Winter 2025 Season – Rnd 5 Wrap

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Round 5

Scoresheets-Winter-2025-R5.pdf

PENNANT ONE:

The highlight of round five of the Sunraysia Table Tennis senior pennant was the much awaited singles clash of the undefeated pair , Arhuang Lau and Wayne Carmichael and they did not disappoint.

Their teams are presently at the opposite end of the ladder with Lau’s Mallee Bearings sitting undefeated at the head of the ladder while Carmichael’s Choices Flooring were seeking their first win. 

– Mallee Bearings 7 (Arhuang Lau 3, Mark Dorman 2, Tom Morrison 1) d Choices Flooring Mildura 4 (Wayne Carmichael 2, Liam Wood 1)

When Carmichael and team mate fillin Jason Gifkins defeated Lau and Tom Morrison in straight sets in the second doubles the score stood at four rubbers all and the bottom team was showing some fight.

The best singles match of the season then took place with Lau taking to the table against the experienced Wayne Carmichael and spectators witnessed some amazing rallies. Both players possess excellent forehands while Lau picked up several points early from his dangerous serve. Lau took an early lead in the first , Carmichael fought back to go down 9-11 before he lifted to win the second comfortably. Lau in the third took control to take a two-one lead and the fourth was an amazing game.

Lau has an outstanding back hand drive and hits the ball harder than any other and when he took a 9-5 lead it looked like the match was over however Carmichael had other ideas and rattled off five winners in succession to grab a game point , Lau then played a strong forehand which clipped the edge, he then was able to steady and go on to win in what had been an entertaining match for the spectators 11-9 5-11 11-4 14-12.

The score now stood at 5-4 and Lau’s team mates the reliable Mark Dorman and number three Tom Morrison defeated their respective opponents to enable the top team to win 7-4 and keep their undefeated run intact. 

– Regional Taxation Services 7 (Matt Ljubic, Thanh Nguyen, Jamie Kealley 2) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Reece Kurrle 2, Shannon Bowen 1)

Second placed Regional Taxation Services consolidated their position on the ladder with a solid 7-4 victory over the fifth placed Weightmans Packaging. In an unusual twist RTS were out of the blocks early taking the first three singles matches , the first was a highlight when Jamie Kealley outplayed Weightman’s Reece Kurrle in four sets , both are power hitters and Kealley smashed his way to an 11-1 win in the first game before taking a two games to love lead. Kurrle fought back to take the third however young Kealley went on to win in four. 

Weightman’s then bounced back winning three matches in succession themselves including the first doubles won in five sets by Shannon Bowen and Kurrle who recovered from a 0-2 deficit to win in five against Matt Ljubic and Jamie Kealley. 

In the wash up it was the evenness of the Weightman’s trio of Matt Ljubic , Thahn Nguyen and Jamie Kealley who all won two singles each. Included in Nguyen’s victories was an impressive four set win over opposing number one Shannon Bowen. 

– Tankard Dental 7 (Kate Carmichael 3. Rohan Reimers 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Jackson Tung 2, Paul Kealley, Russell Walder 1)

After stumbling last round Tankard Dental extracted their third win of the season with a hard fought 7-4 victory over Cooke’s Pools & Spas. Tankards took early control of the match winning two of the first three singles , they all went the way as was expected. The first doubles could now shape the result and it was the Cooke’s duo of Jackson Tung and Paul Kealley who took a two games to one lead however their opponents Kate Carmichael and Rohan Reimers  were able to steady and win the fourth and fifth in a nail biter 12-10 11-9 which enabled Tankards to take a three – one lead. From here Tankards took control to go on and grab the four points. 

Tankards were well served by skipper Kate Carmichael who won three singles while team mate Reimers played a key role winning two. Carmichael capped off a successful night by taking part in both doubles victories.

PENNANT TWO:

Cookes Pools & Spas 6 Duy Truong (2), David Sergi (1), James Jarvis (2) defeated Pinnacle Packers 5 Marcus Cimino (3), Peter Midgley (0), Peter Fitzpatrick (1).

More fill-ins were required in round 5 which saw the absence of both Quentin Clark and Michael Hensgen from Cookes Pools & Spas with substitutes David Sergi and James Jarvis along with skipper Duy Truong just getting over the line against some stiff competition from Pinnacle Packers.

First up, Jarvis made short work of Midgley, taking the match in straight sets 11-7, 11-4, 11-7. Truong, who in the absence of Quentin Clark played as a No. 1 in his team, fought a hard battle against Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick took the first set 11-8, Truong the second and third 11-2, 11-6, Fitzpatrick then nabbed the fourth set 11-7 but fell apart in the fifth, losing 2-11. Cimino then took his team’s first rubber, defeating Sergi in three sets 11-4, 11-1, 13-11. Packers then put up a good fight in the first doubles match but came up short against Cookes, losing in four sets 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.

