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ROUND 10
With two of the top four teams losing in round ten of the Sunraysia Table Tennis senior pennant it now appears to be a wide open race leading in to the knockout finals series commencing this week.
PENNANT ONE:
By defeating Tankard Dental 7-4 , Cookes Pools & Spas have moved to top position on the ladder this being their eighth win on the trot. Wayne Carmichael returned after a week off to win three singles and take part in both doubles victories.
Team mate Jackson Murphy is showing good late season form , he won two singles and pushed opposing number one Kate Carmichael before going down in a tense three setter.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 7 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Murphy 2) d Tankard Dental 4 (Kate Carmichael 2, Thanh Nguyen, Ed Hung 1)
Murphy could shape the finals for his team while number three Lee Leeson is always steady under pressure. They will offer good support to Wayne Carmichael who is in good form.
For Tankards Kate Carmichael won two singles while Thahn Nguyen and Ed Hung won a singles each. It was their inability to win a doubles that made victory difficult however they were unlucky losing both in very close three set contests.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 8 (Matt Ljubic 3, Dylan Wood 2, Casper McCarthy 1) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Nicholas Dorman 2 Mark Dorman 1)
Ladder leaders going in to this round Regional Taxation Services ran in to a red hot Exposed Signage/Apparel. The Exposed trio of Matt Ljubic, Dylan Wood and Casper McCarthy won three , two and one singles respectively while Ljubic and Wood combined to win the first doubles which was important as their team was trailing early.
With the scores at three rubbers all Exposed Signage/Apparel clicked in to top gear winning the last five rubbers to give a warning to the other finalists. Despite a mid season slump when they lost three matches in succession they now appear to be on track. Matt Ljubic is the key for his team and his match against Nicholas Dorman this round was top class as usual with Ljubic avenging an earlier season loss to Dorman.
Exposed’s Dylan Wood has finished the season strongly and again won two singles including a straight sets victory over veteran Mark Dorman.
RTS with this loss dropped from first to third and again will match up in the first final against Exposed who moved to second. The upcoming elimination final will be a closer affair and well worth watching.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Gavin Carmichael 3, Reece Kurrle 2, Russell Walder 1) d Mallee Bearings 4 (Jackson Tung, Leon Brown, Michael Hensgen 1)
Fifth placed Max Miller Carpets finished the season strongly defeating fourth placed Mallee Bearings 7-4. The Carpeters showed their best form and just came up short in their bid to play finals. In a season that consists of 110 rubbers they fell short by three.
Gavin Carmichael was in fine form for the victors winning three singles while skipper Reece Kurrle played well winning two and Russell Walder one in a great team effort.
Carmichael defeated both Jackson Tung and Leon Brown in two close three setters after losing the first game in each. His victory over Brown was the first in two seasons.
Despite the loss Mallee Bearings cannot be written off when they line up against ladder leader Cookes Pools & Spas this week. If Tung and Brown can win at least two singles and team mate Michael Hensgen one as he has done for the past six rounds the Bearings trio will be right in the match.
PENNANT TWO:
Plenty of interest in this round … one match determined the fourth spot for the finals; another match saw the aggregate determined (well, sort of); and tension was high amongst some others as the final spots for the upcoming Super 8’s were finalised.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Rohan Reimers 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Jamila Belbaze 1) d Pinnacle Packers 3 (Paul Kealley 2, James Jarvis 1)
Top of the ladder side Mallee Meats played bottom side Pinnacle Packers in this final round.
Mallee Meats won, which was expected, however there was a great deal of interest in the match, as the two captains, Rohan Reimers for Mallee Meats and Paul Kealley of Pinnacle Packers would play to determine the individual aggregate. Going into the round, Kealley led with 25 wins for the season, Rohan one game behind on 24. Another point of interest was the race for the Super 8’s. Mallee Meats Jamie Kealley (18 games) and Jamila Belbaze (17 games) were seventh and eighth, and Jordan Cole from Max Miller Carpets was close behind on 16 games. Jordan has been giant-killing this season, and if Jamila had an off night, she could miss out. Tensions were high.
As for the game, Mallee Meats dominated the match, winning 8-3, and finishing the season one game clear at the top of the ladder.
