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PENNANT ONE:
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Mark Dorman, Graeme O’Neill, Peter Midgley 2) d Fishers IGA 4 (Dillon Chambers 3);
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Joel Dorman, Jackson Tung, John Gray 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Shannon Bowen 2, Shane Carmichael 1)
PENNANT TWO:
– Tankard Dental 8 (Andrew Jones 3, Connor Lavery, Robert Chiswell 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Ashley Morrison 2);
– Spanline 6 (Arnold Jago, Arthur Paar 2, Laurie Plummer 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Daniel Jansen 3, Leon Brown 1);
– Fishers IGA 6 (Seval Fuat 3, Sony Sefer 2) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Bernadette Fitzpatrick 2, Ross Humphreys, Matthew Burns 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Darren Greaves 2, Jeremy Corrin 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Kyle Moore 3, Mick Bacon 1);
– Max Miller Carpets 9 (Matt Ljubic 3, Emily Carmichael, Karly Leach 2) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Ian Kelly, Sabrina Fitzpatrick 1)
PENNANT FOUR:
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Sam Hensgen 3, Cole Keegan, Michael Hensgen 1) d Fishers IGA 4 (Ryan Hensgen, Helen Frania 2);
– Bishop Builders 6 (Sam Hensgen 3, Paul Fitzpatrick 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Claire Ljubic 2, Ellie Midgley, Shirley Whitecross 1)
PENNANT ONE
Going into this round bye team Mallee Bearings (Wayne Carmichael, Ed Hung and Jackson Murphy) sat two games clear at the top of the ladder from Fishers IGA (Dillon Chambers, Kevin Johns and Peter Bishop) and Weightmans Packaging ( Mark Dorman, Graeme O’Neill and Peter Midgley). This was an important round given that Fishers and Weightmans matched up against each other with the victor to go one win clear of the other in the race for the double chance as the finals near.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Mark Dorman, Graeme O’Neill, Peter Midgley 2) d Fishers IGA 4 (Dillon Chambers 3)
With Kevin Johns overseas watching the US Golf Open Jackson Murphy fresh from a visit to Thailand came in to the Fishers team, in this important round ten match. The winner would grab the all important double chance. Graeme O’Neill was able to reverse an earlier season loss to Peter Bishop by winning in four sets to give Weightmans a good start. Weightmans grabbed the momentum early to go to a 4-1 lead. The first doubles was a solid win in straight sets by Mark Dorman and O’Neill over Dillon Chambers and Jackson Murphy. Fishers grabbed three of the four following matches to slightly recover to a 4-5 deficit after Dillon Chambers accounted for Mark Dorman in a good contest 11-5 12-10 13-11. In the second Dorman led 10-7 before Chambers rattled off five points in succession. Dorman also had his chances in the third however the youngster relying on all out attack stayed steady against his experienced opponent.
When the in form Weightmans Peter Midgley defeated Peter Bishop in the following singles Weightmans had grabbed the points. In the final rubber Graeme O’Neill accounted for Jackson Murphy giving Weightmans a solid 7-4 victory and outright second place on the ladder. Next round they meet top team Mallee Bearings for a shot at top position, another important match.
For Weightmans all their team Mark Dorman, Graeme O’Neill and Peter Midgley won two singles each. In particular Midge’s results were very good and his form of late has been impressive. Last round he defeated young talent Joel Dorman and in this round along with his two singles victories he also took a game off young champ Dillon Chambers after losing the first game 11-13. If he continues to offer this support to Dorman and O’Neill, Weightmans will be a difficult combination to handle as the finals near.
Again in this contest Dillon Chambers won three singles to show his class and he remains undefeated in singles this season. He is just back from a successful Country Championships campaign where his composite team just missed out on winning the final and where he finished equal first in the singles aggregate in the second highest grade at the Championships.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Joel Dorman, Jackson Tung, John Gray 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Shannon Bowen 2, Shane Carmichael 1)
By winning 7-4 Max Miller Carpets have opened up a three game gap over Pinnacle Packers and now seem safe in the top four unless the Packers can mount a late charge. For the Carpeters Joel Dorman, Jackson Tung and John Gray all won two singles. Number three Gray has proven a reliable contributor over the season and if he can maintain his form and encourage his younger team mates the Carpeters combination could advance further up the ladder.
