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ROUND ONE
The Sunraysia Table Tennis Summer pennant is underway at the Irymple Leisure Centre with round one matches featuring two close tussles while the remaining match was a one sided affair. As a follow up to last years Summer Pennant matches in this competition are best of three matches up to fifteen points – hence known as Fast 15’s.
With a couple of players resting niggles over this season three players from the winter pennant two competition have made their way in to the top grade and performed well in round one. In particular Winter pennant two singles aggregate winner Thahn Nguyen won two singles in fine fashion to start the season in a positive manner.
PENNANT ONE:
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 10 (Nicholas Dorman, Leon Brown 3, Thanh Nguyen 2) d Cash Converters 1 (Phil Smith 1)
In a resounding victory Exposed Signage / Apparel were on fire defeating Cash Converters 10 -1. Skipper Nicholas Dorman played as he usually does to win three singles while the standout player was Leon Brown who also won three singles including a three set victory over Phil Smith 16-14 12-15 15-7, this was Brown’s best performance in Pennant One. Team mate Thahn Nguyen showed he will be a difficult opponent by winning two singles in his impressive debut.
– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Leslie Ncube 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Joel Dorman 2, Gavin Carmichael, Michael Hensgen 1)
In the closest result of the round Regional Taxation Services outlasted Mallee Bearings 6-5. RTS skipper Kate Carmichael is in early season form successfully winning three singles including a straight sets win over father Gavin Carmichael.
Carmichael received good support from team mate Leslie Ncube who won two singles including a lengthy three set win over Gavin Carmichael. Mallee Bearings skipper Joel Dorman won two singles while team mate Michael Hensgen up from pennant two won one singles over Ed Hung, a good victory by Hensgen.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Matt Ljubic 3, Mark Ljubic 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Wayne Carmichael 2, Reece Kurrle, Kevin Johns 1)
In the remaining contest after a slow start Max Miller Carpets were able to extract a 7-4 victory over Tankard Dental. Carpeters skipper Matt Ljubic enjoyed a big night winning three singles as well as participating in both doubles victories. Team mate and father Mark Ljubic returning after a break won two singles in a solid start. In this match there were in total five three set results indicating the contest was a close tussle.
PENNANT TWO:
Signs are that this will be an interesting season … some players returning after a break, and many from the recent winter competition continuing their form.
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Tony Malycha, John Fitzpatrick, Dylan Wood 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Brad Warden 2, Quentin Clark 1)
In the closest game of the round, Tony Malycha, Dylan Wood and John Fitzpatrick defeated Brad Warden, Quentin Clark and Peter Fitzpatrick.
The Weightmans Packaging side know they have work to do in doubles … they failed to win either one here. Malycha and Wood went down in a close match to Warden and Fitzpatrick 13-15, 15-12, 13-15, and later Malycha and Fitzpatrick (who combined well in the recent winter competition), fell to Warden and Clark 12-15, 15-8, 12-15. Those doubles rubbers kept the Mallee Meats side in the match.
The Weightmans Packaging trio all won two singles rubbers – Malycha in three sets over Fitzpatrick, then in straight sets against number one Warden; Wood downed Clark in straight sets, and Fitzpatrick in three in the deciding final rubber; and number three John Fitzpatrick had two good wins – firstly an upset win in three sets against Mallee Meats number two Quentin Clark 7-15, 15-10, 15-13. In the next round of singles he kept his nerve in a close two setter against his father Peter to win 19-17, 15-13.
For Mallee Meats, Warden downed Dylan Wood and John Fitzpatrick; and Clark picked up a three set win against Weightmans Packaging number one Malycha.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 15 games to 13.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Arthur Paar 3, Jeremy Corrin 2, Jason Gifkins 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Ash Morrison 2, Bernard McCarthy 1)
Max Miller Carpets number two Arthur Paar led his team to a 7-4 win against Pinnacle Packers.
Paar was a member of the winning team in the recent winter competition, and brought that form to this game. Playing as a number two in this competition, his first win was a gentle introduction to this competition – against Pinnacle Packers number three David Sergi. Sergi will cause problems no double as the season progresses, but in this game Paar had too many guns. In the next round of singles he duked it out with the returning Ashley Morrison, winning in three sets 15-17, 15-12, 15-11. Morrison may well turn the tables later in the season!! And against new recruit Bernard McCarthy, who is returning to the game after about 30 years, Paar was given a solid workout, but won in straight sets.
Max Miller Carpets number three Jeremy Corrin was the next best performed player for the winners – he downed McCarthy in a good three set match 16-14, 10-15, 15-12, and then had to do it all again against Sergi 15-13, 13-15, 15-12!!