Mallee Meats won two of the first three singles – Jamie Kealley continued his impressive debut in senior competition defeating James Jarvis and Reimers predictably defeated Pinnacle Packers number three Sabrina Fitzpatrick. Pinnacle Packers captain Paul Kealley took the third rubber, defeating Belbaze.
Reimers and Belbaze had little trouble in the first doubles defeating Kealley and Jarvis 4 and 9 to skip out to a 4-1 lead.
Mallee Meats won two of the next three singles rubbers too – Reimers getting his second for the night, defeating Jarvis, and Belbaze lucky to scrape home against Fitzpatrick. Sabrina won the first set, a grafting 15-13 score line. The second set was no different, but Jamila managed to sneak home 17-15 to square the match. Sabrina clearly had Jamila worried, and it showed in her play, and with nothing to lose, Sabrina was swinging freely. And so it was that the score literally crept towards the end, and with the scores locked at 13 all Jamila made her final push, was successful and won the final set 15-13. Paul Kealley won the third of
these rubbers, the second for Pinnacle Packers defeating his son Jamie 17-15, 15-11.
Reimers and Jamie Kealley combined well in the second doubles to comfortably defeat Paul Kealley and Fitzpatrick in straight sets, and in so doing put the result of the match beyond doubt.
The first match in the final round of singles saw the captains play, Reimers keen to equal Kealley at the top of the ladder, and Kealley keen to finish the season clearly top of the aggregate. We were treated to a great match, Kealley made plenty of aggressive forehands and backhands which most of the time against other players would go for winners, but Reimers with his great reach and being so nimble on his feet retrieved ball after ball making the task of winning for Kealley more difficult. Reimers took the first set 15-12, Kealley knuckled down and grafted the second set 16-14, but then Reimers dominated the third set, winning it easily 15-8. The result of this win for Rohan is that he now joins Paul at the top of the aggregate on 27 wins.
In the next match, Jamila Belbaze was up against James Jarvis, both play at number two for their teams, Belbaze had won 17 games for the season coming into this round, Jarvis only 6. Jamila was certainly hopeful of a win in this match, and that was understandable. But also in the back of her mind was the small matter of “will I make the cut for the Super 8’s?” Jarvis was quickly out of the blocks and won the first set 15-10. Belbaze struck back to take the second 15-9. Then it was time for Jarvis to regroup, which he did, winning the third 15-9 to keep Belbaze on tenderhooks with her aspirations for the Super 8’s dependant on how Jordan Cole went in his match.
The final rubber went to Jamie Kealley, defeating Fitzpatrick to give his team an 8-3 victory.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 18 games to 8.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Shane Carmichael, John Fitzpatrick, Peter Fitzpatrick 2) d MJM Automotive 4 (Tom Morrison 2, Daniel Jansen 1)
Second placed Weightmans Packaging met seventh placed MJM Automotive in this round – and Weightmans were hoping for a confidence boosting win.
In the event, they had a solid win, as each of the team won two singles rubbers, and one of the doubles.
Weightmans Packaging captain Shane Carmichael had little trouble with his two wins, downing Tom Morrison and Michael Smyth in straight sets. Likewise number two John Fitzpatrick – he defeated MJM Automotive captain Daniel Jansen and Smyth also in straight sets. And number three Peter Fitzpatrick made in two wins for the second time in three matches when he defeated Smyth 4 and 4 and Jansen 12 and 12.
The doubles win came from Carmichael and John Fitzpatrick- a 15-10, 15-13 win against Jansen and Smyth.
For MJM Automotive, substitute player Tom Morrison was involved in three of the four wins for his side. With Weightmans Packaging having already won the contest and leading 6-0, Morrison fought hard in his win against John Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick blitzed Morrison 15-3 in the first set, but then Morrison simply turned the game around and took the next two sets 15-6, 15-4.
Next up was the second doubles, Jansen and Morrison against Carmichael and Peter Fitzpatrick, the second best pairing in this competition. The MJM Automotive pair did not let their opponents into the game. In each set they established a gap, and whilst Carmichael and Fitzpatrick did on occasion catch up, Jansen and Morrison immediately gapped them again. After winning the first set 15-10, the MJM Automotive pair kept the pressure on in the second set and shut their opponents out to win 15-12.
