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Sunraysia Table Tennis Summer Pennant results Grand Finals: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Peter Midgley 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Gavin Carmichael 2, Jackson Tung 1)
PENNANT TWO:
– Spanline 6 (Arthur Paar 3, Matt Ljubic 2) d Fishers IGA 5 (Seval Fuat 2, Denise Henderson, Peter Fitzpatrick, 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Sunny Daily 6 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Matt Johns, Mick Bacon 1) dMax Miller Carpets 4 (David Balshaw 2, Brian Hosking 1)
PENNANT FOUR:-
– Max Miller Carpets 6 (Cole Keegan 2, Michael Hensgen, Shirley Whitecross 1) d Bishop Builders 2 (Josh Carmichael 2)
PENNANT ONE:
– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Peter Midgley 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Gavin Carmichael 2, Jackson Tung 1)
Pinnacle Packers are the deserved premiers of the Sunraysia Table Tennis summer pennant after accounting for their opponents Fishers IGA 6-3 in the pennant one grand final. The Packers combination of Wayne Carmichael, Kevin Johns and Peter Midgley lost only one match in the ten round lead up to the finals. Carmichael for the umpteenth time won the singles aggregate, by a healthy margin and their doubles combinations were successful and full of experience.
The grand final started well for Fishers who took a two rubbers to one lead after the first block of three singles.
The first match featured Fishers Jackson Tung against the experienced Kevin Johns, during the season these two had fought out two tough matches with honours even. In this match Tung took the initiative early and was able to maintain the edge throughout winning 11-6 11-9 11-4. The next two matches went as expected with Packers skipper defeating Sony Sefer and Fishers Gavin Carmichael accounting for Peter Midgley both in straight sets.
The first doubles was vital to both teams and when Fishers pair Gavin Carmichael and Jackson Tung took a two games to one lead over Wayne Carmichael and Kevin Johns things were looking good for Fishers however in a flash the Packers pair turned the match dominating the fourth and fifth to win 11-9 10-12 11-13 11-5 11-6.
Instead of almost trailing one to three the Packers had levelled the contest at two rubbers all in great style.
Wayne Carmichael then defeated Jackson Tung in straight sets while Fishers Gavin Carmichael followed that up with a three set victory over Kevin Johns, the score now three rubbers all. The two number three players, Peter Midgley for Pinnacle Packers and Sony Sefer then matched up against each other. 
Midgley with his slice serve and follow up forehands dominated the first two games while Sefer battled well in the third in an attempt to extend the match, however the experienced Midgley proved too steady winning in three 11-1 11-3 11-9. Pinnacle Packers leading into the second doubles had taken a four rubbers to three lead.
The Fishers pair of Gavin Carmichael and Sony Sefer desperately needed this doubles match against the combination of Wayne Carmichael and Peter Midgley and they, like in the first doubles, got off to a good start taking a two games to one lead before the Packers pair stayed alive grabbing the fourth narrowly. The fifth was a non event as Carmichael and Midgley took command and went on to win 9-11 11-4 8-11 11-9 11-3. The Packers team now took a commanding 5-3 lead with their skipper Wayne Carmichael to front up against Fishers captain Gavin Carmichael.
Carmichael G knew it was now or never and in a great start he took the first and also enjoyed a healthy 9-6 lead in the second before Wayne Carmichael as he has done many times in the past lifted a gear when he needed to. After many fine rallies Carmichael W grabbed the second after trailing and then proceeded to command the third and fourth to win 11-13 13-11 11-5 11-4. 
Statisticians at the match agreed that defeat for Wayne Carmichael in singles in a final over the past twenty five years could be counted on one hand.
The Pinnacle Packers trio of Wayne Carmichael, Kevin Johns and Peter Midgley had won the grand final 6-3 and were recipients of the Bill Rowe and Kevin Johns Perpetual shield.In the grand final skipper Wayne Carmichael had shown the way winning three singles as well as taking part in both doubles victories.
Peter Midgley had also chipped in with an important singles victory.
