Winter 2025 Season – Rnd 16 Wrap

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Sunraysia Table Tennis 2025 Winter Pennant results Round 16:

2025/07/Scoresheets-Winter-2025-R16.pdf

PENNANT ONE:

The final round of table tennis prior to the finals provided several highlights and surprises including the form team ladder leader Regional Taxation Services losing 3-8 to third placed Weightmans Packaging who were on fire while bottom team Choices Flooring Mildura led by Wayne Carmichael winning three singles, proved too good just, for second team Mallee Bearings.

In this round, Carmichael by avenging an earlier in the season loss to Arhuang Lau has won the singles aggregate for a record twenty fourth time, this is an amazing achievement by the veteran with his first win dating back to 1988. In recent years he has had to recover from three hip replacements and has still been able to maintain the pressure on Sunraysia’s leading players.

The match against Lau was high class as Lau played some excellent table tennis only for Carmichael to counter some aggressive forehands from his opponent. While this match was played Weightmans Shannon Bowen and Regional Taxation Services number one Matt Ljubic put on their own show with an outstanding five setter won by Bowen who is firing at the right end of the season, on the table next to these two Tankard’s Kate Carmichael recovered from a two game deficit against Cookes Pools & Spas number one Jackson Tung to win 12-10 in the fifth.

– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Shannon Bowen 3, Reece Kurrle 2, Lee Leeson 1) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Matt Ljubic 2, Jamie Kealley 1)

 In the biggest upset of the night Weightmans Packaging were quick out of the blocks against first placed Regional Taxation Services leading at one stage 3-1 and then 4-2 before taking complete control winning the last four rubbers, the final scoreline 8-3.

For the victors Shannon Bowen had a huge night winning three singles as well as taking part in both doubles’ victories. Bowen received excellent support from teammates Reece Kurrle and Lee Leeson who won two and one singles respectively.

Bowen and Kurrle after losing their doubles matches in the first three rounds of the season have now strung together twelve wins in succession, a formidable record in this important component of the game.

– Choices Flooring Mildura 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Liam Wood, Jason Gifkins 1) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Arhuang (Wong) Lau, Mark Dorman 2)

In a further unexpected result bottom team Choices Flooring Mildura just edged out second placed Mallee Bearings 6-5 in a thriller.

As mentioned earlier Choice’s skipper Wayne Carmichael was in great form winning three singles but to grab victory, he needed support from his teammates and fill in from pennant two Jason Gifkins played a key role in the victory by combining with Carmichael to win the second doubles.

With the match at five rubbers all Gifkins was matched up against Josh Arnold who was filling in in this pennant for the first time and what a match this proved to be with Arnold taking the first two games by the narrowest of margins by blunting Gifkins looping forehands.

With the four points slipping away Gifkins needed to lift and lift he did by controlling the third and fourth to level the match at two games all. With a good crowd watching on, both players while nervous battled on and in the closest finish possible it was Gifkins who had completed a memorable comeback to win 9-11 9-11 11-6 11-8 13-11 an eventful finish.

For Mallee Bearings Lau and Mark Dorman won two singles each as well as winning their doubles however it was not quite enough, this had been a strong finish to the season for the Choices Flooring Mildura team.

– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Jackson Tung, Paul Kealley 2, Russell Walder 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Kate Carmichael 3, Edi Re 1)

 In a further close result Cookes Pools & Spas retained fourth position on the ladder with a narrow 6-5 win over Tankard Dental, this was despite Tankards at one stage leading 4-2. While the doubles were shared Cookes scored the win by Jackson Tung and Paul Kealley winning two singles each while number three Russell Walder outlasted fill in Casper McCarthy when the scores were at five rubbers all.

Walder has enjoyed a solid season, and the second doubles was crucial when he combined with Tung to defeat Kate Carmichael and McCarthy 11-4 11-7 8-11 8-11 12-10.

Earlier Carmichael and Tung had played a high class five set contest. Tung was out of the blocks early taking the first two games comfortably before Carmichael decided to lift and she was able to grab the third and fourth. In the fifth she looked home leading 8-5 before Tung played well to level at 8 all, Carmichael snatched the next two points and then Tung again levelled at ten all before Carmichael won the next two points winning 4-11 7-11 1-8 11-8 12-10 a great match.