MJM Automotive kept the wins coming – captain Daniel Jansen after having been downed in straight sets earlier by John and Peter Fitzpatrick played a gritty match against his opposite number Shane Carmichael to win in three sets 15-13, 5-15, 17-15.
John Fitzpatrick put an end to the run of wins when he defeated Michael Smyth.
The final rubber then featured the number three’s, Peter Fitzpatrick and Morrison, and even though the match was well and truly decided, they played it like it was hanging in the balance. Morrison ambushed his opponent in the first set to win it 15-8, Fitzpatrick worked his way back into the game, steadied and took the second set 15-13. The third set was close most of the way, but then Morrison got what looked like the decisive break at the end of the match, leading 14-10. Against the odds Fitzpatrick edged back to 14-14, but it was not to be a fairy tale 3 wins
for the Weightmans Packaging number three, Morrison held on to win the final set 16-14.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 15 games to 11.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Jeremy Corrin, Jordan Cole 2, David Sergi 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 4 (Sony Sefer 3, Therese Fitzpatrick 1)
Max Miller Carpets have been, with Mallee Meats, the form side of the second half of the season. Up to round 4 they had won just one match, but since then have been undefeated. And they continued that into this match.
Wins by each player in singles, plus both doubles rubbers helped the team to a healthy 7-4 win.
Max Miller Carpets captain Jeremy Corrin was once again in good form, as was number three Jordan Cole – these two winning two singles rubbers each (both defeating Therese Fitzpatrick and Ryan Hensgen), and then combining in the first doubles rubber to defeat Sony Sefer and Therese Fitzpatrick in a hard fought doubles match 9-15, 15-13, 15-9.
David Sergi won one singles rubber, this against Hensgen to make it seven wins for Max Miller Carpets and in winning the match made sure of third spot on the ladder.
Corrin and Sergi won the second doubles against Sefer and Hensgen in straight sets.
For Sammy’s Slammers, Sony Sefer had his best night of the season – he could be regarded as a permanent member of this team now, as he has played six of the ten rounds – by winning all three singles matches. He defeated Sergi and Cole in straight sets, but understandably had a bigger fight on his hands when he squared off against opposing captain Jeremy Corrin who took the first set 15-11, Sefer responded 15-10 to take the second, then came home with a wet sail in the third winning that 15-5. In downing David Sergi 15-12, 15-9 Therese Fitzpatrick picked up the remaining rubber.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 15 games to 11.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Marcus Cimino, Tague Morris 2, Quentin Clark 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Kevin Johns 3, Terry Martin 1)
This match was the play-off for fourth spot on the ladder. The two teams were level on five wins, separated only by percentage, Cookes Pools & Spas in fourth, Tankard Dental fifth – so the winner would claim the coveted fourth spot.
Early in the contest it looked like Cookes Pools & Spas would hold on to their fourth place, as after five rubbers they led four rubbers to one by virtue of wins to Kevin Johns (2 wins, over Tague Morris and Marcus Cimino), an easy two set win by Terry Martin over Tankard Dental captain Quentin Clark 15-11, 15-4, and the first doubles, Johns and Martin accounting to Clark and Cimino 8 and 12. The only rubber Tankard Dental had won to that point was a two set 15-6, 21-19 win by Cimino, who struggled to finish off Cookes Pools & Spas number three Steve Pongrac.
But after those first five rubbers, Tankard Dental turned the match around. Clark defeated Pongrac, then a surprise when number three Tague Morris comfortably defeated Cookes Pools & Spas number two Terry Martin 15-9, 15-12. Clark and Morris then paired in the second doubles to defeat Johns and Pongrac in two sets and suddenly the game was equal, four rubbers each.
Johns defeated Clark in a tough three setter 18-16,14-16, 15-10 to grab the lead back; Cimino inflicted the second defeat on Martin after a great three set battle 15-9, 5-15, 18-16 to again square the score, and it was left to Tague Morris to clean up for his team, defeating Pongrac in two sets 15-10, 15-9.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 16 games to 12.
