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ROUND 9
PENNANT ONE:
By defeating ladder leader Regional Taxation Services 7-4, Cookes Pools & Spas recorded their seventh win on the trot and now sit level on wins with RTS at the head of the Sunraysia Table Tennis summer pennant with one round to play.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 7 (Shannon Bowen 3, Jackson Murphy, Lee Leeson 1) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Nicholas Dorman 2, Mark Dorman, Ashley Morrison 1)
Cookes are the only team to defeat the top team and they scored this win in style. Cookes Wayne Carmichael was out of the line-up this round and his replacement Shannon Bowen scored three singles wins and took part in both doubles victories replicating what Carmichael had done when these two teams last met.
Bowen was in good form considering he had not picked up a bat since the winter pennant concluded three months ago. He received good support from team mates Jackson Murphy and Lee Leeson who won one singles each. In particular Lee Leeson’s win was impressive, a three set victory over the inform Mark Dorman 10-15 15-11 15-10.
The second doubles followed Leeson’s win and I this game she combined with Shannon Bowen to defeat Nicholas Dorman and Ashley Morrison in straight sets and this victory secured the four points for Cookes who continued their impressive winning run.
– Mallee Bearings 8 (Jackson Tung 3, Michael Hensgen, Leon Brown 2) d Tankard Dental 3 (Kate Carmichael. Thanh Nguyen 1)
With a powerful 8-3 victory over Tankard Dental, Mallee Bearings have secured fourth position on the ladder with one round to play. Bearings skipper Jackson Tung was in fine form winning three singles for the first time this pennant and this percentage boosting win will probably ensure his team retains fourth spot on the ladder going in to the finals.
Both Tung’s team mates, Leon Brown and Michael Hensgen won two singles each and in particular this was an impressive display by Hensgen who defeated Thanh Nguyen in straight sets in the first match of the night and then in the last match he proved too good for Ed Hung over three sets. Mallee Bearings despite having a quiet season could be a smokie come finals time if they hold this form.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Matt Ljubic 3, Dylan Wood 2, Casper McCarthy 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Gavin Carmichael 2, Reece Kurrle 1)
Exposed Signage/Apparel proved too good for Max Miller Carpets winning 7-4. Matt Ljubic won three singles while
team mate Dylan Wood was impressive with two singles victories including a 15-13 12-15 15-12 over Reece Kurrle in a match containing many fine rallies. Wood has now defeated the opposing number one in the past two rounds. Exposed’s number three Casper McCarthy won an important singles over Russell Walder and combined with skipper Ljubic to defeat Kurrle and Walder 14-16 15-4 16-14 in the second doubles.
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Regional Taxation Services | 7 | 2 | 28 | 54 | 45 | 125 | 111 | 120% | 113% |
| Cookes Pools & Spas | 7 | 2 | 28 | 52 | 47 | 126 | 112 | 111% | 113% |
| Exposed Signage/Apparel | 6 | 3 | 24 | 57 | 42 | 129 | 107 | 136% | 121% |
| Mallee Bearings | 3 | 6 | 12 | 49 | 50 | 119 | 119 | 98% | 100% |
| Max Miller Carpets | 2 | 7 | 8 | 43 | 56 | 112 | 131 | 77% | 85% |
| Tankard Dental | 2 | 7 | 8 | 42 | 57 | 103 | 134 | 74% | 77% |
Exposed Signage/Apparel now play ladder leader Regional Taxation Services in the final round and if successful top position on the ladder is an option.
PENNANT TWO:
Big news everywhere this round – top-of-the-ladder Mallee Meats for the second time this season thrashed second placed Weightmans Packaging; another week, and Max Miller Carpets takes another step up the ladder, this week climbing to third at the expense of Cookes Pools & Spas; fifth placed Tankard Dental kept their finals hopes alive with a win against sixth placed Sammy’ Slammers; and at long last Pinnacle Packers cracked it for a win, a good one too, 7-4, against MJM Automotive.
– Mallee Meats 9 (Jamila Belbaze, Rohan Reimers 3 , Jamie Kealley 1) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Shane Carmichael, Peter Fitzpatrick 1)
Mallee Meats are by a considerable margin the stand-out team in this competition. Coming into this game though, their opponents Weightmans Packaging, second on the ladder, had the same number of wins, the teams separated by percentage. They had met once, in round three, when Rohan Reimers and his merry band thumped Weightmans Packaging ten rubbers to one. Was that an aberration? Would Weightmans Packaging reverse the result this time?
