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ROUND 4
PENNANT ONE:
Close encounters , a first win and the first loss by the previously undefeated Regional Taxation Services were the feature of round five matches of the Sunraysia Table Tennis Association summer pennant.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Murphy 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Nicholas Dorman, Mark Dorman 2, Ashley Morrison 1)
Cookes Pools & Spas after losing their first three matches of the pennant have now won two in succession after defeating Regional Taxation Services in a close encounter. Wayne Carmichael was the standout player in this contest winning three singles and taking part in both doubles victories when he partnered up with team mates Jackson Murphy and fill in Rohan Reimers respectively.
Carmichael scored the four points for Cookes when he secured his third singles at the expense of the in form Nicholas Dorman. This was a top class three set contest with two points separating each player in the first two games before Carmichael was able to stamp his authority on the match in the third to go on and win 15-13 14-16 15-4.
The Regional Taxation Services trio of Nicholas Dorman, Mark Dorman and Ashley Morrison on two , two and one singles a total of five however it was the loss of the doubles that caused their first loss of the season.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Thanh Nguyen, Ed Hung 1) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Jackson Tung, Leon Brown 2)
In another close encounter Tankard Dental recorded their first win of the season 6-5 over the more fancied Mallee Bearings. Like her uncle Wayne, Kate Carmichael was the difference in this fight for the four points winning three singles all in hard fought three set matches where she was able to hold her nerve under pressure after losing the first game in each.
Carmichael’s singles against Jackson Tung in particular was a thriller. After many long hard fought rallies the match stood at 14 all in the third and at this point amazingly the ball broke. On resumption two very long rallies then took place and in the end Carmichael was able to take this exciting match 12-15 15-9 16-14.
With the scores locked at five rubbers all Tankard’s Ed Hung showed his experience to outlast the determined Michael Hensgen in another encounter which went to the wire 14-16 15-9 16-14 a thriller. With this win by Hung Tankard Dental have recorded their first victory.
– Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Matt Ljubic 3, Dylan Wood, Casper McCarthy 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Gavin Carmichael, Leon Brown 2)
Meanwhile Exposed Signage/Apparel continued on their winning way with a 7-4 victory over Max Miller Carpets who were not disgraced. Again it was Matt Ljubic leading the way winning three singles whilst he also took part in both doubles victories.
The Carpeters were right in the match as indicated by the five five set results which took place. In particular Russell Walder was close to two singles victories having match points against Dylan Wood and just going down in three sets to Casper McCarthy. To their credit the youngsters were able to remain calm under pressure. In a further three set loss for the Carpeters Gavin Carmichael was able to maintain pressure on Matt Ljubic before going down in a hard fought third.
PENNANT TWO:
Mallee Meats followed up last week’s big win with another one in this round, against bottom side Pinnacle Packers; Cookes Pools & Spas kept their percentages up with a 7-4 win against Max Miller Carpets; and Weightmans Packaging and MJM Automotive recorded 6-5 wins against Tankard Dental and Sammy’s Slammers respectively.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Jamila Belbaze 3, Rohan Reimers, Jamie Kealley 2) d Pinnacle Packers 3 (Paul Kealley 2)
Following their 10-1 demolition of Weightmans Packaging in the last round, Mallee Meats put Pinnacle Packers to the sword in this round.
Leading the way for Mallee Meats was number two Jamila Belbaze. Belbaze was the odd one out in the win last week, scoring “only” 2 singles wins whilst captain Rohan Reimers and number three Jamie Kealley helped themselves to 3 each. The tables were turned this time though, Belbaze with 3 wins and Reimers and Kealley with “only” 2!!
Her win against Pinnacle Packers captain Paul Kealley was a most impressive 15-13, 15-5. Seems Kealley’s game presented less of problem to Jamila than did that of Pinnacle Packers number three Sabrina Fitzpatrick. Sabrina made Jamila work for her win, going down in three sets 11-15, 15-9, 9-15.
In taking two singles wins, Jamie Kealley played well for Mallee Meats, losing only to his father, Paul, Paul no doubt reminding his son that there are still a few things to learn about this game!! Jamie had a full night though, as apart from this match he played for the absent Jason Gifkins in the MJM Automotive-Sammy Slammer’s game.
The balance of the rubbers came from the bat of Rohan Reimers, Reimers taking two singles wins and with Jamie Kealley, the second doubles.
Although Pinnacle Packers are yet to win a match and sit in eighth, and at the bottom of the ladder, they have won more rubbers than the two sides above them, the team in sixth having two wins, and the seventh placed team one.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 17 games to 10.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 7 (Kevin Johns 3, Terry Martin 2) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (David Sergi 2, Jordan Cole, Jeremy Corrin 1)
Cookes Pools & Spas captain Kevin Johns kept his lead at the head of the aggregate ladder with a three game haul against Max Miller Carpets.
Johns was not really extended, winning all his matches in the minimum two sets.
Number two Terry Martin picked up two wins, easily defeating Max Miller Carpets captain Jeremy Corrin, but falling to a determined David Sergi in the penultimate match 15-10, 10-15, 10-15.