In this match the Carpeters started well, dropped off in the middle stages and then stormed home. The match between Jackson Tung and Packers Shane Carmichael was a highlight and close all the way. Tung prevailed 10-12 11-9 15-17 11-8 11-8 to record his second win of the night. This victory gave his team their sixth rubber of the night and the all important four points. Both doubles went to five sets with each team recording a victory. The first featured Shannon Bowen and Shane Carmichael combining to win 8-11 11-9 4-11 11-8 12-10 in an exciting finish over Jackson Tung and John Gray. The second doubles was a victory to Tung and Joel Dorman over Bowen and Lee Thomas 11-6 8-11 11-9 8-11 11-7 another good five set contest.
PENNANT TWO
Daniel Jansen joins Sony Sefer at the head of the aggregate table again, and a surprise win by a fill-in from Pennant Three.
– Spanline 6 (Arnold Jago, Arthur Paar 2, Laurie Plummer 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Daniel Jansen 3, Leon Brown 1);
A solid team effort from the experienced Spanline trio was enough to earn them the four points from this match with Pinnacle Packers. Captain Arthur Paar, and his deputy Arnold Jago both won two singles, neither of them being able to overcome Pinnacle Packers captain Daniel Jansen, and added to a singles victory by Laurie Plummer and one doubles victory, Spanline did enough to win. As indicated, Jansen bagged another three rubber haul for his losing side (and moves to joint number one on the aggregate), Leon Brown contributing a further singles rubber, and the two of them combined in their doubles match-up against Paar and Plummer to take the other doubles match. Paar got a real fright in the first match of the night when he took on Leon Brown. Paar had to fight like mad to get the first set 16-14 against his younger opponent, before taking the second 11-4. 
Brown was far from out of it though, and hit back in the next two sets, taking them 11-9, 11-5. Brown did not let go, and it took all of Paar’s experience to find enough holes in Brown’s game to take the fifth 11-9. Jansen immediately squared the scores at 1-1 with a four set victory over Arnold Jago 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10. Laurie Plummer then played the ever-improving Glen Bell, and although this match was decided in three sets, Plummer by no means had an easy victory in his 14-12, 11-4, 19-17 win. Jansen and Brown then won their doubles match against Paar and Plummer to make the scores 2-2. Sadly, Pinnacle Packers could only win one of the next five rubbers, and the match was lost after the first of the final round of singles . One match which did stand out though, was Jansen’s tough win against the resurgent Laurie Plummer. Jansen was down two sets to love 9-11, 8-11, before he worked Plummer out. He took the third set confidently 11-2, but was a little lucky to survive the third, but did and took it 11-9. By then he had Plummer’s measure, and took the fifth 11-6. After the match had been decided in Spanline’s favour, Plummer played in another five-setter, this time against Leon Brown. Brown was leading two sets to love 11-9, 12-10, but just to prove there is life in the old dog yet, Plummer struck back in the third and fourth 11-8, 11-7 to level at 2 sets all. But Plummer ran out of puff in the fifth, and Brown cruised home 11-5, to take the match. Jansen took the final match of the night against his opposite number Arthur Paar, not giving Paar many chances to smash away winners, and took the match 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-7. These last two victories by the Pinnacle Packers team brought the losing scoreline to a respectable 6-5 and 25 games to 19.
– Tankard Dental 8 (Andrew Jones 3, Connor Lavery, Robert Chiswell 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Ashley Morrison 2)
Mallee Bearings continued their free-fall down the ladder, losing this week to Tankard Dental. These two teams now swap position on the ladder, Tankard’s going into third spot. The stand-out player in this match was Tankard’s number two Andrew Jones. 