Sadly, the answer to both those questions is no. Once again, Mallee Meats refused to concede matches, and with six of the eleven rubbers going to the full three sets, Weightmans Packaging certainly fought too.
The match was into its seventh rubber before Weightmans Packaging got their second rubber. Before that, Jamila Belbaze and Rohan Reimers had disposed of John Fitzpatrick and Peter Fitzpatrick respectively in straight sets. The same pair, Belbaze and Reimers wrested back control of the first singles from Shane Carmichael and John Fitzpatrick to win 10-15, 15-13, 15-9. Then in the next two rubbers, Belbaze and Reimers again recorded wins, this time against John Fitzpatrick and Shane Carmichael, Belbaze in straight sets against Fitzpatrick, and Reimers a close three set win against Carmichael 11-15, 15-13, 15-13.
Buried amongst all those losses just mentioned, Weightmans Packaging got their first win; Carmichael going the full distance with Mallee Meats number three Jamie Kealley, winning narrowly 15-13, 8-15, 15-12. And so to rubber number seven, and Weightmans Packaging’s second win, also against Kealley – Weightmans number three Peter Fitzpatrick winning in three, in a score almost identical, but in a different order, to that of his captain 9-15, 15-12, 15-13.
After that Mallee Meats shut their opponents out, and took the next four rubbers.
There were two good rubbers – the first being the second doubles encounter between Reimers and Kealley against Carmichael and Peter
Fitzpatrick. These two pairings sat atop the doubles aggregate going into this round, with seven wins from eight matches. So this was pretty much a play-off for top team of the season (barring any disasters in the final round). In the event, it was a great match, the Weightmans Packaging pair getting off to a better start and winning the first set 15-10. The level of the game rose considerably after that, Mallee Meats took the second set 18-16 after Weightmans Packaging had two opportunities to close it out. As the score rose in the third set, so did the level of the tension, and where once points were won, both sides now making unforced errors. In the end though, the Mallee Meats pair got home with a couple of great Jamie Kealley forehands to take the third set 15-13, and move to eight wins from nine matches on the aggregate.
In the next rubber, Jamila Belbaze had a great tussle with Shane Carmichael – Belbaze edged Carmichael in the first set 18-16, Carmichael kept Belbaze at arms length in the second 15-12, but Belbaze came out blazing in the third, Carmichael did not really get close and she won that set 15-10 to take the match.
Reimers and Belbaze both won three singles rubbers, Kealley one, and the side took both doubles encounters to rack up a very impressive 9-2 win.
Final scores: 9 rubbers to 2 and 20 games to 8.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Jordan Cole 3, Jeremy Corrin 2, David Sergi 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Kevin Johns 2, Terry Martin 1)
These two sides sat third (Cookes Pools & Spas) and fourth (Max Miller Carpets) on the ladder, and equal on wins (5). The difference between the sides was that Jeremy Corrin’s Max Miller Carpets had won five of their six previous matches (the last four in a row), whilst Cookes Pools & Spas had won four of their last six (losing to the two top sides in the process). The perception was that Max Miller Carpets were on the rise, and that Cookes Pools & Spas were struggling a bit.
And the game? Well, in taking the first three singles rubbers, Max Miller Carpets got off to a dream start. Number two David Sergi defeated Steve Pongrac, then the big upset, number three Jordan Cole took down Cookes Pools & Spas captain Kevin Johns in straight sets 15-13, 18-16. Jeremy Corrin then defeated Terry Martin in straight sets also.
Cookes Pools & Spas then recorded their first win, Johns and Martin powering away in the third set to defeat Corrin and Cole 15-13, 12-15, 15-6. Johns followed up this win with another for Cookes Pools & Spas with an easy win over David Sergi.
Corrin and Cole again took the honours in the next two rubbers – Corrin in two sets against Pongrac, and Cole continuing in his giant killing ways with a two set win against Terry Martin 15-12, 15-13.
Max Miller Carpets sealed the round win with a win in the second doubles – Corrin and Sergi too good for Johns and Pongrac, with a straight sets win.
Cookes Pools & Spas rescued some pride in the final round of singles – Johns got off to a slow start in his clash with Corrin losing the first set 13-15, but from then on was well and truly in the match, taking the next two 15-7, 15-11, and Terry Martin defeated his opposite number David Sergi in two sets.