For Fishers both Jackson Tung and Gavin Carmichael both won two singles however the Fishers team were left to lament what could have been if they had been able to even grab one doubles. By losing both in five sets they virtually ruled out any chance of success.
PENNANT TWO
– Spanline 6 (Arthur Paar 3, Matt Ljubic 2) d Fishers IGA 5 (Seval Fuat 2, Denise Henderson, Peter Fitzpatrick, 1)
A match winning performance by Matt Ljubic contributed to his side’s six rubbers to five victory in the Pennant Two Summer Grand Final. Ljubic is the “coming-man”, in Sunraysia table tennis, and his rise in the last twelve months through the ranks now makes him a feared opponent in this pennant.
Ljubic put his mark on this match in the very first rubber in his confrontation with Denise Henderson. A very careful first set went to Henderson 11-9, Ljubic squared taking the second 11-7. Henderson responded taking the third 11-8, and seemed to have the match in her keeping at 8-4 in the fourth, only for Ljubic to reel off seven straight points to take the set and square up the match. Ljubic was then in full flight, and Henderson in defence-mode.
At the changeover in the fifth, Ljubic led 5-1, and as Henderson seemed unable to get a foot-hold in the game in a wink it was 9-2. At that point, Denise started the long process of trying to save the match. Point by point she edged closer, with Ljubic now starting to show signs of strain. Denise worked her way back to 10-9, but that is where the fairy tale stopped. A relieved Matt took the set 11-9 to give first blood to Spanline. That really was one that got away from Fishers, and Spanline were understandably jubilant.
Arthur Parr, as expected defeated Peter Fitzpatrick. Paar mesmerised Fitzpatrick in the first two sets 11-3, 11-2, before Fitzpatrick got a grip on the match to make a game of it. He took the third 11-9, but Paar won in the fourth 11-9.
Seval Fuat gave Fishers their first win with a comfortable win over Laurie Plummer 11-9, 11-4, 11-8. Plummer, who prior to the Grand Final loudly proclaimed, “This team has over 150 years experience. We are ready to go back to back” was not to contribute on the scoreboard to that success !
The score was then two rubbers to one, and with the first doubles coming up, the Fishers pair of Henderson and Fuat went to the table quietly confident of making the score two rubbers all. Bear in mind, this combination had not been beaten all season, winning each of their seven match-ups.
Their opposition was Paar and Ljubic who had won only three doubles matches. Fishers took the first set easily 11-5, only for Paar and Ljubic to move their game up a notch, and they took the second 13-11. They continued on, ripping through the Fishers pair 11-3 in the third, before Henderson and Fuat steadied with an 11-5 win in the fourth. Phew ! The fifth was close, but not close enough, Spanline eked out a narrow margin, and held it to the finish 11-8. Another unexpected loss to Fishers, and Spanline had a real spring in their step.
At three rubbers to one down, Fishers needed a win and when Henderson led Paar 11-7, 12-10 in the next rubber, it seemed it was on its way. Alas, Paar, playing very aggressively, came back in the next three 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 to put another nail in the Fishers’ coffin. Four rubbers to one.
Next up was Fuat and Ljubic. Could Ljubic pull another surprise? Well, not this time. Fuat, playing at his most careful, refused to give Ljubic even a millimetre of room to get onto his driving forehands. Fuat won this rubber 11-8, 11-6, 12-10. Four rubbers to two.
If Fishers were to have any hope, Fitzpatrick needed to get a result in the next rubber against Laurie Plummer. The first two sets were even, each playing winning one 11-8; Fitzpatrick then took the third in a close 12-10 win, and Plummer faded in the fourth 11-5, to give the win to Fishers.
And Fishers then squared the match at four all. Fuat and Fitzpatrick, who together have won six times this season, made it seven wins, dominating Paar and Plummer 11-5, 11-9, 11-8.
That left the final round of singles to decide this nail-biter. Paar immediately took the advantage back, in a masterful display over Fuat. Fuat had no answer to Paar’s aggression and could do little. Paar won impressively 11-3, 11-5, 11-7.
