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ROUND 7
PENNANT ONE:
Round seven of Sunraysia Table Tennis featured 6-5 score lines in all matches and with three rounds to play there is still potential for several changes to positions on the ladder.
– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Nicholas Dorman 3, Andrew Cannard, Ashley Morrison 1) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Gavin Carmichael, Reece Kurrle 2)
First placed Regional Taxation Services improved their win loss ratio to 5-1 with a narrow victory over cellar dwellers Max Miller Carpets who were brave in defeat, going in to this match RTS were without the consistent Mark Dorman while the Carpeters number three and star of last round Russell Walder was unavailable for this week.
RTS number one Nicholas Dorman continued his good form again winning three singles while team mates, fill in Andrew Cannard and Ash Morrison won one each.
The doubles were shared with the second crucial for RTS when Dorman teamed up with Ash Morrison to outlast Reece Kurrle and fill in Shane Carmichael 15-11 11-15 15-13 a thriller.
With the scores at five rubbers all Ash Morrison who had celebrated his 50th birthday the day before had to fend off Shane Carmichael in an exciting three set battle. Morrison enabled his team to grab the four points and hold on to the top position on the ladder by winning 5-12 12-15 15-13.
– Tankard Dental 6 (Kate Carmichael, Thanh Nguyen 2, Ed Hung 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 5 (Matt Ljubic 3, Dylan Wood 1)
In another exciting encounter Tankard Dental recorded their second win of the season by defeating Exposed Signage/Apparel 6-5 in a thriller. The Exposed trio moved to a 5-4 lead late in the match when skipper Matt Ljubic won his third singles to retain the singles aggregate lead by one. This win over Kate Carmichael was an outstanding match with many lengthy rallies entertaining the spectators. In the end it was Ljubic prevailing 15-11 12-15 15-9.
Two further five set matches followed and in a strong finish Tankards pair Thahn Nguyen and Ed Hung were able to show their maturity to outlast Dylan Murphy and Casper McCarthy respectively. Nguyen was blown away by strong Wood forehands in the first game before grabbing the second narrowly and then maintaining control in the third to level the match at five rubbers all with a 8-15 20-18 15-12 score line.
In an equally exciting game Tankard veteran Ed Hung matched up against the up and coming Casper McCarthy. Hung grabbed the first 15-12, McCarthy the second 19-17 and in the third it was the experience of Hung winning 15-8 and giving his team the valuable four points and fourth position on the ladder.
Such was his excitement Hung took a victory lap of the stadium
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Jackson Murphy 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Leon Brown 2, Jackson Tung, Michael Hensgen 1)
With their fifth win in succession Cookes Pools & Spas secured third position on the ladder with their 6-5 victory. Wayne Carmichael led the way winning three singles , he avenged a first round loss to Leon Brown in two sets and later outlasted Michael Hensgen and Jackson Tung both in three sets. Carmichael received good support from team mate Jackson Murphy who played well to win two singles including a straight sets 15-12 15-12 over the talented Jackson Tung.
With the match at a delicate stage Cookes pair Wayne Carmichael and Lee Leeson outlasted Tung and Michael Hensgen in a lengthy three setter 15-13 14-16 12-12.
For Mallee Bearings Leon Brown played well to win two singles and the first doubles when he teamed up with Jackson Tung.
PENNANT TWO:
Mallee Meats continued on their winning way in this round, recording a big win against MJM Automotive; Weightmans Packaging opened up a two game gap to third placed Cookes Pools & Spas; Cookes Pools & Spas jumped Tankard Dental and struggled to defeat bottom side Pinnacle Packers; and Max Miller Carpets continue their march up the ladder, this week recording a percentage boosting win against Tankard Dental.
– Mallee Meats 8 (Rohan Reimers 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Jamila Belbaze 1) d MJM Automotive 3 (Daniel Jansen 2, Tom Morrison 1)
Mallee Meats continue on at the top of the table, and although equal on wins with Weightmans Packaging, have won 55 of their 77 rubbers played so far, compared to Weightmans Packaging’s 41 of 77 played, a big difference.
This round they recorded their third 8-3 win, to go with their other wins of 10-1, 9-2 and 7-4. They are clearly the form side this season.