Cole capped off a great night’s table tennis, winning his third singles rubber against Steve Pongrac, to record his second perfect score of the season
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 16 games to 8.
– Tankard Dental 8 (Quentin Clark 3, Tague Morris 2, Marcus Cimino 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 3 (Sony Sefer 2, Therese Fitzpatrick 1)
Fifth placed Tankard Dental kept their finals hopes alive with a good 8-3 win against sixth placed Sammy’s Slammers.
A couple of 8-3 losses in rounds seven and eight saw this side fall from third to fifth on the ladder, and going into this round were only a win behind teams placed third and fourth on the ladder. With those two teams playing off, Tankard Dental had the opportunity (but only if they won) to join the team which ended up fourth. And take the opportunity they did …
Tankard Dental captain Quentin Clark had a great night, three singles wins, and wins in both doubles encounters. In his first match, he had to navigate past the difficult-to-get-away Ryan Hensgen, but he did 18-16, 15-12. He dominated Therese Fitzpatrick in his second match, and then played a close two setter in the final round of singles against opposing captain Sony Sefer, winning that 15-12, 16-14.
The first doubles was over in two sets, but probably went as long as a three setter anyway, Clark and Marcus Cimino just closing out the match against Sony Sefer and Hensgen 15-11, 23-21. The second doubles rubber was a good clash too, Clark coming up trumps with Tague Morris this time, defeating Sefer and Fitzpatrick 17-15, 9-15, 15-13.
Tague Morris, the Tankard Dental number three has been a quiet achiever this season. This is Tague’s first full season of table tennis, and playing at number three, has “over-achieved” this season, winning 12 matches over nine rounds. He picked up two wins here, 15-11, 15-6 against Therese Fitzpatrick in the first rubber, and then 15-13, 15-12 against Ryan Hensgen in the final rubber, and of course he helped his captain win the second doubles.
Sammy’s Slammers then, were restricted to just three rubbers, Sony Sefer defeating Cimino (a good three setter 14-16, 15-9, 15-12) and Morris, and Therese Fitzpatrick getting the better of Cimino in the penultimate rubber 15-11, 15-10.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 17 games to 8.
– Pinnacle Packers 7 ( Paul Kealley 3, James Jarvis 2) d MJM Automotive 4 (Tom Morrison 2, Michael Smyth, Daniel Jansen 1)
It has been said a number of times this season, but it is worth repeating … if ever a team “deserved” to win a game, it is Pinnacle Packers. Coming into this round they sat stone-motherless last on the table, with zero wins … BUT with a percentage better than the two sides above them, both of whom had won two matches.
And so it is with great relief to report that they finally got a win on the board, and a good one at that.
Pinnacle Packers captain Paul Kealley led the way with another three game haul. Kealley continues to hold the lead of the aggregate on 25 wins, one game clear of Mallee Meats captain Rohan Reimers.
Kealley recorded straight sets wins against MJM Automotive captain Daniel Jansen, and number two Michael Smyth, but had a real fight on his hands with the feisty Tom Morrison, who was subbing for Isaiah Bettess. Morrison was the equal of Kealley for the first two sets, but Kealley dominated the third to win 15-10, 11-15, 15-6. Morrison had a good night, but more of that later.
Kealley also aided and abetted his side in the winning of both doubles … the third time this season the side has won both rubbers. With his number two James Jarvis they were too good for Jansen and Smyth, but the route to victory in the second doubles was a bit more complicated. Jansen and that feisty Morrison were at the other end of the table, and Kealley and Sabrina Fitzpatrick had to draw on all their experience of table tennis and
who knows what else to win, but they finally got over the line after a huge battle 20-18, 13-15, 15-9.
Jarvis had his best night of the season, and took two wins, both in three sets. His match against MJM Automotive captain Jansen was a beauty, just when Jansen appeared to have the better of Jarvis after the second set, Jarvis again dug in, and held his opponent off to win the match 17-15, 10-15, 18-16. And in his match with against Michael Smyth he again showed his grit, equalling the score after two sets 10-15, 15-10, then going toe to toe with his opposite number and grind out the win 15-12 in the third. A great effort.