At the weekend these two had combined to win the Ballarat Over 30’s mixed doubles title, this time they were at the opposite end of the table.  

PENNANT TWO:

Cookes Pools & Spas 7 Quentin Clark (2), Duy Truong (3), Michael Tan (0) defeated Pinnacle Packers 4 Marcus Cimino (2), Peter Midgley (1), James Jarvis (1).

Pinnacle Packers failed to scratch a win in the final round of the 2025 Winter Season, going down to fourth-placed Cooks Pools & Spas. Cookes’ No. 2 Duy Truong had another solid night, winning three singles and a doubles.

First up, Tan and Midgley went toe to toe in brutal five-setter. Midgley won the first set 12-10, Tan the second 11-9, Midgley then inched ahead in the third 12-10. Tan kept up with him by winning the fourth 12-10 but Midgley got it done in the fifth, winning 11-9. Captain Clark got his side’s first rubber by defeating Jarvis in four sets 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 and in a big upset match, Truong bested Cimino in just three sets 11-9, 11-8,14-12. Cookes kept their momentum up going into the first doubles match, beating out Packers in four 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, streaming ahead 3-1.

Clark then made it 4-1 after defeating Midgley 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6. Cimino regained some ground for his team, taking down Tan in straight sets 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 but there was no stopping Cookes who took the next two rubbers in a row. Jarvis could do little against Truong and went down in three 10-12, 2-11, 12-14, while Clark and Tan took down Packers pair Cimino and Jarvis in the second doubles after a five-set struggle 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 15-12, bringing the score to 6-2.

Clark and Cimino then faced off, the two trading sets back and forth with Clark taking the first 11-5, Cimino the second 11-5, and Clark getting ahead in the third 11-6. Despite Clark’s two set lead, Cimino fought his way back and took the win 11-8, 11-6. Truong and Midgley then got into another long five-setter with Midgley starting well by winning the first two sets 11-3, 11-6 but coming undone and giving Truong the chance to come all the way back and win 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. Finally, Jarvis beat Tan in four sets 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-4.

Following this loss, Packers are out of the top four teams of the pennant and will not make it into the finals, while Cookes will play third-placed Weightmans Packaging in the semi-finals when the comp reconvenes after the school holidays.

Final score 7 rubbers to 4 and 26 games to 19.

Choices Flooring Mildura 7 Ashley Morrison (2), Terry Martin (3), Andrew Jones (0) defeated Weightmans Packaging 4 John Fitzpatrick (2), Sony Sefer (1), Therese Fitzpatrick (1).

Choices Flooring and Weightmans squared off in round 16, with the former outplaying the latter and securing the No. 2 position on the ladder. Choices Flooring will then go on to play ladder leaders Mallee Meats in the semi-finals, while Weightmans will play fourth-placed Cookes Pools & Spas.

In the opening match, Jones and Sefer slogged it out, with Sefer winning the first set 11-5, Jones taking the second 11-7, and Sefer nabbing the third 11-4. Jones then levelled it at 2 sets each in the fourth 11-9, but Sefer had had enough and shut Jones down in the fifth 11-2. Skipper Morrison then dispatched Therese Fitzpatrick in straight sets 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 while teammate Martin tussled with John Fitzpatrick and came out on top 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5. With Choices Flooring now 2-1 ahead, Weightmans looked to slow them down in the first doubles match. The duo of John Fitzpatrick and Sefer started the game well, taking the first set 11-5 and only just losing the second 11-13. They then snatched up the third set 11-5 but couldn’t hold back their opponents in the fourth and fifth, going down 11-8, 11-7.

Choices Flooring continued to put wins on the board with Morrison defeating Sefer also in straight sets 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, giving themselves a solid 4-1 lead. John Fitzpatrick did what he could to halt their progress, besting Jones in three 11-9, 11-3, 11-2.