Truong continued to make progress with a win over Midgley, with the first set going all the way to 20-18, Troung’s way, then Truong gaining control and winning the next two 11-6, 11-5. Cookes now had a comfortable 4-1 lead over Packers, but Cimino was gearing up for a counterattack. He took out Jarvis with little difficulty, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 and teammate Fitzpatrick bested Sergi also in three sets 11-8, 11-3, 11-6. The two then paired up for the second doubles and took another solid win over Truong and Sergi, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6.

Cimino wasn’t done yet, facing off against Truong and taking the game in four sets 11-6, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, bringing the score to 4-4. Despite Packers’ bold efforts to come back from behind and level the score, teammates Midgley and Fitzpatrick just couldn’t get those final two rubbers. Midgley came close, taking the first two sets against Sergi 12-10, 11-8, only to come undone in the next three 7-11, 7-11, 4-11, giving Cookes the lead 5-4. In the final rubber, Fitzpatrick couldn’t get it done either, losing in straight sets to Jarvis 11-8, 11-7, 11-2.

Final score 6 rubbers to 5 and 19 games to 20.

Weightman’s Packaging 6 John Fitzpatrick (3), Sony Sefer (1), Therese Fitzpatrick (1) defeated Choices Flooring Mildura 5 Ashley Morrison (2), Terry Martin (1), Andres Jones (1).

After disappointing results in the first four rounds, Weightmans Packaging finally got themselves their first win in round 5. Skipper Fitzpatrick won his three singles matches and Sefer and Therese Fitzpatrick obtained 1 singles win each, all of them playing some solid table tennis against a tough opponent in Choices Flooring.

The first rubber saw Jones square off against Sefer, with Sefer just getting over the line in the fifth 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 9-11,11-9. Therese Fitzpatrick then looked poised to defeat Morrison, taking the first two sets 11-9, 11-8, only for Morrison to knuckle down and turn the game completely on its head and steal the victory 11-5, 11-6, 11-9. Up next, Fitzpatrick had his hands full with Martin who took the first set 11-8, Fitzpatrick fighting back and taking the next two 11-6, 11-5, Martin biting back with a 11-3 win in the fourth but Fitzpatrick fended him off, taking the win a narrow 15-13 in the fifth. Weightmans then got themselves to the halfway point by winning the first doubles match; losing the first set 7-11, but bringing it home in the next three 16-14, 11-9, 11-9, bringing the score to 3-1.

Morrison regained some ground by defeating Sefer in straight sets 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 but it would do little to slow the momentum of Weightmans. John Fitzpatrick dispatched Jones also in straight sets 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 and little sister Therese, after a taunt battle with Martin, gained her side’s fifth rubber, winning 14-12, 7-11,13-11, 11-6. Choices Flooring were not out of it yet though, fighting tooth and nail in the second doubles and after five gruelling sets took the match 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6.

In the final three rubbers Morrison got off to a bad start against opposing No. 1 Fitzpatrick, losing 1-11, 6-11,10-12, ceding the night’s victory to Weightmans. Unfortunately for Choices Flooring, they managed to get the last two rubbers of the night but it would be too little to late. Martin defeated Sefer in four sets 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 and Jones bested Therese Fitzpatrick in five 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.

Final score 6 rubbers to 5 and 25 games to 21.

PENNANT THREE:

Going into the school holiday break undefeated ladder leader Weightmans Packaging were matched up against third placed Regional Taxation Services and what a match they delivered going right to the wire.

On the other table second placed Exposed Signage/Apparel took on Sammy’s Slammers whose skipper Ryan Hensgen over the past two rounds was undefeated and showing excellent form. Were the Slammers getting closer to a win?

– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Nhat Dat, Steve Parker 2, Leo Parker 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick 3, Sam Campbell 1)

This match eventuated into a thriller with either side taking the initiative at different times. Overall, there were five five set matches and three four set games indicating the closeness.

Regional Taxation Services skipper Sabrina Fitzpatrick gave her all for her team winning her three singles, she had her hands full against the Parker boys in the first singles she played young Leo who took a two games to one lead and was putting the pressure on with some fine serving and follow up forehands. Sabrina had to draw on all her experience and in an excellent comeback she went on to win 11-4 11-13 8-11 11-3 11-8. Later Sabrina matched up against Steve and again teammates witnessed another outstanding five set battle this time Sabrina winning 11-8 12-10 8-11 9-11 11-7 despite Steve fighting his way back into the match.

In the space of four matches Sabrina would play three five set matches. She teamed with teammate Sam Campbell in the first doubles and this went game for game against Nhat Dat and Steve Parker. After some excellent rallies from both sides Sabrina and Sam took the points 11-8 4-11 12-10 8-11 11-4.