With Pinnacle Packers taking the majority of the spoils, there was not much left for MJM Automotive. Both Jansen and Smyth defeated Sabrina Fitzpatrick, whilst Tom Morrison picked up two wins – his first, a very entertaining three setter in the first rubber of the night against Jarvis. The two went at it, before Morrison pulled away in the third set to win 15-11, 10-15, 15-7. His second win was against Sabrina Fitzpatrick in two sets, and as mentioned, Morrison had a good night, going down in three sets against the aggregate leader Kealley, and then just falling short with his captain in the second doubles. Clearly a player who would improve out of sight if he played full-time.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 16 games to 12
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Mallee Meats | 8 | 1 | 32 | 72 | 27 | 160 | 82 | 267% | 195% |
| Weightmans Packaging | 7 | 2 | 28 | 52 | 47 | 124 | 113 | 111% | 110% |
| Max Miller Carpets | 6 | 3 | 24 | 55 | 44 | 124 | 106 | 125% | 117% |
| Cookes Pools & Spas | 5 | 4 | 20 | 53 | 46 | 113 | 114 | 115% | 99% |
| Tankard Dental | 5 | 4 | 20 | 49 | 50 | 113 | 137 | 98% | 82% |
| Sammy’s Slammers | 2 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 60 | 100 | 124 | 65% | 81% |
| MJM Automotive | 2 | 7 | 8 | 32 | 67 | 102 | 145 | 48% | 70% |
| Pinnacle Packers | 1 | 8 | 4 | 44 | 55 | 109 | 124 | 80% | 88% |
Round 10, team 1st on ladder plays team 8th on ladder at the conclusion of round 9, team 2nd plays team 7th, team 3rd plays team 6th and team 4th plays team 5th.
PENNANT THREE:
Both matches in Pennant 3 were hotly contested affairs with finals action only a fortnight away.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Levi Williams 3, Shaun Gifford 2) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Nhat Dat 2, Marita Grace, Nick Kiapekos 1)
Mallee Meats have continued their undefeated run by accounting for Dunkley Scales in a match that many may think will be a prelude to this year’s Grand Final. Levi Williams has continued his stellar form in winning three singles along with Shaun Gifford chiming in with two of his own. Super Sub David Healy was parachuted in at the last minute and gave valuable encourage and support to get the Butchers over the line. For Dunkley Scales all players contributed singles victories with Nhat Dat 2, Nick Kiapekos 1 and Marita Grace 1 but alas this was not quite enough to propel their team to victory. The last match of the night was an important match for more than just one reason.
With the scores deadlocked at 5 rubbers all Dunkley’s Nhat Dat was up against the Butcher’s Levi Williams. In a closely contested first set Dat narrowly edged out Williams 15-13. The second set appeared to be heading the same way – however one must cast their mind back to the match a few weeks back where Gayle Cottrell had Williams on toast but failed to deliver the knockout blow. Well the same could be said about this match as Dat squandered his opportunity to let the second set slip through his fingers as Williams won this 16-14. Williams would go on to dominate his opponent in the third set to take this comfortably 15-9 and thus secure his team a hard-fought victory. With this singles victory we now find teammates Levi Williams and Shaun Gifford tied for the aggregate with one exciting round to come. From memory the last time that this occurred was when both Brice Lock and Luke Ljubic both went undefeated in Pennant 4 (Isaiah Bettess now playing in P2 was also on this team and could probably back this incredible stat up.)
Overall Mallee Meats were just a cut above their opponents Dunkley Scales this evening in claiming victory 6 rubbers to 5 (12 games to 11).
– Sammy’s Slammers 7 (Leo Parker 3, Steve Parker 2, Nhat Dat 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Gayle Cottrell 2, Ben Hosking 1)
Well this match was a battle early on with the first five matches all going the full distance. Steve Parker filled in for Sammy’s Slammer’s in the absence of Rod Galvin and Nhat Dat was doubling up playing for Karly Leach while the Weightmans Packaging side was unchanged. For those of you who love a good stat Steve Parker became the first player to score three sets of exactly 15 points – you have hit the Jackpot Steve! Parker’s opponent in this match Alicia Tyres played well but it would be Parker who would prevail 15 – 10, 15 – 17, 15 – 12. The second match of the evening was another three-set cliff-hanger with Leo Parker taking on Gayle Cottrell. Cottrell has played some excellent table tennis this season but has been on the wrong end of some very close matches. In this match it was sadly a case of Deja vu for Cottrell as Parker snuck over the line 10-15, 15-10, 15-13 in another great match. The third match was another tight tussle with Ben Hosking taking on Nhat Dat. Hosking took the first set 15-11 before going into snooze mode as Dat took the second 15-6.