Max Miller Carpets captain Jason Gifkins made heavy weather of his games – he lost two in three sets and won one against Sergi in two, but that was 15-13, 15-13.. He and Bernard McCarthy had a very close contest – McCarthy won 15-10, 16-18, 15-13. Later on he was downed by Morrison 12-15, 15-12, 12-15.
Still, that gave Max Miller Carpets six rubbers, and with Gifkins and Corrin combining in the second doubles to defeat Morrison and Sergi, they ended up with their 7 for the night.
Although outplayed here, Pinnacle Packers will improve as the season progresses – Ash Morrison won two in this game, but that is likely to become 3 most weeks. McCarthy took one (against Gifkins), and is sure to worry many more; and David Sergi demonstrated recently that he can take any player to the limit.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 16 games to 12.
– MJM Automotive 8 (Paul Kealley 3, Terry Martin, Marcus Cimino 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 3 (Russell Walder 2)
Cooke’s Pools & Spas were without their number two for this game, the exciting new recruit up from Pennant Three, Casper McCarthy. McCarthy was replaced by Paul Fitzpatrick.
MJM Automotive had a dream start to the season – new captain Paul Kealley picking up three wins, and Terry Martin and Marcus Cimino (also up from Pennant Three) taking two wins each.
Kealley was too strong for Fitzpatrick and Cooke’s Pools & Spas number three Rohan Reimers, winning those games in straight sets, but he lost the first set to opposing captain Russell Walder before powering on to win 9-15,15-10, 15-7.
Martin and Cimino both defeated Fitzpatrick and Reimers giving MJM Automotive seven of the nine singles rubbers.
Added these rubbers, Kealley and Martin won the first doubles rubber against Walder and Fitzpatrick.
Cooke’s Pools & Spas were simply outgunned in this game; Russell Walder won to singles rubbers (against Martin in two and Cimino in three), and with Reimers they defeated Kealley and Cimino 15-12, 11-15, 15-11 in the second doubles rubber.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 18 games to 7.
PENNANT THREE:
Two close matches and one one-sided contest opened this pennant for the season.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Aiden Riordan, Brice Lock 2, Karly Leach 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Keiran McRae 3, Huseyin Ismail 1)
Mallee Meats took the honours in this game, but had to win the final two rubbers in an exciting match with Regional Taxation Services.
Captain Aidan Riordan and number two Brice Lock each won two singles rubbers, and with Karly Leach winning one and the Riordan and Lock the first doubles, they took first blood and the win 6-5.
Their real opposition in this game though was new recruit Keiran McRae who dominated in singles play with three wins – after downing Lock and Leach in straight sets, he was only extended by Riordan in their clash. McRae was up to it though, winning 15-11, 8-15, 19-17 to get his table tennis career off to a great start.
The match was close throughout, Regional Taxation Services seemingly having the upper hand throughout, and that was true as both Huseyin Ismail and Costa Skiadas did not greatly their Mallee Meats opposition. Ismail, who is capable of winning any match in this grade, was kept quiet here, taking a hard fought win against Mallee Meats number three Karly Leach 15-7, 19-17. Skiadas meanwhile, who was subbing for Brian White, was unable to take a win, despite taking two of his opponents to three sets.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 14 games to 12.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Therese Fitzpatrick 3, Miya Lock 1) d MJM Automotive 5 (Andrew Kremor, Nicole Hunt 2, Isaiah Bettess 1)
The all-girl team of Therese Fitzpatrick, Emily Carmichael and Miya Lock proved too strong for the MJM Automotive trio of Andrew Kremor, Nicole Hunt and Isaiah Bettes (subbing for James Jarvis). Fitzpatrick was in a class of her own here, winning all she played in – three singles and two doubles. Not that she had it all her own way … Nicole Hunt was very competitive before losing in three sets 9-15, 17-15. 12-15. After downing Isaiah Bettess in straight sets, Therese played a marathon second set with opposing captain Andrew Kremor before winning 15-12, 26-24. Fitzpatrick and Carmichael combined well in the first doubles to win a close encounter (of the table-tennis kind) with Kremor and Hunt 15-7, 10-15, 16-14. She and Miya Lock had an easier run against Kremor and Bettess though, winning that one in straight sets.
Apart from her singles wins, the only other team member to take a singles rubber was Miya Lock, who defeated Bettess. This pair know each others’ games fairly well from the recent Pennant Four competition. They were fairly even then, and it may well prove the same as this competition goes along. Emily Carmichael failed to win one this time, but being a Carmichael that will not stay that way for long!!
MJM Automotive were certainly competitive, as they won five of the nine singles rubbers, and came close to the first doubles (losing 16-14 in the third). Kremor won two, as did Nicole Hunt, and Bettess (doubling up) one.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 12 games all.
