sets, it took her an additional set to defeat Shirley Whitecross, and she had a good tussle with Jessica Dorman to take that match. Ljubic was the steadier player, as Dorman won more points 46 to 43.
Graham Southwell won two rubbers, both in four sets, these against Edwards and Whitecross, and similarly Tevaleaki won his two rubbers against these two same opponents, but in four and five sets. His match against Edwards was a beauty. Edwards seemed to have control of the match after two sets, when he led 11-9, 11-6. Tevaleaki however, had other ideas and playing his best so far, took the third 12-10, the fourth 14-12 and outlasted Edwards in the fifth 11-9.
An interesting match, and one which stood at 4 rubbers all after the second doubles – both doubles incidentally won by the Dunkley Scales team. There are some good players on both these sides, with many more good clashes to come throughout the season, no doubt.
– Mallee Bearings 9 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Michael Hensgen 3, Peter Edwards 2) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Glen Bell 1)
Mallee Bearings followed up their 7-4 win from Round One with a resounding 9-2 victory in this round.
Weightmans were without their captain Peter Kelly and number two Peter Mikhaeil, replaced by Glen Bell and Carlos Williams respectively.
For the winners, Sabrina Fitzpatrick won three singles again, as did her deputy Michael Hensgen. Peter Edwards, unable to get a win as a fill-in in the Bishop Builders-Dunkley Scales match, chalked up two singles wins here, and for the second week running, winning his doubles match with captain Sabrina Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick accounted for Hosking and Williams in four sets each, but faced much sterner opposition in Glen Bell. Bell took the first two sets 11-8, 11-8, but Fitzpatrick stuck to her game plan and forced the match to the fifth set, after taking the third and fourth 12-10, 14-12. In the fifth, Bell made a couple of mistakes to give Fitzpatrick the break she needed to take the set 11-8.
Michael Hensgen backed up his captain beautifully with his three game haul, surprisingly he had less trouble with Bell – beating him in four, but had to work harder against Hosking and Williams. He needed five sets to defeat both these players. It appears that Hensgen may be a slow starter. In both these matches he was two sets to love down, before he found touch and took the next three.
Peter Edwards downed Williams in five and Hosking in three, and looked a chance against Glen Bell. Edwards took a hard-fought first set 14-12, narrowly conceded the second 10-12, fought back to take the third 14-12, but then ran out of puff, losing the next two 4-11, 3-11.
That win by Bell, plus the first doubles when Bell and Williams defeated Fitzpatrick and Hensgen, were the only two rubbers for the Weightmans side. However, there was only one three set match, and six five set matches. So, although the score was fairly lopsided 9-2, there was a lot of table tennis played and the Mallee Bearings side had to work hard for every victory.
