0
0
ROUND 14
https://stta.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/r14-2023-winter.pdf
PENNANT ONE:
An exciting climax to the Sunraysia Table Tennis winter pennant looms with third to fifth teams on the ladder all with a seven-win seven loss ratio going in to the final round.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Murphy 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Rohan Reimers 2, Gavin Carmichael, Mark Dorman 1)
These three teams all won their round 14 matches with the biggest result being third placed Tankard Dental’s defeat of ladder leader Mallee Bearings 6-5 who going in to this contest had only lost one match. Tankards skipper Wayne Carmichael was in excellent form winning three singles however it was the form of his teammate Jackson Murphy which proved to be the difference between victory and defeat and keeping their finals hopes alive.
Murphy took advantage of a coaching session earlier in the week with leading Victorian coach Bruce Carter and his first two singles were instrumental in his team banking the four points. His first match was against opposing number one player Gavin Carmichael and his second against Mark Dorman, in both matches Murphy’s forehand was on song in what was an outstanding performance by him.
Later in the match Mallee Bearing’s number three Rohan Reimers defeated Murphy in four sets, Reimers proved too steady and won two singles on the night to be the best performed player for the Bearings team in their narrow loss.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Joel Thomas 2, Lee Leeson, Russell Walder 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Matt Ljubic 3, Thanh Nguyen 2)
Fourth placed Cookes Pools & Spas courtesy of winning both doubles in five sets were able to defeat second placed Regional Taxation Services 6-5 in a thriller.
With the scores at five rubbers all Cookes number three Russell Walder kept his team’s finals chances alive when he outlasted Shane Carmichael in a tense five set contest 9-11 11-7 11-9 5-11 11-9.
Victory came for Cookes despite Matt Ljubic and Thanh Nguyen winning three and two singles respectively. Ljubic was in great form and his 14-12 6-11 11-8 11-3 was a commendable victory over Joel Thomas, Ljubic looks to have secured the singles aggregate for the second year in succession as he now leads by two going in to the final round.
– Max Miller Carpets 7 (Kate Carmichael 3, Leon Brown, Liam Wood 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Jackson Tung, Reece Kurrle 2)
Fifth placed Max Miller Carpets kept their finals chances alive with a solid 7-4 victory over Weightmans Packaging.
Carpeters skipper Kate Carmichael was the standout player winning three singles as well as taking part in both doubles victories. Carmichael’s team mates Leon Brown and Liam Wood both won a singles each with Wood scoring a marathon five set victory over Ed Hung 13-15 11-4 12-10 13-15 11-5.
PENNANT TWO:
Cookes Pools & Spas lost their match to ladder leaders Weightmans Packaging and dropped back to fifth – their last round match against a revitalised Pinnacle Packers their last chance of playing in the finals; Pinnacle Packers defeated Mallee Bearings for the third time this season to keep their finals hopes alive; and Mallee Meats took a timely win against second placed Max Miller Carpets to virtually lock in third on the ladder.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Quentin Clark 3, Andrew Jones 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Ashley Morrison 2, Josh Arnold, Ryan Hensgen 1)
Bearing in mind that Weightmans Packaging have been defeated just twice for the entire season, the result here was not really a surprise, Weightmans Packaging completing a clean sweep of wins against Cookes Pools & Spas for the season.
The part that really hurt Cookes Pools & Spas was that this loss drops them, just at the wrong time, out of the top four on the ladder. Even with some indifferent results, Cookes Pools & Spas have been in the top four all season, and this result comes at exactly the wrong time. Next round they play Pinnacle Packers, a team against whom they have a win and a loss.
Once again Weightmans Packaging captain Quentin Clark had a strong night; he won three singles and shared in wins in both doubles. Whilst he defeated Ryan Hensgen and opposing captain Ashley Morrison in straight sets, Clark had to battle through five sets to defeat Cookes Pools & Spas number two Josh Arnold. The doubles wins were no fluke either – he and Tom Morrison are the best doubles pairing in the pennant, this round bring up their tenth win from eleven pairings. And Clark and Andrew Jones are the fifth best pairing in the competition, with six wins from twelve matches.
Andrew Jones once again had a solid night, two singles wins and that doubles win with his captain. After losing to Ashley Morrison in straight sets, he came back from two sets to one down to defeat Ryan Hensgen, then after dropping the first set 2-11 to Josh Arnold in the final round of singles, took the next three.