– Weightmans Packaging 9 (Isaiah Bettess 3, Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Nick Kiapekos 2) d Sammy’s Slammers 2 (Ryan Hensgen, Leonie Dunkley 1)
Weightmans Packaging were untroubled in this game, streaking away with the first eight rubbers before Sammy’s Slammers got a score on the board.
Leading the way was Isaiah Bettess, playing at number three !! with three wins. He begrudgingly conceded the second set 14-16 to Leonie Dunkley in their clash, taking the other two 15-7, 15-10 to stamp his authority. He disposed of Sammy’s Slammers captain Ryan Hensgen in straight sets, and then took three sets to deal with Costa Skiadas. Bettess was ably backed by his captain Sabrina Fitzpatrick and number Nick Kiapekos, the two older members happy for young Isaiah to rack up the wins!!
Both doubles rubbers also went the way of Weightmans Packaging – Fitzpatrick and Kiapekos winning in straight sets against Hensgen and Dunkley 15-13, 15-8 and Fitzpatrick and Bettess impressive in the win against Hensgen and Costa Skiadas 15-6, 15-11.
Hensgen and Dunkley took a win each for Sammy’s Slammers, defeating Fitzpatrick and Kiapekos respectively.
Final scores: 9 rubbers to 2 and 18 games to 8.
Pennant Four
We welcome back regular players from the just completed winter season and welcome new players: Kelsey Davey, Jim Vale, Jamie Kealley, Billy Stephens and international player Tim Finck. Also returning from a break is Ben Hosking.
Mallee Meats 8 (Wendy Simpson, Joy Sullivan 3) def Dunkley Scales 3 (Kelsey Davey, Raylee Waugh, Jim Vale 1)
Mallee Meats have started the season well with a comfortable 8 games to 3 win over Dunkley Scales. The “Sister Act” of Wendy Simpson and Joy Sullivan produced three singles wins each and a combined doubles victory to seal the fate of Dunkley Scales. Although beaten, each player from Dunkley Scales produced one singles win each in an even display.
Dunkley’s young recruit Kelsey Davey started the night well in winning her first match against Mallee Meats Hollie Lock in two closely fought sets. She them teamed with Raylee Waugh in the doubles to take on Simpson and Sullivan. The Butcher’s got off to a great start in this match taking the first 15-8, however Dunkley’s fought back to take the second 15-12. The third would see Simson and Sullivan steady and take the set and the match 15-10.
Jim Vale also making his debut played steadily during the night and gave Mallee Meats Joy Sullivan a run for her money. Vale took the first set 15-4 and looked on track for a win. Sullivan had to dig deep and then turned the tide and won the second 15-4 in what appeared to be the scoring end. The third was a lot closer with Sullivan edging out Vale 15-12 in a very competitive match. Vale would go on to defeat Lock later in the night to record his maiden singles victory.
Overall Mallee Meats were deserved winners with an 8 games to 3 victory over Dunkley Scales.
MJM Automotive 8 (Ben Hosking 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Nycole Riordan 1) def Tankard Dental 3(Jacinta Ljubic 2, Glen Leeson 1)
MJM Automotive have cruised to victory over Tankard Dental. MJM skipper Ben Hosking won three singles; young recruit Jamie Kealley impressing with two singles wins and Nycole Riordan chipped in with one singles victory. For Tankard Dental Jacinta Ljubic contributed two wins and Glen Leeson 1.
The big story of the night was the form of MJM’s Jamie Kealley. Kealley has recently player in the junior completion in which he has steadily improved his game over this year. This improvement was clearly on display as he played some excellent table tennis during the evening. In his first match, he took on fellow debutant Tim Finck. Finck has been practising hard on a Monday night so this contest looked on paper to be a close contest. In the end it came down to who would be more consistent with Kealley winning this contest 15-10, 15-12 in a good standard match. Kealley would go on to defeat Tankard’s Glen Lesson also in straight sets and make an important contribution in claiming a doubles victory when teamed with Ben Hosking.
Returning player Ben Hosking had a great night out, but he didn’t have it all his own way. In the first match of the nigh he played Tankard’s Jacinta Ljubic. Hosking took the first set 15-13 before Ljubic ramped up the pressure in taking the second 15-10. The third set saw Hosking make very few errors and
in doing so claimed the set 15-11 and the match. For the remainder of the night Hosking was untroubled in winning his subsequent singles and doubles matches.
The final tally of the night was a big win to MJM Automotive 8 games to 3.
Can someone from TT committee find out how many years of Association Rohan has been playing? (both jr & senior competition) cheers