Meanwhile, Martin obtained his team’s fifth rubber by downing Therese Fitzpatrick 11-5, 11-8, 12-10. Weightmans were in dire straits now; they could not afford to lose any of the last four remaining games if they were going to win the night, but Choices Flooring proved too strong for them in the second doubles and they went down in three 8-11, 4-11, 5-11, ending the night 6-2.

John Fitzpatrick then went up against Morrison and took the win in four 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9. Martin then got his third singles win for the evening by defeating Sefer also in four 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-6 and in the last Therese Fitzpatrick got the fourth rubber for her side, besting Jones 11-6, 11-9, 13-11.

Choices Flooring and Weightmans were neck-and-neck on the ladder going into this match. Weightmans would have jumped up to second place if they had beat Choices Flooring but it was not to be. As it stands, both teams will play in the semi-finals with he potential for them to meet again in the preliminary finals or the grand finals.

Final score 7 rubbers to 4 and 24 games to 16

PENNANT THREE:

After threatening for several rounds fourth placed Sammy’s Slammers have finally won their second match for the season, number two Koby Grace was missing again this week and he was replaced by both Brenden Johnson and Leo Parker who are number three players for Exposed Signage/Apparel and Weightmans Packaging respectively.  Leo played two singles while Brenden played a singles and the first doubles.

The Slammers defeated third placed Regional Taxation Services 6-5 in a great battle.

In the other match Nhat Dat was a late withdrawal for top team Weightmans Packaging and he was replaced by Nick Kiapekos who has had a break for some time recovering from a hip replacement. Despite this layoff Nick seemed to be in good form unluckily losing two five set marathons by the narrowest of margins, welcome back Nick!!

With aggregate leader Nhat Dat out unwell, teammate Steve Parker potentially had the chance to win the aggregate outright, at the beginning of the night he trailed by two. Did he feel sorry for his missing teammate? Maybe, as Steve only won one singles and Dat is officially the singles aggregate winner by one from both Steve and Deegan Kerslake while Karly Leach was two wins further back with Ryan Hensgen another one further back in a congested leader board.

– Exposed Signage/Apparel 9 (Karly Leach. Deegan Kerslake 3, Brenden Johnson 1) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Nick Kiapekos, Steve Parker 1)

Ladder leader Weightmans Packaging ran into a red-hot Exposed Signage/Apparel who were outstanding. Weightmans skipper Nhat Dat was unwell and could not play and he was replaced by Nick Kiapekos.

“Consistent “Steve Parker started his team off well by defeating Brenden Johnson in four sets however this jumped the Exposed team in to action as they would win the next four rubbers to take control of the match. After skipper Karly accounted for Leo Parker, Karly’s teammate Deegan Kerslake then recovered from a 1-2 game deficit to just outlast Nick 9-11 11-6 6-11 13-11 11-9 a great contest showing Nick had retained his form despite a long break from the game.

Karly and Deegan then took the first doubles in straight sets defeating Nick and Steve 11-9 11-3 11-8, Karly and Deegan have been very consistent doubles players this season. In another crucial match Karly then proved too steady for Steve in a match containing many long rallies. The score now stood at 4-1 in favour of Exposed Signage/Apparel.

Nick then reduced the deficit by defeating Brenden, however from this point Exposed Signage/Apparel again were able to get on a roll winning the last five matches to claim a percentage boosting 9-2 win.

Apart from winning both doubles the Exposed pair of Karly and Deegan won three singles each while teammate Brenden won one. The question is can Exposed Signage/Apparel keep this form up when they meet in the second semi final after the school holidays when Nhat Dat will return.

Winner: Exposed Signage/Apparel 9 d Weightmans Packaging 2

 Games: 29 to 16

– Sammy’s Slammers 6 (Ryan Hensgen 2, Brenden Johnson, Leo Parker 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick 3, Sam Campbell, Hayden Wilson 1)

Despite Regional Taxation Services taking control in the first block of singles by taking a 2-1 lead the big news in this round was the second victory for the season by Sammy’s Slammers.

Before the match Koby Grace was a late withdrawal from the Sammy’s Slammers team. He was replaced by two players. Leo Parker played two singles while Brenden Johnson played the doubles and the third singles.