PENNANT THREE:
Well there were a few surprises tonight in Pennant 3 action. The first surprise was a first time fill in this pennant and the second surprise was a team finally earning the four points for the first time this season.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Shaun Gifford, Levi Williams 3) d Sammy’s Slammers 3 (Rodney Galvin, Karly Leach, Leo Parker 1)
The undefeated Mallee Meats have had a series of guest fill-ins this season and tonight was no different with ‘retired’ player Mark Ljubic making his Pennant 3 debut. Opposing Captain Karly Leach was initially confused with Ljubic’s appearance but was satisfied that the left-hander was in the correct pennant after beating him 15-8, 15-9 in their opening match.
Both Levi Williams and Shaun Gifford both needed to win all their singles to make history in being tied for the singles aggregate and playing on the same team. Both these players would not have it all their own way and were involved in some close three set tussles. Young gun Leo Parker – who is having a great first up senior season – would push Gifford all the way with a tight three set match. Parker would take the first set 15-7 before Gifford would return fire by claiming the second 15-10. Parker would hang in there during the deciding set but fell agonising short by conceding the third set 15-12 in a high-class match. Gifford was again tested by Karly Leach in another three-set match with Gifford taking the first set 16-14 before Leach would take the second 15-11.
The third set was evenly poised; however, Gifford found an extra gear when need and claimed the decider 15-9. Gifford’s teammate Levi Williams also found the going tough. In his first match of the evening he faced Rodney Galvin. Williams cruised through the first set 15-7 but inexplicably hit a brick wall in the second as Galvin blitzed him 15-4. The third set was a tense affair with both players having their chances to claim victory, however, it was Williams who would prevail 16-14. Williams also needed three sets against Karly Leach. Leach controlled this match by taking the first set 15-10 and then built up a healthy lead in the second set before Williams reeled her in like a ‘marlin’ to take this set 15-13. Leach’s resistance was broken, as Williams landed the third set 15-4.
Overall Mallee Meats have won 8 rubbers to 3 (16 games to 3) against Sammy’s Slammers. Even though this looks a considerable margin one must be remined that of the five three set matches played Mallee Meats won all of these. Can this trend continue come finals next week? Stay tuned! Also, congratulations go out to Shaun Gifford and Levi Williams for both winning the singles aggregate this Summer Comp.
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Gayle Cottrell 3, Alicia Tyers 1) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Rodney Galvin, Marita Grace 2, Nick Kiapekos 1)
Believe it or not this would be a breakthrough win for Weightmans Packaging against Dunkley Scales. The Packers have been involved in a ‘Gentleman’s’ tie and also been gifted 4 points as Mallee Meats forfeited to them (Yes – it was my decision for this game not to go ahead – but I had my reasons!). A win is a great tonic for the Packers as they head into finals next week. Enough chit-chat lets see how this all unfolded.
Packers’ Captain Gayle Cottrell got the ball rolling as she powered through the first game against her opposing Captain Nick Kiapekos. It is very unusual for the Captain’s to lead off in the first game, but the tactics paid dividends with Cottrell outplaying Kiapekos to win in straight sets 15-8, 15-12 to get her team off to the ideal start. Next up was Ben Hosking playing against Rod Galvin (filling in for Nhat Dat). Galvin started like a house on fire in taking the first set 15-9 before Hosking turned the momentum of this match in taking the second 15-7. The third set was an enthralling with both players refusing to give an inch. It would be Galvin who would be victorious 16-14 to now have the match all square at one rubber all. The third match of the evening saw Dunkley’s Marita Grace up against Weightmans Alicia Tyers. Grace would breeze through the first set 15-5 before Tyers would find her form in taking the second 16-14. Grace would go on to win this match 15-11 however she may have played Tyers into form.
Nick Kiapekos has had his troubles against Alicia Tyers in their past few encounters with Tyers beating him last time. The question is – could she do it again? The first set was a dour affair with both players engaged in long rallies and points earned rather than being thrown away. Tyers would take the first lengthy set 16-14. Kiapekos would keep the pressure up in the second set and take this 15-9 to square the match at one set all. The third set was an exhausting affair with both players giving their all. The format for the Summer Comp is Fast Fifteens and both players eventually found themselves at 15 all (but not in a fast way). The deadlock was eventually broken with Tyers squeaking over the line 17-15 in a must win game for her team.
