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ROUND 1
With an influx of numbers, an increase from 3 to 4 pennants and 22 teams taking part the first round of Table Tennis has commenced at the Irymple Leisure Centre. The Summer pennant has a slight tweak to the normal competition with matches best of three up to 15 points – hence known as Fast 15’s.
In all there are 17 players taking part who did not line up in the recently completed winter pennant, a pleasing statistic for the STTA committee.
PENNANT ONE:
The new pennant one competition has featured the return of leading player Nicholas Dorman and the elevation of 15 year old Casper McCarthy from pennant two who acquitted himself very well at the next level in round one.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 8 (Matt Ljubic 3, Casper McCarthy 2, Dylan Wood 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 3 (Wayne Carmichael 2, Michael Hensgen 1)
Exposed Signage/Apparel led by Matt Ljubic started the season strongly defeating Cookes Pools & Spas 8-3, while the score line appears to be one sided there were three three set matches which could easily have gone the other way. Ljubic remains undefeated in singles in 2022 and again won three in round one. He did not have it all his own way against Wayne Carmichael which was the singles match of the round. Ljubic narrowly took the first 15-13 while Carmichael then took control of the match winning the second 15-8 in a strong display. When Carmichael took a 13-9 lead in the third Ljubic was in real danger of defeat however at this point he was able to lift and place Carmichael under pressure . In an outstanding match Ljubic fought back to win the third 16-14 , an amazing match by both players.
Ljubic received great support from Casper McCarthy playing his first match in pennant one, McCarthy was able to win two singles defeating experienced campaigners Russell Walder and Lee Leeson both in straight sets. To cap off an impressive debut McCarthy teamed up with skipper Ljubic to defeat Wayne Carmichael and Leeson in a three set doubles tussle.
– Regional Taxation Services 7 (Mark Dorman 3, Nicholas Dorman 2, Casper McCarthy 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Jackson Tung 2, Leon Brown 1)
In a match consisting of five three set matches Regional Taxation Services took the points 7-4 over Mallee Bearings. For RTS Nicholas Dorman returned after a break from table tennis to win two singles however the standout player in this match was Mark Dorman who won three singles in an outstanding display. Together the Dorman’s combined to win the first doubles 15-10 15-17 17-15 over talented pair Jackson Tung and Leon Brown.
This was a confidence boosting win for RTS given that Mallee Bearings appeared to be the favourites on paper for the new season before a ball was hit, time will tell!
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Reece Kurrle 3, Gavin Carmichael 2, Russell Walder 1) d Tankard Dental 4 (Kate Carmichael 2, Thanh Nguyen 1)
In the remaining match Max Miller Carpets proved too steady for Tankard Dental winning 7-4. This was a tight contest early and when the scores were locked at four all the Carpeters were able to break away winning the last block of three singles.
For the Carpeters skipper Reece Kurrle enjoyed a successful night winning three singles including a three set thriller over Kate Carmichael 15-6 12-15 15-13. Kurrle has been elevated to the number one position in his team for the first time on the back of a solid season in the recently concluded pennant. Kurrle received good support from team mates Gavin Carmichael and Russell Walder who won two and one singles respectively.
PENNANT TWO:
Round One of the Summer Pennant saw eight teams front for competition, an increase of two teams over the recently completed Winter Competition. Let the games begin …
-Weightmans Packaging 8 (Shane Carmichael 3, John Fitzpatrick 2, Peter Fitzpatrick 1) d MJM Automotive 3 (Raymund Manzanares 2, Isaiah Bettess 1).
Shane Carmichael made a triumphant return to table tennis after a couple of years away. Still not 100% fit, Shane has been graded in this pennant, instead of his usual pennant one. With team mates, father and son John and Peter Fitzpatrick, Shane collected three singles wins and wins in both doubles encounters to get his team Weightmans Packaging off to a great start.
John picked up two wins, and Peter Fitzpatrick one.
For MJM Automotive, captain Raymund Manzanares won two singles rubbers, and number three Isaiah Bettess one. Number two for this side, Michael Smyth, is making a return to the game after about a 30 year absence, and it is great to have him back. Whilst he failed to win anything this time around, the signs are there that he certainly will win his share of games before the season is much older.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 17 games to 11.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Rohan Reimers 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Jamila Belbaze 1) d Max Miller Carpets 3 (Jeremy Corrin 2, Jordan Cole 1)
Rohan Reimers (captain Mallee Meats) and Jeremy Corrin (captain Max Miller Carpets) were team mates in the recent winter competition, so it was interesting to see how they shaped up in this encounter.