The Cookes Pools & Spas trio all took wins, but with only four singles rubbers to their credit, and no doubles rubbers, their challenge faltered after the sixth rubber, when the score stood at three rubbers apiece. After that, Weightmans Packaging won four rubbers in a row, Cookes Pools & Spas getting their fourth in the final rubber.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 22 games to 19.
– Pinnacle Packers 8 (Peter Midgley, Sony Sefer 3, Furqaan Ahmad 2) d Mallee Bearings 3 (Jamie Kealley 1)
Pinnacle Packers recorded their third win for the season against bottom side Mallee Bearings, and, with Cookes Pools & Spas losing their match, moved from fifth to fourth. All eyes will be on their clash with Cookes Pools & Spas next week.
But first, what happened here. Nothing much, really. Mallee Bearings have simply failed to fire this season. Captain Jamie Kealley came into this season off the back of a great Summer 2022 season, but has just not continued that form. Still, he sits eighth on the aggregate. However, his teammates Marcus Cimino and David Sergi have simply not played to the level they have demonstrated over multiple seasons. The reason/s for this are a mystery, however to see Marcus with six nights where he has failed to score even one singles rubber is baffling. Sergi, at number three has failed to score on five occasions, and sits just one win behind his team-mate Cimino on the aggregate. In doubles play, they have both won five times (with captain Kealley), Sergi five wins from nine matches, and Cimino five wins from eleven matches. Still, there were some good rubbers in this match.
Pinnacle Packers were never threatened for the win as they won the first three rubbers, then when Mallee Bearings did win a rubber, they would win the next, Mallee Bearings won three in this way, then Pinnacle Packers took the final three rubbers.
Both Peter Midgley and Sony Sefer won three singles rubbers, Midgley maintaining his third spot on the ladder, and super-sub Sefer, despite having played in only nine of the eleven rounds thus far, finds himself eighth on the aggregate – a great performance for a “part-timer”!!
Midgley met with some resistance from Sergi, who took him to four sets, Cimino was a straight sets win, and against opposing captain Kealley it was a great four set win, Kealley really not far from taking control of the game, but Midgley using his experience to thwart his younger opponent in the 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 14-12 win.
In contrast, Sefer had a much more straight forward 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 win against Kealley, and then dealt with Sergi in three, and a closer four set contest with Cimino, the win coming at 11-5, 11-6, 12-14, 11-7.
Pinnacle Packers number three Furqaan Ahmad had his best night by far – firstly a four set win against Cimino in the first rubber, and in the final match of the night, he duked it out with his opposite number Sergi, coming back from two sets to love down to win 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3.
Mallee Bearings could only snare three rubbers – Jamie Kealley defeated Ahmad 9, 7 and 9 in the only singles win, and for a side seemingly out of form, they won both doubles rubbers. Kealley and Sergi (the number one and three in the side), defeated Midgley and Sefer (the number one and two) in the first doubles rubber in five sets. It was a close match too, the Mallee Bearings pair desperate to get a win on the board, as at that stage they trailed 3-0. Kealley and Sergi won 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9. The second doubles was another five setter, this time they needed the win to stave off what was almost inevitable defeat, but they put that off until the next game. Kealley and Cimino started well against Sefer and Ahmad winning the first two sets 11-8, 11-9, but dropped the next two, before steadying to take the last 11-9.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 28 games to 16.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Kevin Johns, Terry Martin 2) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Jeremy Corrin, Daniel Jansen 2, John Fitzpatrick 1)
Mallee Meats ensured they will play in the finals with a very close six rubbers to five win against second placed Max Miller Carpets. There are many variables as to who will finish where after next week’s round, but Mallee Meats are the best placed of the three teams fighting over two remaining spots in the finals.
This match saw a timely return to form for Kevin Johns and Terry Martin, both of who won two singles rubbers, and although their number three James Jarvis could not join them with a singles win (he came close, taking Max Miller Carpets captain Jeremy Corrin to five sets), the team won both doubles rubbers, Johns and Martin a fighting five set encounter with Corrin and Daniel Jansen, and later Johns and Jarvis combined well for a straight sets win against the pairing of Corrin and John Fitzpatrick.