When Sam played her next singles, she defeated Leo in straight sets although it was not one sided. Regional Taxation Services now took a 4-3 lead and the top team were under pressure going in to the second doubles.

Believe it or not this doubles again went to five sets, the Weightmans pair of Nhat Dat and Leo Parker trailed one game to two and sensed their team’s undefeated run maybe was coming to an end. From this point they lifted against Samantha and Hayden Wilson who were strong early. In the end Dat and Leo strolled through the fourth and fifth to win 11-8 9-11 8-11 11-6 11-3 a game effort by Sam and Hayden. The score now four rubbers all.

Regional Taxation Services again took the lead courtesy of Sabrina who defeated Nhat Dat in four sets inflicting the second defeat in two rounds for Dat. Despite this he remains three clear on the singles aggregate. In an usual twist after her excellent night Sabrina would be the only player in pennant three to win three singles.

Regional Taxation Services now took a 5-4 lead with two rubbers to play.

Weightmans Steve Parker was out of the blocks quickly against Sam to take the first game, the second was a lot closer and Steve proved too steady taking this game by the barest of margins, Sam fought back to take the third however Steve remained calm and went on to win 11-2 11-9 7-11 11-7, the score now five rubbers all.

The two number three players Regional Taxation Services Hayden Wilson and Leo Parker for Regional Taxation Services met to decide the four points , Hayden played well to take the first narrowly , Leo bounced back to win the second and in an amazing third game which

could have gone either way Leo won 13-11 and then in the fourth he broke away and took control to win in four sets.

Weightmans Packaging had maintained their undefeated run winning 6-5 while RTS had been brave in defeat and they will feel they are a chance next time they meet.

In an even team effort Nhat Dat and Steve Parker won two singles each while Leo Parker won one.

WINNER: Weightmans Packaging 6 d Regional Taxation Services 5

Games 25 to 19

– Exposed Signage/Apparel 8 (Karly Leach, Brendon Johnson, Deegan Kerslake 2) d Sammy’s Slammers 3 (Ryan Hensgen 2, Koby Grace 1)

Sammy’s Slammers were keen to get off to good start against second on the ladder Exposed Signage/Apparel and when number three Yen Hwak took a two games to one lead in the first singles of the night against Deegan Kerslake who was second on the aggregate things looked encouraging for the Slammers. Deegan fought back to level the match winning the fourth while the fifth was a thriller and in the end credit to Deegan staying calm to win 11-3 7-11 12-14 11-7 12-10 a great effort by Yen but he just came up short.

The next two singles went as expected with Slammers number one Ryan Hensgen defeating Brenden Johnson while Exposed number one Karly Leach accounted for Koby Grace.

The first doubles was the first of five four setters in succession all won by the Exposed trio who took control of the match. This doubles featured Karly and Deegan and they maintained the lead to win over Ryan Hensgen and Koby Grace 11-6 9-11 11-5 11-8.

In the next block of three singles Deegan was able to defeat Ryan in four sets, the only defeat of Ryan in his last nine matches. Two matches later Brendon scored a strong win over Koby 13-11 13-11 11-13 11-2, the first three games were point for point.

Brendon then teamed up with skipper Karly to win the second doubles over Ryan and Yen in four sets. The Exposed team had secured the four points by now and took a 7-1 lead into the last block of three singles.

To their credit Sammy’s Slammers did not lay down and courtesy of two exciting five set matches in succession they tripled their score to reduce the deficit to 3-7. The two captains Sammy’s Ryan and Exposed Karly Leach going game for game. They fought out a tremendous match and in the fifth Ryan was able to remain calm when under pressure winning 12-10 11-13 9-11 11-5 12-10 …..what a match.

The next match was a ripper with Koby Grace outlasting Deegan in the fifth. Koby actually held match points in the fourth and showed great maturity against his inform opponent to win 11-6 1-11 11-8 12-14 11-9.

Exposed Signage/Apparel now sit second on the ladder one game clear of third. In an even performance Karly, Deegan and Brendon won two singles each as well as winning both doubles.

WINNER: Exposed Signage/Apparel 8 d Sammy’s Slammers 3

Games 28 to 16

PENNANT FOUR:

Round 5 saw the Top team up against the bottom and the two teams sitting second and third battling it out.

Leanne Wilson continued her perfect run, pulling in another three singles and being part of two more Doubles wins. Curtis Crabtree has missed a couple of weeks, but has performed very well, when he is able to attend, notching up another three singles this week.

– Tankard Dental 6 (Levi Williams 3, Ildi Healy, Jakob Grzan 1) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Maria Starikov 2, Jenny Leach, Jake Hines 1)

Dunkley Scales : Maria Starikov, Jenny Leach and Jake Hines. Tankard Dental : Leanne Wilson, Ildi Healy and Jakob Granz.