RTS pair Sam Campbell and Sabrina Fitzpatrick gave their team an early lead courtesy of four set wins over Yen Hwak and Leo Parker respectively.

The best singles of the first three was the five set tussle between Slammers skipper Ryan Hensgen against the determined Hayden Wilson, Hayden put real pressure on Ryan who

eventually went on to win 11-3 5-11 11-7 4-11 11-4 a good effort by Hayden.

 The first doubles was important and the Slammers were able to level the match scores at two rubbers all when Ryan teamed up with fill in Brenden Johnson to fend off Sam Cambell and Sabrina Fitzpatrick in four sets, three of the four very close.           

Including the doubles the Slammers were able to win four of the next five matches in a positive run. Ryan accounted for Sam a little easier than expected while fill-in Leo Parker outlasted Hayden 3-11 12-10 11-5 11-9, an entertaining four setter.

 The second doubles was important for RTS to fight back however when Sam and Hayden trailed 0-2 it looked all over as Ryan and Yen had taken control, but the RTS pair were not going to give up without a fight and fight they did narrowly taking the fourth and fifth to level up the match. Ryan and Yen then were stung into action drawing on their form from the first two games and were able to go on and win 11-8 11-7 9-11 10-12 11-5. What a struggle, the Slammers now took a 5-3 lead.   

Seeking their second win for the season Ryan Hensgen was off to a flyer against Sabrina winning the first two games comfortably, Sabrina sensing the four points were slipping then played her usual steady style and slowly turned the match around, frustrating Ryan into errors. In an excellent comeback Sabrina took the match 9-11 5-11 11- 8 11-7 11-5.

The score now 5-4 in favour of Sammy’s Slammers.

Because Brenden and Leo were required at their table the two number three players played the next match, and what a match it was between RTS Hayden and Yen. Hayden needed to win to keep his team alive and he proved too steady taking the first before Yen jumped in to action only allowing Hayden to win two points in the second game. The third could have gone either way and Yen took the points narrowly, the fourth was close all the way again and Hayden levelled at two games each. It was close all the way again, Yen playing some strong backhands and Hayden defending well. In a nervous finish it was Hayden who stayed composed winning the match 11-8 2-11 10-12 11-8 11-9, a great effort from both players. Hayden had now levelled the match at five rubbers all.

Spectators and nervous teammates witnessed the fourth five setter in succession when Regional Taxation Services number two Sam Campbell matched up against Brenden Johnson. Both players possess strong forehands, and it would be a matter of who could land the most. Sam started confidently and narrowly took the first game, Brenden confidently took the second and again in the third Sam held the edge to take a 2-1 lead, despite trailing Brenden wasn’t deterred and he continued to attack and in a strong finish Brenden was able to grab the four points for the Slammers.

This had been an exceptional match with Brenden winning 8-11 11-6 7-11 11-7 11-7, Sam had tried very hard to take the points, but it wasn’t to be.

Despite there being five five setters it was probably the success in both doubles by the Slammers which proved to be the difference.   For the victors Ryan won two while Brenden and Leo chipped in with one each.

For Regional Taxation Services skipper Sabrina played well to win three singles, one in five sets and the other two in four. Despite their loss RTS will remain in third position and again will play the Slammers in the knockout semi final after the school holiday break.

Winner: Sammy’s Slammers 6 d Regional Taxation Services 5

Games: 25 to 23

PENNANT FOUR:

The last round of the Winter Season, not including Finals of course has ended with two thrashing’s. Top of the Ladder team, Tankard Dental has been very stable throughout and have maintained their position, this being mainly due to the consistency of the Captain, Leanne Wilson, who has rarely stumbled in her matches, along with her team of Ildi Healy and Jakob Grzan.

Second on the Ladder, Weightman’s Packaging, lead by Glenn Leeson, came close to beating Tankard in some of their encounters, but couldn’t find what was needed to get over the line. Their team have remained strong and made some big improvements over the season. Gary Leach and Eddy Parker pair very well with Glenn in the Doubles.

Mallee Meats have shown glimpses of brilliant play, with the later part of the season seeing their Captain, Curtis Crabtree pulling together some amazing games.  Nathan Beard is always difficult to take a win from and Connor Burnett’s tricky shots have pushed his game ahead this year.