Tyers was again involved in another three-set match when she partnered Gayle Cottrell with their opponents being Nick Kiapekos and Marita Grace. By this stage all players had played in at least one three-set match, so they were well prepared for what was about to take place. Dunkley’s were out of the blocks quickly and powered through the first set 15-7. The second set was a mirror image of the first with Weightmans securing the second 15-7 to square the match. The last set was hotly contested with Cottrell and Tyers full of running at the end to take the set 15-12 and the match.
Later in the evening with the match score at 5 rubbers to 4 in favour of Weightmans Packaging another great three set-match was witnessed. If Gayle Cottrell could get over the line against Marita Grace this would signal the ending of the drought for her team. Cottrell started well in taking the first set 15-9 but Grace would then go into overdrive and smash out the next set 15-6. The third set saw some excellent rallies with both attacking and defensive play from both players. With both players refusing to surrender a tie-break was required in this gripping last set. Cottrell edged to a 16-15 lead and another great rally developed before Cottrell final shot hit the top of the net and seem to rest there for an eternity before gently rolling over to give her team a morale boosting victory.
Overall, this was a marathon with Weightmans Packaging recording victory 6 rubbers to 5 (16 games to 14) against a gallant Dunkley Scales. It would be hard to find any other matches that have featured as many three-set matches – 8 in total. Alicia Tyers did feature in four of these (all her matches). I just hope we haven’t all worn ourselves out for the finals starting next week.
PENNANT FOUR:
– MJM Automotive 9 (Wendy Simpson, Koby Grace 3, David Healy 2) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Glenn Leeson 1)
MJM have blitzed their opposition and have recorded a big win against the Packers. Young gun Koby Grace was again in scintillating form as he recorded three singles victories for the second week running. Grace was well supported by his
Captain Wendy Simpson who also added three singles victories of her own. Aggregate leader Hamish Smyth had a week off and was replaced by David Healy. Healy filled these shoes well as he also contributed two singles victories. On the other side of the coin it was a dark night for the Packers with Glenn Leeson contributing a lone singles victory and he paired with Liam Nicolaou in the doubles to win in a rare highlight for their team.
David Healy has won the bragging rights this evening by defeating sister Helen Healy in their head to head encounter. Overall MJM Automotive have fine tuned their games before finals with an impressive 9 rubbers to 2 (19 games to 5) against Weightmans Packaging.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Steve Parker, Derek Hung 2, Keith Sharman 1) d Mallee Meats 4 (Tom Gilmour, Maria Starikov 2)
Derek Hung has produced his best table tennis this year to date and was indeed a driving factor in Exposed Signage and Apparels success this evening. With Exposed regular Captain Costa Skiadis unavailable this evening Steve Parker filled this role admirably. Hung started the evening off in perfect fashion for Exposed by accounting for Maria Starikov in a tight straight sets victory 18-16, 17-15. In the next match Parker defeated Jim Vale in straight sets to give Exposed the lead two rubbers to nil.
With a win badly needed Mallee Meats Captain Tom Gilmour delivered the goods by defeating Keith Sharman 15-13, 15-11 to get the ‘Butchers’ on the board. Starikov continued the Butchers revival by defeating Parker in straight sets 15-8, 21-19 – the second set requiring a lengthy tie-break.
This is not the first time that Starikov has hit the 20-point mark in a match this season and if this continues, one may have to think about introducing ‘golden point’ rules (first to 16). Starikov also had a lengthy three set match with Sharman in which she won 11-15, 16-14, 15-12 to keep her team in the hunt. Alas, Starikov’s heroics were not enough as Parker would defeat Gilmour in three sets and then Hung would do likewise when he defeated Jim Vale in an exciting three set match that went down to the wire 15-9, 12-15, 16-14 to give Exposed a much needed victory.
In conclusion, after a strong start to the season Mallee Meats have lost their sizzle and have been defeated by Exposed Signage and Apparel. The final margin of victory for Exposed was 7 rubbers to 4 (15 games to 11).
Good luck to all players during the finals. If you have any commentary or moments of importance for the next write up it would be appreciated if you could write these on your scoresheets as I will be away next week. Please note I am retiring from write-ups at the end of the season and I am certain that this position will be filled quickly. If interested, please see me or Gavin. We will be shortlisting soon.