As it turned out, Rohan won this time around, leading his team to an 8-3 victory, and in the process defeating his immediate past captain in the process!!
Rohan has a fast learner in his number three, Jamie Kealley, who has just completed playing in the junior competition and an occasional fill-in in the winter competition. Kealley won two singles rubbers, and like his father Paul, has lightning reflexes and a great forehand. Number two Jamila Belbaze continues to work hard on her game, and contributed one, and the side took both doubles rubbers in a convincing win.
For Max Miller Carpets, only Corrin (2 wins) and number three Jordan Cole (1 win) could keep the score down to 8-3.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 16 games to 8.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 7 (Kevin Johns 3, Terry Martin 2) d Tankard Dental 4 ( Quentin Clark 2, Marcus Cimino, Tom Morrison 1)
Kevin Johns led Cookes Pools & Spas to a strong 7-4 win against Quentin Clark’s Tankard Dental side.
Johns stamped his authority on the game, winning three singles rubbers and partnering team mates Terry Martin and Jackie Li (filling in for Steve Pongrac) to wins in both doubles encounters.
Martin kept the score rolling for his side with two wins.
For Tankard Dental, Clark took two wins, and Marcus Cimino and Tague Morris one each.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 14 games to 12.
– Sammy’s Slammers 6 (Peter Midgley 3, Bernard McCarthy, Ryan Hensgen 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Paul Kealley, Sabrina Fitzpatrick 2)
Sammy’s Slammers were without their captain Jason Gifkins, and number two Therese Fitzpatrick. Thanks to Peter Midgley (subbing for Gifkins), and Bernard McCarthy (subbing for Fitzpatrick), the won regardless, so a few “thank you’s” will not go astray at a later date.
Midgley took all his singles rubbers, and one of the doubles, whilst McCarthy and number three Ryan Hensgen picked up one apiece.
For Pinnacle Packers, the captain Paul Kealley and number three Sabrina Fitzpatrick were the best performed, both winning two singles rubbers each, and combining to win the second doubles against Midgley and Hensgen.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 13 games to 11.
PENNANT THREE:
A big welcome to all players and especially to the following new and returning players: Gayle Cottrell, Keith Sharman, Glenn Leeson, Liam Nicolaou and juniors making their seniors debut Leo Parker, Koby Grace and Hamish Smyth. I hope you all have an enjoyable season. Now to our match reports.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Shaun Gifford 3, Levi Williams 2, Huseyin Ismail 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 3 (Leo Parker 2, Karly Leach 1).
Mallee meats have enjoyed a great start to the season as they have defeated Sammy Slammers with some very close matches going down to the wire. For the “Butchers” Shaun Gifford has carried on his great Winter Pennant form in claiming three singles victories. He was well supported by Levi Williams who contributed two wins of his own and Huseyin Ismail also chipped in with a singles win. For the “Slammers” debutant Leo Parker was the pick of the players with two singles victories while his Captain Karly Leach contributed one.
The overall result looked like an easy win for Mallee Meats; but nothing could be further from the truth. The first match of the evening pitted Captain’s Shaun Gifford against Karly Leach. This was a great match with Leach taking the first 15-13 before Gifford hit top gear to take the second 15-6 to set up an enthralling final set. Both players had their chances, but it would be Gifford that would get his team off to the perfect start as he prevailed 16-14 in a fantastic season opener. Gifford would go on to feature in another two three set matches. Gifford defeated young gun Leo Parker 15-12, 13-15, 15-10 in another high-quality entertaining match and would dish out the same treatment when teamed with Williams against Parker and Leach during the second doubles match.
In conclusion Mallee Meats have prevailed 8 rubbers to 3 (16 games to 11) over Sammy’s Slammers. I look forward to seeing the score-line in three weeks’ time as I would think it will look a much tighter contest.
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Nhat Dat 3, Nick Kiapekos, Marita Grace 2) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Gayle Cottrell 2)
In our other Pennant 3 match Dunkley Scales have scored an impressive 7 rubbers to 4 win over Weighman’s Packaging. Dunkley’s Nat Dat was a standout performer, and fresh from his recent Winter Pennant success last season, showed that he wants to be at the business of this season as he claimed three impressive singles victories. Dat was well supported by teammates Nick Kiapekos and Marita Grace who also played well to claim two singles victories each. For the ‘Packers’ Captain Gayle Cottrell played well to win two singles matches and then teamed with Ben Hosking and Alicia Tyers to win both doubles matches.
