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PENNANT ONE GRAND FINAL:
SPECTATORS WITNESSED AN ENTHRALLING CLIMAX TO THE SUNRAYSIA TABLE TENNIS “CASH CONVERTERS” 2017 PENNANT AT THE IRYMPLE LEISURE CENTRE LAST WEEK WITH CASH CONVERTERS WINNING 6-4 OVER REGIONAL TAXATION SERVICES IN AN ENTERTAINING GRAND FINAL.
DURING THE SEASON THESE TWO TEAMS HAD MET TWICE WITH A 6-5 RESULT TO EACH TEAM AND AGAIN THIS MATCH WAS EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE.
– Cash Converters 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Matt Ljubic 2) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Shannon Bowen 2, Mark Dorman 1)
The highlight of the grand final was the form of Kate Carmichael who continued her excellent form over the finals series by winning three singles. With the scores standing at one rubber all Carmichael matched up against RTS number one Shannon Bowen and this was to be the match of the night going to five sets with many fine rallies. Bowen took the first in a close game while Carmichael took the second and third by the barest margin. Throughout the match Bowen had troubled Carmichael with his serve and he was able to break away in the fourth to level the match.
Despite both players appearing to be nervous there were many long rallies in the fifth, Bowen held a two point break at 7-5 and again deep into the match 9-7, both had had some fortune with the net in this game. Carmichael struck back late and grabbed the ascendancy to take a couple of match points which Bowen saved, he too had an opportunity to win and in an exciting climax Carmichael on her trademark backhand forced Bowen back deep in the court at 13-12 and this rally went on and on with Bowen defending well and looking for an error from Carmichael which did not come and finally Carmichael tasted success 9-11 12-10 13-11 6-11 14-12 in what had been a high class contest.
Going into the first doubles the score in Cash Converters favour was 2-1. Carmichael paired up with Matt Ljubic to play RTS combination Bowen and Mark Dorman and again another five set struggle took place and in another thriller it was Bowen and Dorman who were able to take the points 11-7 8-11 13-11 5-11 11-9 against the pair who were later declared the leading doubles combination of the season at the presentation of trophies.
The score now stood at three rubbers all and it was to be Cash Converters number one Matt Ljubic playing the experienced Mark Dorman, when they last met Dorman had taken the points and he was away to a good start leading 7-0 in the first games forcing errors before Ljubic came back to just fall short. Ljubic starting landing a few trademark forehands in the second while Dorman still managed to apply pressure however Ljubic was able to level. The third saw Dorman again off to a flyer leading 7-0 again as he forced Ljubic into errors however in an amazing comeback Ljubic rattled off several points landing many forehands to come back and take the third. He then stamped his authority on the fourth racing away to win 8-11 11-7 11-9 11-3. A fine effort by young Ljubic under pressure.
RTS skipper Shannon Bowen levelled the scores at three rubbers all when he accounted for Kevin Johns but not before trailing 8-10 in the first only to recover and run away with the match.
Kate Carmichael then won her second singles at the expense of Lee Thomas and Cash Converters going in to the all-important second doubles took a 4-3 lead. For RTS Thomas and Bowen got off to the perfect start against Matt Ljubic and Kevin Johns taking the first game however from there Converters pair Ljubic and Johns took control winning 8-11 11-3 11-7 11-5 proving too steady for their counterparts.
With the last block of three singles to commence Cash Converters now took a lead of 5-3 as the two number one players Matt Ljubic and Shannon Bowen took to the table. These two produced another entertaining match with many top rallies, big forehands and long points. Ljubic grabbed the first game however the desperate Bowen attempting to keep his team alive took the second and third and then the fourth went on and on before Bowen won 16-14 to reduce the deficit to 4-5.
Buoyed by her earlier victories over Bowen and Thomas, Kate Carmichael started well against Mark Dorman and was able to maintain the ascendancy over the three games to win 11-8 11-3 11-7 and give the 2017 title to Cash Converters.
This was Carmichael’s third singles win while team mate Matt Ljubic won two. Number three Kevin Johns played an important role in the second doubles. For Regional Taxation Services Shannon Bowen won two singles while Mark Dorman won one.
The premiers were presented with the Red Cliffs Club Shield which dates back to the 1950’s. For Matt Ljubic this was his second title winning last year while for Kate Carmichael this was her first. She is the first female to win three singles in a final and over the finals series she won seven of eight singles matches. For veteran Kevin Johns this was his seventh success in a grand final with his first dating back to 1984.
With a mixture of youth and experience Cash Converters had gelled well over the season finishing third on the ladder and peaking at the right time.