Dunkley Scales, Captained by, Maria Starikov, have struggled to get their act together this season, only scrapping in with two wins. Always giving it 100%, but unfortunately unable to get their skill levels up to standard. Jen Leach and Jake Hines have been held up by their Captain most weeks.

Thank you to all the Fill in’s for giving up their time to help out the Pennant four teams when needed.

In a brief overview of the last week:

– Mallee Meats 8 (Curtis Crabtree 3, Nathan Beard 2, Raylee Waugh 1) d Dunkley Scales 3 (Maria Starikov 2, Jenny Leach 1)

Mallee : Curtis Crabtree, Nathan Beard and Connor Burnett (Fill in – Raylee Waugh). Dunkley : Maria Starikov, Jen Leach and Jake Hines.

The first set of Singles saw Dunkley taking two Rubbers, with Jen winning in three over Raylee and Maria in four over Nathan. Curtis had a relatively easy victory over Jake, which seemingly looked good for Dunkley, but it was a hard slog from then on in.

Maria and Jen snatched one set from Curtis and Nathan in the Doubles, but couldn’t hold on for the win.

The Second set of Singles was the opposite as far as Rubbers go, with two falling to Mallee Jen went down to Curtis and Nathan left with a win when he faced Jake, although Jake fought hard getting to 9 in two of the sets. Maria didn’t have any trouble in her match against Raylee, putting up her wall of defense.

This put Mallee Meats in front by one Rubber, which didn’t seem too bad, on paper.

One of the sets in the last Doubles was forced out to 14/12, by Maria and Jake, but Curtis and Raylee always looked the stronger pair and finished it off in three.

Dunkley put up a valiant fight to try and hang in and stop Mallee marking up their sixth Rubber, with Maria pushed Curtis to four sets, Jen making it as difficult as possible for Nathan, together with a super five set match between Raylee and Jake, with the first set going out to 19/17. Only to see Mallee collect all three matches and end on a triumphant win.

WINNERS : Mallee Meats  8  to Dunkley Scales.

GAMES :  25 to 14.

– Tankard Dental 8 (Tom Gilmour 3, Leanne Wilson 2. Jakob Grzan 1) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Gary Leach, Michael Hensgen Eddy Parker 1)

Weightman’s : Glenn Leeson (Fill in – Michael Hensgen), Gary Leach and Eddy Parker. Tankard : Leanne Wilson, Ildi Healy (Fill in – Tom Gilmour).

The Match’s were all one sided over the first four battles, with Tankard pinching all four.

Eddy made the first set his when he clashed with Leanne, but the next three were not going to get away from the Captain, making the Rubber hers. Gary gave it his best shot against Tom, but to no avail, that’s makes two. Michael being in a Pennant way above this level, had to play left handed, which can’t be easy. Jakob put together a game good enough to pencil in Tankard’s third, after three sets.

Maybe the Doubles will sort things out …. With Leanne and Tom on the other side of the Table, the task would be rather daunting for Gary and Eddy. The Match did go for four sets, with a couple of sets quite close, but there goes Rubber number four.

Gary then had to face the aggregate Champ, Leanne, which wouldn’t end well. A good skirmish, however, this would put the score at 5 to 0. Not what Weightman’s had in mind. Eddy, Weightman’s number three, came to the rescue, with a very even match against Jakob. The clash went to four sets and both rallied hard, with a sigh of relief from Eddy, as he put his team on the board. With Tom’s experience, he made short work of the non dominant handed Michael, pulling in the sixth Rubber to give Tankard the nights win.

The final Doubles went to four sets, but proved a struggle for Weightman’s, going down again.

The last set of singles saw something fire up Weightman’s, with Gary winning over Jakob. Michael came up against Leanne, which turned out to be an captivating five setter, with Weightman’s punching in their third Rubber, a little late, good to see there was still fight in their belly. The Eddy  V  Tom encounter was a ripper, which was pushed all the way and Tom ended it with his third singles win for the night.

WINNER : Tankard Dental  8  to  Weightman’s Packaging  3.

GAMES : 27   to  14.

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