Cookes Pools & Spas won both doubles rubbers – Johns and Martin too good for Corrin and Sergi, winning 15-10, 15-8; and later Johns and Tom Morrison (subbing for Steve Pongrac) won a close three setter against Corrin and Jordan Cole 15-9, 12-15, 15-13.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 15 games to 9.
– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Shane Carmichael 3, John Fitzpatrick 2) d Tankard Dental 5 (Quentin Clark 2, Marcus Cimino, Tague Morris 1)
Weightmans Packaging regrouped after last week’s thrashing at the hands of Mallee Meats to defeat Tankard Dental.
Weightmans Packaging captain Shane Carmichael put himself back into contention for the aggregate prize by picking up three wins, in two sets against Tankard Dental captain Quentin Clark and number two Marcus Cimino, but finding number three Tague Morris a much sterner opponent. Morris made Carmichael work a bit harder in their three set match-up, Carmichael winning 13-15, 15-7, 15-11.
John Fitzpatrick had a good night, picking up two wins. He despatched Morris in two sets, and hung on to win in three sets against the tricky Cimino 15-4, 7-15, 15-12 in what was the match winning rubber.
Weightmans Packaging’s sixth rubber came in the second doubles, Carmichael and Peter Fitzpatrick winning a close one against Clark and Morris 12-15, 15-11, 15-13.
For Tankard Dental, captain Quentin Clark won two, and Cimino and Morris one each.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 14 games to 13.
– MJM Automotive 6 (Daniel Jansen, Michael Hensgen, Isaiah Bettess 2) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Jamie Kealley 3)
As reported last week, MJM Automotive captain Daniel Jansen returned to table tennis after a big break in round three. It has not taken him long
to get back into the swing of things, and in this match he picked up two singles rubbers, falling only to “Whelan the Wrecker” Jamie Kealley.
It was a solid performance from MJM Automotive, as the three players, Jansen, Michael Smyth and Isaiah Bettess all won two singles rubbers. That those rubbers came from defeating the numbers two and three of their opposition does not really matter, as a win is a win. As mentioned earlier also, Smyth is returning to the game after a long lay-off, and it is good to see him returning to form.
Jansen and Smyth were in with a chance in the first doubles, but the combined firepower to Kealley and Therese Fitzpatrick put paid to their chances, the final score going to the Sammy’s Slammers pair 8-15, 15-12, 15-11.
For Sammy’s Slammers, Jamie Kealley was the stand out player, not only for winning three singles rubbers and helping to win both doubles, but because he was filling in for the absent Sammy’s Slammers captain Jason Gifkins. What is more remarkable is that Kealley is graded as a number 3 in his own team, but such has been his improvement this season that he was filling in for a number 1 !! Bear in mind this is Jamie’s first full season in senior competition.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 13 games to 14.
Pennant 3
This week we warmly welcome David Healy to the club as he was filling in for Alicia Tyers who was unavailable this week. It is true the association had been working for quite some time to procure the services of Healy who has finally run out of excuses not to play. Also, a big thankyou to Huseyin Ismail for again filling in for Rod Galvin this week.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Levi Williams, Shaun Gifford 3) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Huseyin Ismail, Karly Leach, Leo Parker 1)
Mallee Meats have kept their winning form going in accounting for a very competitive Sammy’s Slammers outfit. Again, it was the dynamic duo of Shaun Gifford and Levi Williams that would win three singles each to get the job done.
Although Ildi Healy didn’t win a game this week we cannot underestimate her contribution to the team with encouragement and tactical moves her teammates are employing. For Sammy’s Slammers Karly Leach, Huseyin Ismail and Leo Parker all contributed a singles victory each and they also combined impressively to win both doubles matches.
In conclusion Mallee Meats were just a cut above their opposition to claim victory 6 rubbers to 5 (12 games to 11) against Sammy’s Slammers.
– Dunkley Scales 8 (Marita Grace 3, Nick Kiapekos, Nhat Dat 2) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Gayle Cottrell 2)
Dunkley Scales have bounced back from their loss last week to record an emphatic win against Weightmans Packaging. Dunkley’s number three player Marita Grace has hit a purple patch of form and had a great night in securing three singles victory for the first time – congratulations Marita.
She was well backed by her teammates Nick Kiapekos and Nhat Dat who contributed two solids singles victories each. On the flip side Weightmans Captain Gayle Cottrell played well and secured two singles victories.
The first match of the night saw Marita Grace up against Ben Hosking. Hosking had returned to form last week and looked on paper to have this match well in hand by securing the first set 15-11 – Well think again! Grace turned up the heat in the second set to breeze through this 15-6 to set up a deciding set. Although Hosking tried his best, he was always a couple of points at arm’s length away and this is how it would end with Grace taking the third set 15-12 and in doing so got her team off to the ideal start. Next up was Nick Kiapekos up against debutant David Healy. Kiapekos was in no charitable mood after his team’s loss last week and went about claiming this match in ruthless fashion in two sets.