Jones was too consistent, with his nagging play, and dropped only one set on his way to grabbing three singles rubbers. The only set he lost was the very first in his clash with Ashley Morrison (perhaps he wasn’t warmed up !!). After that, he conceded points as follows against his three opponents 9, 8, 7 (Morrison), 9, 5, 9 (Alex Keegan), and 3, 5, 4 (Peter Fitzpatrick). Jones finished off a good night, joining Robert Chiswell in the doubles and winning that 12-10, 9-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-5. Connor Lavery continued his good form, grabbing another two singles wins, although Peter Fitzpatrick did frustrate him in their match, coming back from a two set deficit 5-11, 7-11 to level at 2 all with a gutsy 12-10, 14-12 performance in the third and fourth sets. Fitzpatrick could not keep it up though, and Lavery got away to a good start in the fifth, never looked back, and took the set and match 11-6. Lavery lost to Ashley Morrison in straight sets, before overcoming Alex Keegan in four. Robert Chiswell won two rubbers (against Keegan in three sets and Fitzpatrick in four), but could not handle Morrison and lost 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 9-11. The contributors for Mallee Bearings then were Ashley Morrison with two wins (Lavery and Chiswell), and the doubles win with Fitzpatrick, that entertaining match going down to the wire 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5. Mallee Bearings are now only two games clear of the team in fifth, Pinnacle Packers.
– Fishers IGA 6 (Seval Fuat 3, Sony Sefer 2) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Bernadette Fitzpatrick 2, Ross Humphreys, Matthew Burns 1)
Max Miller Carpets won this match everywhere except on the scoreboard. Consider this, winners Fishers IGA won the night 6 rubbers to 5 and scored 18 games to the losers 24. 18 games – that means that the only games they amassed were the ones they won. The rubbers they lost, they lost to love (i.e. in the minimum three sets). Max Millers on the other hand, lost six rubbers, losing one 3-0, one 3-1 and four 3-2. They lost begrudgingly. “Steady” Seval Fuat kept the games ticking over for his side, winning three singles. Old foe Ross Humphreys made him work for his win in their match, keeping him on the table for five sets 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4. His next opponent was fill-in Pennant Three player Bernadette Fitzpatrick. Bernadette seemed to have the answers to Seval’s game, taking the first 12-10. Seval dug deep to save the second 14-12. Bernadette rushed to a 2-1 lead in the third winning it 11-5, but Seval hit back 11-6 in the fourth. Not many chances came Seval’s way in the fifth, but the ones that did, he took, and that was enough to get him home 11-6. Seval admitted being happy to get off the table with his life still intact !! Fuat’s third opponent wasn’t about to ease up either, Matthew Burns was full of fight and desperate for a win. Once again Seval had to work overtime against his younger opponent, winning the first in a close 11-9, but immediately dropping the second easily 3-11. Fuat regained his composure to take the next in a closer third 11-7, but again Burns was having nothing of this, and claimed the fourth 11-6. The two of them went toe to toe in the fifth, but Fuat found enough opportunities, and took the fifth 11-8. Aggregate leader Sony Sefer could not match his teammate for wins, and on this occasion could only contribute two rubbers to his team’s tally. He took a tradesman-like four set win over Matthew Burns, before giving Ross Humphreys no chances, in a three set win. Sony then met Bernadette Fitzpatrick in the last match of the evening. The first set was close all the way through, something not uncommon in some of the most mismatched games, as the players discover their opponents strengths and weaknesses. But when it got to 11 all and 12 all, it became apparent that Sony had a problem – Bernadette. 
Sony is a great scrambler, and retriever. That, however, was not enough against this opponent, and Bernadette was not afraid to let fly with her trademark forehand drives. Some missed, but enough hit the table, that Sony eventually could not retrieve. First set to Bernadette 15-13. Sony was shell-shocked. Shaking his head, he lined up for the second set (or second dose). Again he stuck close to his opponent, but once again did not have the answer, and Bernadette was home 11-9. A supreme effort was called for in the third to save the match. But alas, no amount of variation or scrambling was enough to save him from the inevitable. 
Bernadette put Sony out of his misery at 14-12. A stunning victory, and a few other Pennant Two captains were seen to be lining up, asking Bernadette (very nicely) if perhaps, would she like to play for them some time? !! For Max Millers, apart from this victory, Fitzpatrick also took little time, and only three sets, to add a further rubber against Colin Moore. Her teammates Humphreys and Burns, could also only claim one scalp each, this being Moore, who had a very quiet night. There were four five set rubbers in this match, and the Carpeters failed to win one of them. This is probably as close as a team will come to winning without actually doing it. By virtue of only winning two rubbers, Sony is now (again) joined at the head of the aggregate table by Daniel Jansen.
PENNANT THREE
The two top teams played the two bottom teams in this Round 10 clash. The results were two big wins for the top teams.