Hosking did wake from his slumber to take control of the third set to win this 15-11 and the match. Hosking then partnered Cottrell in the doubles to defeat Dat and L. Parker 15-10, 10-15, 15-11 to level the match score at 2 rubbers all. The next match had all statisticians again drooling with another three set 15-point perfect game on display this time from Gayle Cottrell in defeating Steve Parker. The irony of this feat is that Steve Parker in winning his previous game had done exactly the same. The score line of 15 – 7, 15 – 17, 15 – 10 was not only a welcome win for Cottrell but also a small place in fast fifteens history. Unfortunately for Cottrell and her team this would be one of the few remaining highlights for her team. Slammer’s Parker and Parker did monopolise the scoreboard with Leo Parker winning three as his Dad Steve winning two to get the Slammer’s over the line.
In conclusion Sammy’s Slammers were too steady when it counted and have recorded a solid 7 rubbers to 4 victory (16 games to 12) over Weightmans Packaging.
PENNANT FOUR:
There was one very close match this evening and a not-so-close match that has many sporting betting agencies around the country on high alert.
– MJM Automotive 10 Wendy Simpson, Hamish Smyth, Koby Grace 3) d Mallee Meats 1
In this top of the table clash the outcome would have the victor gain an important psychological edge come finals time. With this clearly in mind MJM Automotive went on a rampage and slaughtered Mallee Meats with official betting in this grade now on hold pending an independent inquiry. MJM Captain Wendy Simpson was back to her best form in winning three singles as did her teammates Hamish Smyth and Koby Grace. This was Grace’s first bag of three singles – well done Koby! Also, Hamish Smyth has now wrapped up the individual aggregate in this pennant and has been undefeated up to this stage. Well done Hamish on a fine season. Now to the vanquished who did not have a great night. Only Tom Gilmour and Jim Vale were able to hit the scoreboard as they defeated the Simpson/Smyth combination in three sets to secure their lone victory.
Overall, it was a bloodbath with MJM Automotive securing an emphatic win against Mallee Meats 10 rubbers to 1 (21 games to 3).
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Glenn Leeson, Liam Nicolaou 2, Helen Healy 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 5 (Costa Skiadas, Keith Sharman 2)
Well this game had a bit of everything with a winner not revealed until late in the night. Keith Sharman got Exposed off to a bright start as he defeated Liam Nicolaou in straight sets 15-12, 15-10 that highlighted his recent improving form. Glenn Leeson then hit back for the Packers as he defeated Derek Hung in straight sets to level up the evening at one rubber all. Next up was Costa Skiadis who accounted for Helen Healy in straight sets to give Exposed the early edge. The first important doubles match featured the Skiadis/Sharman pairing up against the Exposed pairing of Leeson/Healy. Skiadis and Sharman played brilliantly to secure this match in straight sets 15-12, 15-8 to now see Exposed race to a lead of 3 rubbers to 1. The next match was a must win for the Packers with Leeson taking on Sharman. Sharman took the first set 15-13 before Leeson gained control of the second taking this 15-6. The third set was an arm wrestle with Leeson breaking Sharman’s hold to go on and record a much-needed win for his team when taking this last set 15-12.
The closest match of the evening featured Helen Healy up against Derek Hung. With the match score at three rubbers all there was plenty to play for. Healy took the first set comfortably 15-10 before Hung found his range with his attacking shots to win the second 17-15. The third set was point for point with Healy having just enough poise in the big moments to win 16-14 in a great match. Hung would also feature in another three-set match against Liam Nicolaou in the last match of the evening with the scores deadlocked at 5 rubbers all. Hung started brightly in the first set taking this 15-12; however, Nicolaou steadied to account for the final two sets to give his team victory by a very slender margin.
Overall a great match with Weightmans Packaging victors 6 rubbers to 5 (12 games to 14) against a gallant Exposed Signage and Apparel.
Okay so only one round to go before finals. Now you don’t need to be Nostradamus to work out that everyone will qualify for finals in Pennant 3 and Pennant 4. How many puns did you find in this write-up? Don’t forget you can like this article or hate it on our Webpage. Your feedback is greatly appreciated if positive and ignored if negative (only joking).
See you all on Wednesday. Also, I will be coming around to organise the Super 8 Competition this Wednesday. Please ask if you want to find out more.