The overall result did not reflect how close these teams are as seven of the eleven matches went to the final set. The real difference was that Dunkley’s were able to tip the scales in their favour (sorry about pun) to win five of these which was crucial in the final analysis of this match. One of these five set matches was the dual between Dat and Tyers. Both of these players have improved their game to the next level after both had outstanding Winter Pennant seasons. The first set saw Tyers play the steadier table tennis and claim the first set 15-11. Dat then found his attacking game and was able to hit his way to winning this set 15-12. The next set saw Tyers and Dat go tit-for-tat (try saying that five times quickly) and with the score tied at 14 all it was anyone’s match. In the end Dat prevailed 16-14 to give his team a much-needed win.
In another close and entertaining match Cottrell took on Grace. The first set saw Grace play the steadier to take this set 15-12. The second set was a ‘ripper’ with Cottrell under the pump to stay in the contest and Grace doing all she could to land the knockout blow. To each of the players credit they played at an unbelievable level and the multiple attacking shots in each rally were very well
received by a crowd that was becoming more vocal. Cottrell would go on to take this set 15-13 and with that carried this momentum into the third set to claim this set 15-8 to keep her team in the hunt.
Overall, some great play by all players but it would be Dunkley Scales who would go on to win 7 rubbers to 4 (16 games to 13) against Weightmans Packaging in a classic contest.
Well done to all Pennant 3 players. I look forward to seeing your progress next week.
Pennant 4:
– MJM Automotive 8 (Wendy Simpson , Hamish Smyth 3, Koby Grace 1) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Glenn Leeson, Ildi Healy 1)
MJM Automotive have started their Summer campaign brightly with an emphatic 8 rubbers to 3 victory over Weightmans Packaging. Chief destroyer of the evening was debutant Hamish Smyth who took all before him to win his three singles matches.
Smyth was well supported by his Captain Wendy Simpson who also claimed three singles victories and another debutant Koby Grace who contributed one singles victory. For Weightmans both Glenn Leeson and Ildi Healy both contributed one singles each while debutant Liam Nicolaou teamed well with Leeson to be involved with a doubles win. As you may see there was nearly as many debutants here than there are at a Debutante Ball – although I am sorry Liam you may not have got in with your top.
As the night unfolded it was clear to see that the lessons learnt in the junior competition paid handsome dividends for Smyth as he was able to adapt his game well to the different styles from each of his opponents on the night. Although challenged he was able to win each of his games in straight sets and was the main reason for his team getting over the line.
In conclusion practice pays off and MJM Automotive have cruised to an 8 rubbers to 3 (18 games to 6) victory over Weightmans Packaging.
– Mallee Meats 7 (Tom Gilmour 3, Jim Vale 2, Maria Starikov 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 4 (Phuong Hung Nguyen 2, Derek Hung 1)
In the other match Mallee Meats have enjoyed a good solid win over Exposed Signage and Apparel. For the ‘Butcher’s’ Tom Gilmour was back to his best in claiming three singles victories and he was well supported by Jim Vale and Maria Starikov who contributed two and one singles victories respectively. For ‘Exposed’ Phuong Hung Nguyen played well for his two singles victories and debutant Derek Hung claimed a singles victory.
This match got off to a great start with an eagerly contested first match between Jim Vale and debutant Keith Sharman. Vale was out of the blocks early and pouched the first set 15-11 before Sharman could settle. The second set saw a huge swing in momentum with Sharman breezing through the set 15-3 and looked well on track for victory. Vale is known as one of the steadier players and showed this as he outlasted Sharman to claim the third set 15-7 to get his team off to the perfect start.
The second featured match was the battle between Derek Hung and Maria Starikov. Both these players are regular hitters on Monday night however this is the first time they have played a match under pressure. Starikov started well to take the first set 15-10 before Hung then took the second 15-12. Hung was able to keep the pressure up in the third and again claimed this set 15-12 to claim his maiden victory. Well done Derek.
The final analysis this match finds Mallee Meats have skewered (secured?) the win 7 rubbers to 4 (15 games to 10) win over Exposed Signage and Apparel.
Again, well done to all players in Pennant 4 for a great evening. We look forward to your company next week. Also don’t forget you can contribute to write-ups of your matches – so that the write-up is more personalised and accurate. There is plenty of room on the back of the scoresheet for this to occur.