– Max Miller Carpets 9 (Matt Ljubic 3, Emily Carmichael, Karly Leach 2) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Ian Kelly, Sabrina Fitzpatrick 1)
Max Miller Carpets won this match in a canter. Captain Matt Ljubic has become one of the players of the pennant, and is now picking up three singles wins each week, and on this occasion won his three rubbers without dropping a set. Added to this is the fact that his team-mates are able to play each week, so the team has stability. Pinnacle Packers on the other hand has not had that stability. In this match both captain Damen Southgate and number two Gary Hughes were away, so number three Leonie Dunkley had the help of Ian Kelly and Sabrina Fitzpatrick. Max Millers were far too good, taking the match 9 rubbers to 2. Seven of the rubbers they won were decided in the minimum three sets. Both Emily Carmichael and Karly Leach won two singles, being beaten by Ian Kelly and Sabrina Fitzpatrick respectively in the first round of singles. 
In fact Karly and Sabrina played in the only five set match of the night. These two always have a good tussle and obviously look forward to playing each other. The result this time went to Sabrina 10-12, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5. Later in the night Karly had to work to overcome both Ian Kelly and the ever-improving Leonie Dunkley, taking four sets in each before claiming victory. Both the doubles went the way of the Carpeters, Ljubic and Carmichael overcoming the spirited duo of Ian Kelly and Sabrina Fitzpatrick in the first. Although decided in three sets, the losers were far from disgraced, going down 13-11, 11-4, 15-13. So, a good percentage earner for the Max Miller team, 9 rubbers to 2 and 30 games to 8.
– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Darren Greaves 2, Jeremy Corrin 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Kyle Moore 3, Mick Bacon 1);
Weightmans Packaging took this match 8 rubbers to 3. A score like that might indicate a one-sided match, but this one was far from that. For only the second time this season, Weightmans number one Darren Greaves failed to win three rubbers, going down to Kyle Moore, making a welcome return to fill in for Peter Kelly. Greaves’ two rubbers now leaves him only one game clear on the aggregate from the fast-closing Matt Ljubic. Weightmans number two Lachlan Kelly played probably his best table tennis of the season, winning all three singles rubbers; outlasting Kyle Moore to take that match in five sets, needing only three sets against Mick Bacon, and again fighting hard against Vaughan Waters to win their match also in five sets. Both doubles matches went the way of the victors, and again they were five set affairs, and could have just as easily gone to Fishers. Kyle Moore and Vaughan Waters led their doubles against Weightmans duo Darren Greaves and Lachlan Kelly two sets to love 11-8, 13-11, but did not have the answers from then on. 
Greaves and Kelly took the tight third set 11-9, then asserted their superiority taking the next two 11-6, 11-5. In the second doubles Fishers again led two sets to one, this time Moore paired with Mick Bacon. After losing the first 11-1, they came back strongly to lead after taking the second and third 11-9, 11-7. But once again Greaves, this time partnered by Jeremy Corrin, wore their opponents down and proved too good, taking the fourth and fifth sets 11-7, 13-11. Five set matches always indicate that both sides are relatively equal, and that both sides have roughly equal chances of winning. In this match there were six five set contests, and tellingly the losers Fishers could only convert one of those rubbers into a win. A match, then, which was closer than it looks on the scoresheet, Weightmans winning 8 rubbers to 3, and 27 games to 19.
PENNANT FOUR
This pennant is really hotting up now with top team Max Miller Carpets going two games clear at the top of the ladder. The remaining three teams are only separated by one win in an amazing race for the valuable double chance.
The big question being asked is what has happened to the previously all conquering “girl power” team. Only three rounds ago it was suggested that the shield could be engraved with Mallee Bearings name as the girls had won five in succession and looking unbeatable. Now after three losses in as many weeks the situation has changed, can they recover?
– Bishop Builders 6 (Sam Hensgen 3, Paul Fitzpatrick 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Claire Ljubic 2, Ellie Midgley, Shirley Whitecross 1)
Bottom team Bishop Builders started this match slowly to trail 1-2. Builders skipper Sam Hensgen had his hands full in the second match of the night before taking the points 6-11 11-9 11-4 8-11 11-7 against fast improving Ellie Midgley. Another five setter in the next singles resulted in Mallee Bearings number one Claire Ljubic defeat the talented Paul Fitzpatrick in a thriller 11-5 8-11 12-10 10-12 12-10. Young Fitzpatrick due to filling in commitments was actually playing the girls for the fourth round in succession. He has proven to be a thorn to the girl’s side!