In the first group of Singles, Dunkley faired pretty well, taking the first and third matches. Jake and Jakob had a cracker three sets, with both showing terrific improvement to their skill level and Jake just a tad stronger, making up the first Rubber (12/10, 11/4, 13/11). As has happened when ever the two face up, Maria and Leanne pushed each other to five sets, with rally after rally. Leanne got the better of Maria in the fifth, with some fast returns (11/9, 11/13, 11/6, 5/11, 11/5). The next meet were, Jen and Ildi, which always winds up a great tussle. Jen made the first two sets hers, but Ildi focused hard and halted the run, taking it to four sets, where Jen had the luck fall her way, to pencil in Dunkley’s second win (11/9, 11/6, 6/11, 11/9).

Leanne and Ildi were having none of that and put the foot down in the First Doubles, with each set being stopped at 8, which evened up the score sheet (11/8, 11/8, 11/8).

Maria’s defensive wall came out in her match against Jakob, which made life way to hard for him, despite his determination (11/4, 11/0, 11/2). Jake fought hard against Ildi, but her experience and focus got the better of him, although Jake did grab one set (11/6, 8/11, 11/6, 11/5). Jen made a valiant effort in her meeting with Leanne, but her lefty game was far too tricky, with the match finishing in four (11/6, 9/11, 11/6, 11/6).

Maria and Jake pressured Leanne and Jakob in the first set, but were worn down over the next two, with Tankard picking up their fifth Rubber, two ahead of Dunkley (13/11, 11/6, 11/7).

To turn things around, Dunkley had to win all remaining matches, which was going to be a big ask.

First up was a well fought contest between Ildi and Maria. The encounter saw Ildi take one set under her wing, but Maria once again showed why her game is difficult to break through, giving Dunkley the win (11/9, 10/12, 11/7, 11/7). Jakob and Jen had a super skirmish, with Jakob shining in the second set, after some well placed forehands shots. In the end Jen was a little too solid, which found both teams on five (11/5, 8/11, 11/2, 13/11). The next match was going to have to see Jake play out of his skin to stop Leanne’s game. As things turned out Tankard took the last Rubber and the over all win on the night (11/5, 11/2, 11/1).

WINNER : Tankard Dental  6  to Dunkley Scales 5.

GAMES : 21  to  19.

– Mallee Meats 6 (Curtis Crabtree 3, Conner Burnett 2, Nathan Beard 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Glenn Leeson 2, Gary Leach 1)

Mallee Meats : Curtis Crabtree, Nathan Beard and Conner Burnett. Weightman’s Packaging : Glenn Leeson, Gary Leach and Eddie Parker.

The improvement in Connor’s level has been notice by many and he put together a winning game against Gary in the first Singles (11/6, 11/7, 9/11, 11/4). Eddie had Curtis on the ropes in a couple of sets, but it didn’t take too long for Curtis to push his game to the next gear and spot the second Rubber for Mallee (14/12, 13/11, 5/11, 11/7). Nathan gave it his best shot against Glenn, but the spin King came out on top, opening the door a little for Weightman’s (11/8, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3).

Glenn and Gary added another Rubber for their team, in a three set win in the first Doubles (11/5, 11/5, 11/9).

Gary made Curtis work hard, with a fantastic contest leading to a second set thriller, with the eventual win going to Curtis (11/4, 12/14, 11/5, 11/7). Glenn showed why he is number one, but not before Conner gave him a mighty scare, taking the first two sets (7/11, 8/11, 11/7, 11/6, 11/6). Nathan and Eddie were up in the last of the Second lot of Singles and although Eddie put together some great rallies, Nathan’s experience got him the win in the end (11/5, 11/6, 15/13).

The last Double brought the scores back to level, with the pairing of Glenn and Eddie just giving them the edge over Curtis and Connor (13/11, 8/11, 11/8, 11/3).

The Singles clash between Curtis and Glenn was a rip roaring conflict, which went all the way, with both players focused on getting the point home for their team. After some amazing shot play, it was Curtis who grabbed the Rubber for Mallee (11/8, 5/11, 8/11, 11/8, 11/3). Nathan gave it a good blast, but Gary put the pedal to the metal and finished it off in four sets (13/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/8). With everything all square the Connor Eddie tussle was going to decide the winning team. It was a great match for both Guy’s, but as mentioned earlier on, Connor has improved out of site and amassed his second win for the night and helped his team to the win on the night (11/7, 11/8, 3/11, 11/5).

WINNERS : Mallee Meats 6 to Weightman’s Packaging 5.

GAMES : 24 to 20.

See you all with the next write up in a few weeks. 

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