For Max Miller Carpets, Jeremy Corrin and Daniel Jansen won two singles each, and John Fitzpatrick one. This side has been consistent this season in the doubles department, at the moment both pairings have won seven of the fourteen times they have played, and sit third and fourth on the doubles aggregate. It is worth noting that this is the only team in this
pennant where each player has played every round. So it is probably no coincidence they are doing well. But for all that, their doubles expertise deserted them in this game, Corrin and Jansen falling to Johns and Martin, and Corrin and Fitzpatrick a straight sets loss to Johns and Jarvis.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 22 games to 21
PENNANT THREE:
Second placed Regional Taxation Services put a rare dent in Tankard Dental’s season; the two closest teams in the pennant played, Exposed Signage & Apparel defeated Mallee Meats six rubbers to five; and fifth placed Weightmans Packaging defeated bottom side Sammy’s Slammers.
– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Shaun Gifford, Leo Parker 2) d Tankard Dental 5 (Luca Capizzoto 3, Dianne Hannig, Steve Parker 1)
Regional Taxation Services took advantage of the absence of Tankard Dental captain Steve Pongrac, and reminded them that despite their stellar season, they can be beaten.
Going into this match the ladder leaders had lost just one match from the previous thirteen, interestingly that loss was to their opponents here, Regional Taxation Services.
On this occasion Tankard Dental were without captain Steve Pongrac, and as in round four, Regional Taxation Services took the honours six rubbers to five.
Shaun Gifford and Leo Parker did the majority of the winning for Regional Taxation Services, with two wins. Neither of them could tame Tankard Dental’s Luca Capizzoto, who for the twelfth time this season, won his three singles encounters. More on Luca later.
With those four wins, Regional Taxation Services had to rely on the doubles rubbers for their win. Number three Rodney Galvin played well, but just could not snare a win – he lost in four sets to Dainne Hannig and Capizzoto, and then fell short in a close five setter to Steve Parker. However, Galvin’s win with his captain against Capizzoto and Hannig was well earned, the Regional Taxation Services pair winning 11-6, 11-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8. Earlier Gifford and Leo Parker, after dropping the first set 12-14 to Capizzoto and Steve Parker, bounced back to take the last three sets 4, 8 and 5.
Those doubles losses proved costly for Tankard Dental, as the team won five of the nine singles rubbers on offer. Capizzoto, as mentioned, once again was the dominant player in singles, although all his opponents took at least one set from him, Leo Parker and Galvin losing in four, and in the final round of singles opposing captain Shaun Gifford led two sets to one before losing 9-11. 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 25 games to 19.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Levi Williams 3, Riley Clemence 2, Damen Southgate 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Michael Smyth 2, Nick Kiapekos 1)
These two sides are the most evenly matched teams in this pennant. They have both won seven of their fourteen matches, both teams have an identical win/loss record, 77 won and 77 lost, Mallee Meats has the slight edge in games won and lost, 293 won and 289 lost, whilst Exposed Signage & Apparel have won 291 and lost 292. So it was fitting that the result of this match was a six rubbers to five win.
Exposed Signage & Apparel won six of the nine singles rubbers, captain Levi Williams picking up three, number three Riley Clemence another good performance with two wins, and Damen Southgate picking up one important victory. Predictably, Williams’ toughest match was against opposing captain Michael Smyth, this one going the distance, Williams getting home in a close five set contest 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9. Riley Clemence scored two good wins, firstly a close three set match with Nick Kiapekos 13-11, 11-9, 17-15, and later a five set win against fellow youngster Hamish Smyth 11-9, 11-7, 13-15, 9-11, 11-4.
Michael Smyth was the best performed Mallee Meats player with two wins, and Nick Kiapekos with one. Michael Smyth and Kispakos outlasted Williams and Southgate in the first doubles, a five set win 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 10-12, 11-9, and later Michael and Hamish Smyth, after a brief stutter in the second set accounted for Williams and Clemence 15-13, 1-11, 11-7, 11-8.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 23 games to 20.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Nicole Hunt 2, Karly Leach 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 4 (Marita Grace 3, Nhat Dat 1)
Weightmans Packaging ensured they will not finish on the bottom of the ladder with this win against bottom side Sammy’s Slammers. Although they are now just one win more than Marita Grace’s side, the rubbers and games scored so far will be enough to ensure they do not finish sixth.
Nicole Hunt has been in good form for Weightmans Packaging in the last three rounds, the number three picking up two wins in each of those matches. Nicole is leaving the district now, so we all wish her well in Western Australia. She scored a good five set win against the tricky Nhat Dat in the first rubber, and her second came in the final game of the contest, against Koby Grace in four sets.
Sabrina Fitzpatrick also won two, also against Nhat and Koby and number two Karly Leach contributed one win, against Koby Grace.