Denise Henderson won her first rubber, downing “we have experience” Plummer 11-7, 11-7, 11-6.
And so is came down to the last rubber between Ljubic and Fitzpatrick to decide the Grand Final. Ljubic annihilated Fitzpatrick losing just ten points along the way in his 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 win.
Spanline are the worthy winners, Fishers can rue their missed opportunities, but Spanline took full advantage of the ones that came their way. Arthur Paar was a man on a mission in this match, and Matt Ljubic simply played his own game, which is becoming formidable.
PENNANT THREE
– Sunny Daily 6 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Matt Johns, Mick Bacon 1) dMax Miller Carpets 4 (David Balshaw 2, Brian Hosking 1)
Sunny Daily are the Pennant Three Summer Premiers for 2012. Following on from their dominant performance in the Knockout Final, when they obliterated their opposition in that game 6-0, the Dailies continued their march, taking the Premiership in this match 6-4.
Max Millers were unfortunately without their number one George Papanicolaou, and he was replaced by David Balshaw.
Sunny Daily started the night well, with both Matt Johns and Lachlan Kelly recording wins in the first two rubbers.
Johns met Ryan Hensgen in his match, and after a spirited start by Hensgen in the first two sets, won in four 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7.
Lachlan Kelly served notice that he was in no mood for defeat, and promptly took aggregate winner Brian Hosking out in three sets 11-4, 11-4, 12-10. Honours between these two have been shared equally during the season, Kelly winning in Round 2 in five sets, and Hosking in Round 5 in four.
The Dailies looked like they were on track to make it three nil when Mick Bacon zipped through the first two sets against David Balshaw to lead 11-5, 11-5.
Balshaw though, with dogged determination refused to let the match get away from him and put a halt to Bacon with a 12-10 win in the third. Now with a set under his belt, 
Balshaw dug in and although the match was not very pretty, Balshaw got home 11-8, 12-10 to record his team’s first rubber.
Balshaw stayed at the table for the first doubles, teaming up with Hosking, and continued the good work squaring the match at two all with a four set win over Kelly and Johns 11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6.
Kelly made it three rubbers to two in the next rubber. Meeting Ryan Hensgen, he wasted no time recording the win 11-7, 11-3, 11-2.
Max Millers were served well by Balshaw in the next rubber against Matt Johns. Once again he dropped the first two sets, this time much more closely (11-9, 11-9), and then started his comeback. He took the third 11-7, the fourth 11-8 and the fifth a close 12-10 to once again square the match, now at three all.
Max Millers took the lead with the result of the next rubber, Hosking drubbing Mick Bacon in three 11-4, 11-8, 11-2.
That unfortunately, is where their charge for the flag ended. The next three rubbers all went to the Dailies.
Kelly and Bacon downed Balshaw and Hensgen in four sets, Lachlan Kelly won his third singles, again in three sets, this time against Balshaw 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 and to top the night off, Mick Bacon took the sixth and pennant-winning rubber in what was a very sweet victory for him. Mick occupies bottom spot on the aggregate, and his opponent in this rubber Ryan Hensgen seventh.
Bacon held his nerve in the first two sets, taking them 15-13, 12-10. Hensgen looked like he was in with a chance taking the third 11-7, but Bacon promptly shut him out in the fourth, taking it, the match and the premiership 11-7.
This was a deserved win for the Dailies. Captain Lachlan Kelly probably playing his best this season, each of his singles being decided in only three sets. Mick Bacon, too, a fighting loss to David Balshaw in the first round of singles, and then as just mentioned his win in the last. For Max Millers, Brian Hosking had a quiet night, after being swept aside by Kelly in his first singles, and David Balshaw the pick of the team, winning two singles.
PENNANT FOUR
– Max Miller Carpets 6 (Cole Keegan 2, Michael Hensgen, Shirley Whitecross 1) d Bishop Builders 2 (Josh Carmichael 2)
Going into this match Max Miller Carpets were slight favourites having finished third on the ladder while their opponents had finished fourth. It was a great achievement by both teams just to make the final as in the semis they needed to account for teams that finished higher on the ladder.On paper the Carpeters combination of Cole Keegan, Shirley Whitecross and Michael Hensgen looked a more balanced team however the opposition Builders team of Ben Hosking, Joshua Carmichael and Sonya Shalliker could not be written off. Their leading player Joshua Carmichael had won the singles aggregate by a healthy margin.