With her team in early trouble (2 rubbers to nil down) Gayle Cottrell needed to lift. Her opponent Nhat Dat would be no easy opponent, and this is how it proved to be with Cottrell winning in two very tight sets (both requiring tiebreakers) 16 -14, 19-17. Cottrell them teamed with Hosking in the doubles to claim this match against Kiapekos and Dat in three tight sets 8 -15, 16-14, 15-12 to get the match back to two rubbers all.
Cottrell was well and truly warmed up when she played Grace in her next singles match. Both players traded blows and there were no cheap points given either way in a great match. Eventually Grace got the upper hand in the third set to record the win 15-11, 11-15, 15-8.
With this win the floodgates opened and Dunkley Scales went on to record a solid win 8 rubbers to 3 (17 games to 9) against Weightmans Packaging
Pennant 4
We would like to warmly welcome Andrew McMahon and thank him for filling in. Also welcome back to Raylee Waugh for her first competitive hit for quite some time. It is really appreciated that these playing spots can be filled so that everyone gets a good hit in.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Tom Gilmour 2, Jim Vale 2, Maria Starikov 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 5 (Costa Skiadis 3, Raylee Waugh 1)
This was a very tight contest with Mallee Meats looking to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season last week. Meats number three player Jim Vale led the way with two excellent singles victories and was well supported by Captain Tom Gilmour with two singles victories of his own along with Maria Starikov who contributed a very important singles victory late in the evening. Exposed Captain Costa Skiadis was in great form winning three singles while Raylee Waugh showed promising form after a long break by winning one singles – however the night could have been much better as she was narrowly defeated in three set in the other two matches.
The description of some of these matches starts with game 8 (the second doubles) with Mallee Meats leading 4 rubbers to 3. This match saw Exposed pairing of Costa Skiadas and Derek Hung take on the Butcher’s duo Tom Gilmour and Maria Starikov. This was a much win match for Exposed with the experienced Skiadas calmly encouraging his partner Hung and going on to engineer a great win 15-12, 18 -16 to keep Exposed in the hunt. The last three singles matches would now be crucial with the teams tied on 4 rubbers all.
Now, as fate would have it, Tom Gilmour had an interesting discussing with Gavin Carmichael before the evening started about the order that his team could potentially play in so that he wouldn’t be playing in a ‘dead’ rubber. With this advice clearly in mind Gilmour played the ninth match (instead of the 11th) and he played Raylee Waugh in a very tight match. Gilmour capitalised early on Waugh’s mistakes to take the first set 15-12. Waugh was not giving any freebies away in the second as she hit top gear to take the second set 15-7. In a weird turn of events Gilmour raced to a 7-0 lead in the third set (maybe there was a scoring end?). When the players swapped ends during this set Waugh quickly reeled Gilmour in to get the score back to 9 all. Gilmour then steadied the ship and went on to record an important win 15-12 in this set.
The next match was Maria Starikov up against Derek Hung. Both players had their chances in this game but the more experience Starikov was playing the big points just that little bit better to record the win 15-12, 15-11 to get her team over the line.
The last match of the evening saw Costa Skiadis record a consolation win in straight set against Jim Vale. Vale had the last laugh as he inflicted the damage early in the evening winning both his earlier singles matches and doubles match to be our standout player of the match. Well done Jim.
Overall Mallee Meats are back in the winner’s circle by recording a narrow victory over Exposed Signage and Apparel 6 rubbers to 5 (12 games to 13 – yes rare occasion with less games to win).
– MJM Automotive 6 (Hamish Smyth 3, Koby Grace 2) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Liam Nicolaou 2, Andrew McMahon 1)
With three players absent and only one replaced we find this match was a 2 v 2 match. Even though there were four players this did not deter from the table tennis being played. MJM’s Hamish Smyth won all his singles games but was tested along the way this evening. His partner Koby Grace played well to secure a singles victory and teamed well with Smyth to record a solid doubles victory. For
Weightmans Liam Nicolaou was the Captain (not bad for four games in) and played impressively during the night and was of great assistance in showing our debutant Andrew McMahon the ropes.
Andrew McMahon didn’t have to wait very long to get into the action as he was first up against the youngster Koby Grace. Grace set the tone early by taking the first set 15 – 6 before McMahon knew what him. Although more competitive in the second set Grace went on to win this 15-11 to get his team off to a flyer.
The standout match of the evening was Smyth up against Nicolaou. Smyth has not lost a match so far this season and you probably would have thought this would be the case again. Smyth took the first set comfortably enough 15-11 before Nicolaou found excellent form with his placement game in taking the second set 16-14. It is clearly evident that Nicolaou is a touch player and is steady in keeping the ball in play. This type of play was frustrating Smyth who would at time be over attacking in trying the end the point quickly. The final set saw Smyth being a lot more selective with his attacking shots to take this set 15-10 and claim a hard-fought victory.
Overall MJM Automotive have got over the line this week 6 rubbers to 3 (12 games to 7) against Weightmans Packaging. Again, a big thankyou to Andrew McMahon for coming out to play and being a part of the action – we hope you enjoyed your evening.
News to hand: There will be a short break at 8:00pm on Wednesday night where there will be a few important announcements made. See you all on Wednesday.