Fitzpatrick combined in the first doubles with Hensgen to defeat Ljubic and Shirley Whitecross in four sets to level the match. In his second singles Paul again was involved in another five setter, this time a triumph over Ellie Midgley 9-11 11-8 10-12 11-8 11-5 a good come back after being under pressure. The second doubles saw the match levelled at four rubbers all when Claire Ljubic and Ellie Midgley combined to defeat Sam Hensgen and fill in Sonya Shalliker 9-11 13-11 5-11 11-5 11-7.
The two number one’s then matched up with Hensgen proving too good for Ljubic winning in three sets in a high quality match. The Builders then grabbed their first win for a month when Paul Fitzpatrick accounted for Shirley Whitecross in straight sets. Midgley defeated Shalliker in the last to improve the score line however this had been an excellent 6-5 win by Bishop Builders against the more fancied team.
In the wash up Sam Hensgen had won three singles while Paul Fitzpatrick had won two. They had combined to win the first doubles to cap off a good night. For Mallee Bearings Claire Ljubic continued her good season winning two singles.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Sam Hensgen 3, Cole Keegan, Michael Hensgen 1) d Fishers IGA 4 (Ryan Hensgen, Helen Frania 2)
Ladder leaders Max Miller Carpets went into this match without skipper Ben Hosking who was unwell and Georgia Tilley unavailable. They were replaced by the busy Sam Hensgen and his brother Michael Hensgen who was playing his first competition match. The ladder leaders were off to a flyer to lead 4-1 courtesy of Michael Hensgen winning his first match at the expense of Kerryn Greaves. Sam Hensgen then gained some revenge for his recent defeat at the hands of Helen Frania when he nervously came back from a two games to love deficit to win 7-11 7-11 11-3 11-3 11-1, comfortable in the end but not an ideal start.Fishers improved the score to 3-4 when Helen Frania accounted for “Consistent” Cole Keegan 11-8 5-11 6-11 11-9 11-7 a great win by Helen. The Carpeters then took control to grab the next three rubbers and the match points to go two wins clear at the top of the ladder. In the second doubles Sam and Michael Hensgen combined to defeat brother Ryan and Helen Frania in a stirring come back 5-11 5-11 11-5 11-9 11-9. Then in the very next match Sam took the points in an impressive display 10-12 11-6 11-5 11-8 against Ryan Hensgen.
Given that Sam had won three singles in his own match, with this defeat of Ryan, he now moved one game clear in the singles race. As a fill in Sam had won three singles while team mates Cole Keegan and Michael Hensgen won one each. Victory in both doubles made the win more comfortable. For Fishers both Ryan Hensgen and Helen Frania won two singles. Frania has been a big improver over the past couple of rounds as she gets more knowledge of her opponents.
PENNANT ONE:
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Mark Dorman, Graeme O’Neill, Peter Midgley 2) d Fishers IGA 4 (Dillon Chambers 3);
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Joel Dorman, Jackson Tung, John Gray 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Shannon Bowen 2, Shane Carmichael 1)
PENNANT TWO:
– Tankard Dental 8 (Andrew Jones 3, Connor Lavery, Robert Chiswell 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Ashley Morrison 2);
– Spanline 6 (Arnold Jago, Arthur Paar 2, Laurie Plummer 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Daniel Jansen 3, Leon Brown 1);
– Fishers IGA 6 (Seval Fuat 3, Sony Sefer 2) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Bernadette Fitzpatrick 2, Ross Humphreys, Matthew Burns 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Darren Greaves 2, Jeremy Corrin 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Kyle Moore 3, Mick Bacon 1);
– Max Miller Carpets 9 (Matt Ljubic 3, Emily Carmichael, Karly Leach 2) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Ian Kelly, Sabrina Fitzpatrick 1)
PENNANT FOUR:
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Sam Hensgen 3, Cole Keegan, Michael Hensgen 1) d Fishers IGA 4 (Ryan Hensgen, Helen Frania 2);
– Bishop Builders 6 (Sam Hensgen 3, Paul Fitzpatrick 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Claire Ljubic 2, Ellie Midgley, Shirley Whitecross 1)
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907 or 5023 7907.