Once the players had tossed the coin and decided who were the home and away team the action began with Builders Sonya Shalliker matched up against Shirley Whitecross. 
Shalliker tried hard in the first however just came up short against the steady Shirley and it was Whitecross who was to get the Carpeters off to a good start with a 11-7 11-5 11-5 victory. After the first block of three singles the Carpeters took a 2-1 lead. 
The second singles featured Joshua Carmichael for the Builders defeating the fast improving Michael Hensgen 11-8 11-6 11-7. The third match was to see the two skippers and winter premiership team mates face each other and it Carpeters Cole Keegan who proved too steady for finals specialist Ben Hosking winning 11-5 11-9 11-4.
The first doubles was now crucial particularly for Bishop Builders. Their combination of Joshua Carmichael and Ben Hosking were up against Cole Keegan and Michael Hensgen. Keegan and Hensgen would prove too steady and went on to win 11-6 11-4 11-9. The Carpeters now enjoyed a 3-1 lead which was immediately reduced when Carmichael accounted for Shirley Whitecross 11-7 11-2 11-5. 
As expected the in form Cole Keegan then accounted for Sonya Shalliker which again gave the Carpeters a 2 rubber margin. They now took a 4-2 lead.
The next match featured Michael Hensgen for the Carpeters up against Builders Ben Hosking and the first three games were a real highlight as each player did not give an inch. Hensgen grabbed the first by the barest of margins as he did in the second. Hosking fought back to take the third narrowly however Hensgen stamped his authority on the match in the fourth taking this game comfortably. The score line of 14-12 11-9 12-14 11-5 in Hensgen’s favour indicated a top match and that it was.
With a 5-2 lead the Carpeters went into the second doubles confidently knowing they now were well on top. Skipper Cole Keegan and Shirley Whitecross were given the responsibility of teaming up for the Carpeters while Joshua Carmichael and Sonya Shalliker fresh from their first victory in the semi final last week knew they needed to repeat that form to keep the Builders alive.
It was Keegan and Whitecross who were out of the blocks early and they were always able too keep their momentum going and would go on and win 11-2 11-5 11-6. The pennant four summer premiership belonged to Max Miller Carpets who were convincing 6-2 winners over Bishop Builders who had tried hard and had performed well at the right time to get to the grand final.
The Carpeters combination of Cole Keegan, Shirley Whitecross and Michael Hensgen had clicked at the right time and were deserved premiers. Going into the finals they had won three matches on the trot which was a better record than any other team in the pennant. For skipper Keegan this was his second grand final victory for 2012 and he will be pressing for higher honours next year as his game has gone to a new level. For team mates Shirley Whitecross and Michael Hensgen this was their first grand final success, Shirley was a member of the losing team in the winter pennant final and this win will erase those memories for her. Well done to the Carpeters. 
Sunraysia Table Tennis Summer Pennant results Grand Finals: –
PENNANT ONE:
– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Peter Midgley 1) d Fishers IGA 3 (Gavin Carmichael 2, Jackson Tung 1)
PENNANT TWO:
– Spanline 6 (Arthur Paar 3, Matt Ljubic 2) d Fishers IGA 5 (Seval Fuat 2, Denise Henderson, Peter Fitzpatrick, 1)
PENNANT THREE:
– Sunny Daily 6 (Lachlan Kelly 3, Matt Johns, Mick Bacon 1) dMax Miller Carpets 4 (David Balshaw 2, Brian Hosking 1)
PENNANT FOUR:-
– Max Miller Carpets 6 (Cole Keegan 2, Michael Hensgen, Shirley Whitecross 1) d Bishop Builders 2 (Josh Carmichael 2)
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907 or 5023 7907.