The all-ladies team dominated the doubles, perhaps not dominated, but they won both of them, Sabrina and Karly in a close five setter over Marita and Nhat 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, and later Sabrina and Nicole won another five setter, against Marita and Koby 5-11, 13-15, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7.
Marita Grace won three of the four rubbers for her team, a clean sweep in singles, in three sets against Karly and Nicole and four against Sabrina. The fourth rubber came from Dat, who defeated Karly in five sets in the second last rubber 11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 24 games to 19.
PENNANT FOUR:
In the penultimate round, the two top teams extended their lead from the rest of the field by an additional game, both with a seven rubbers to four win.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Chelsey Avers 3, Gary Leach, Glenn Leeson 1) d Mallee Meats 4 (Wendy Simpson, Tom Gilmour 2)
Weightmans Packaging faced bottom side Mallee Meats, and with the help of wins in both doubles rubbers, won the match.
Chelsey Avers starred for the winners, with three singles victories, and only Tom Gilmour was able to take a set from her, such was her performance. Chelsey dealt with opposing captain Wendy Simpson in three sets, winning 8, 8, and 5, conceding just eleven points to Jenny Leach, and after conceding the first set to Gilmour, won a tight four set contest 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9. Chelsey was also involved in the first doubles win with her captain Glenn Leeson, the pair defeating Simpson and Gilmour in five sets 5-11, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8. Chelsey has improved dramatically this season, and now sits third outright (on 25 wins) on the aggregate, only three games behind the joint aggregate leaders, Glenn Leeson and Maria Starikov. Leeson (and Starikov) both had quiet nights in this round, both winning one rubber in their respective matches.
Leeson’s win came at the expense of his wife, Jenny, who was playing at number three for Mallee Meats. He had his chances to win his remaining two rubbers, going down to Tom Gilmour in five sets (after leading two sets to one) 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 10-12, 10-12 and later, another five set defeat to Wendy Simpson (this time after leading two sets to love) 6-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-9. He did, however, taste a little more success in the second doubles with partner Gary Leach, when they had a straight sets win against Wendy Simpson and Jenny Leach.
Mallee Meats, although fourth (and last) on the ladder put in a very credible performance in this match. Simpson and Gilmour both defeated aggregate leader Glenn Leeson (both in five sets), and Gary Leach (both also in three sets), and together they came close to taking the first doubles rubber, as described, before losing in five sets.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 25 games to 16.
– Dunkley Scales 7 (Ildi Healy 3, Katrina Clifford 2, Derek Hung 1) d Tankard Dental 4 (Liam Nicolaou, Maria Starikov, Curtis Crabtree 1)
Dunkley Scales had an easy win against third placed Tankard Dental, having the match won after the seventh rubber.
With three singles wins and one doubles, Ildi Healy, subbing in the number one spot, had a night out. She was simply too good for Maria Starikov, winning 5, 4 and 3, had to work hard (and long) to get the better of Curtis Crabtree, winning in five sets 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 and then kept her concentration at one hundred percent in her final match against opposing captain Liam Nicolaou. Although decided in three sets, Ildi was not prepared to concede a set and won 13-11, 12-10, 11-9. With her number two Katrina Clifford, Ildi also won the first doubles against Nicolaou and Starikov, a see-sawing five setter 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8.
Ildi received good support from her team-mates, Katrina Clifford and Derek Hung. Clifford won two singles rubbers, a four set win against Curtis Crabtree in the opening match of the contest, and later she defeated Nicolaou in five sets, needing the last two sets to win, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5.
Hung showed good form to down Maria Starikov in four sets. After conceding the first set 5-11, Derek reset and won the next three 11-5, 11-2, 12-10.
It was a quiet night then for Tankard Dental. Joint singles aggregate leader Maria Starikov could only add one win to her tally, that a three set win over Katrina Clifford. She lost cheaply to Ildi Healy, and after a solid start against Derek Hung, lost in four, as described.
Captain Liam Nicolaou downed Hung in four, then lost in five sets to Katrina Clifford and then the close three set loss to Ildi Healy. Not totally outclassed by any means, but beaten nonetheless.
The final singles rubber came from the bat of Curtis Crabtree, a four set win over Derek Hung in rubber number eleven. Nicolaou and Crabtree took the second doubles, a match in which they won fifty of the ninety points played, so were deserving winners, taking it 8-11, 11-1, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 25 games to 20.
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.