Mallee Meats captain Rohan Reimers was once again in good touch, picking up three wins for the fourth time this season. Rohan was pretty much untroubled, winning all these rubbers in two sets. And although Mallee Meats won both doubles rubbers, they had to work much harder for them, Reimers and Jamila Belbaze needing three sets to get the better of Daniel Jansen and Tom Morrison (subbing for Isaiah Bettess) 15-12, 11-15, 15-9. Later Reimers and Jamie Kealley similarly had a good three set victory over Jansen and David Sergi (subbing for Michael Smyth) 15-13, 10-15, 15-13.
Mallee Meats number three Jamie Kealley once again played above his ranking, and picked up two wins … in two sets over Morrison, and three against Sergi.
Jamila Belbaze picked the eighth rubber for Mallee Meats, a three set win against Sergi in the first round of singles.
For MJM Automotive, captain Daniel Jansen won two, and fill-in Morrison one.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 17 games to 10.
– Weightmans Packaging 7 (Shane Carmichael 3, John Fitzpatrick 2, Peter Fitzpatrick 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 4 (Sony Sefer 2, Ryan Hensgen 1)
The first six rubbers of this match were evenly shared, but like last week, Weightmans Packaging then went on a run, winning the next four to secure a good 7-4 win.
Shane Carmichael led the way for Weightmans Packaging with three wins, John Fitzpatrick was a good contributor with two, and number three Peter Fitzpatrick picked up one. Carmichael was largely untroubled, only fill-in skipper Sony Sefer taking Shane to three sets, Carmichael winning 15-10, 12-15, 15-11.
John Fitzpatrick had to lift his game to a higher level in his win against Sammy’s Slammers number three Ryan Hensgen. Hensgen edged Fitzpatrick in the first set 15-13, and had opportunities to win the second, however John hung on to take it 18-16. The next set was no different to the previous two, only this time Fitzpatrick hung on to win 15-13.
Weightmans Packaging number three Peter Fitzpatrick picked up one win in singles, defeating his daughter Therese, and had chances in the third set against Ryan Hensgen when the match had been decided. This rubber was the most keenly contested one of the night, Hensgen winning the first set 20-18, Fitzpatrick the second 16-14, and Hensgen just proving too good in the final set to win it 15-12.
Sammy’s Slammers were not completely outclassed – Sony Sefer took two wins for his adopted team, straight sets wins against John and Peter Fitzpatrick, and with Therese Fitzpatrick he won the first doubles rubber against Carmichael and John Fitzpatrick. That was three, and Hensgen’s win in the final rubber against Peter Fitzpatrick made four.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 16 games to 10.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Kevin Johns, Terry Martin 2, Steve Pongrac 1) d Pinnacle Packers 5 (Paul Kealley 2, James Jarvis 1)
Cookes Pools & Spas have struggled lately, recording losses to Mallee Meats (top of the ladder), and Weightmans Packaging (second on the ladder). They would have anticipated this match-up with bottom side Pinnacle Packers would have been an easier assignment, and in the event they won, but probably not in the fashion they thought they would.
Pinnacle Packers captain Paul Kealley was unbeatable in the singles rubbers – he needed three sets to deal with Cookes Pools & Spas number two Terry Martin, but his matches against Steve Pongrac and captain Kevin Johns were much more straightford – two sets. Pinnacle Packers number two James Jarvis picked up a win against Pongrac, and with Kealley and
Sabrina Fitzpatrick defeating Johns and Pongrac in two sets in the second doubles, the scene was set for this match to be decided in the final round of singles.
Kealley won the first of those (against Johns), then Terry Martin took charge of a fast starting Jarvis to win the next one 8-15, 15-11, 15-11, and in the final rubber, Steve Pongrac continued his good form from earlier in the night (when he lost 7-15, 15-9, 11-15 to Jarvis), defeating Fitzpatrick in another three setter 13-15, 15-12, 15-7 to win the match six rubbers to five.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 14 games to 13.
– Max Miller Carpets 8 (Jeremy Corrin 3, David Sergi 2, Jordan Cole 1) d Tankard Dental 3 (Marcus Cimino 2, Tague Morris 1)
Max Miller Carpets are on a charge … four wins from the last five rounds has seen this team rise from last on the ladder to fourth, and a possible place in the finals. They helped their cause with a percentage boosting 8-3 win against Tankard Dental, who were this week without their captain Quentin Clark, trapped by flood waters in Wagga Wagga.
Jeremy Corrin has hit a good vein of form, recording three wins for the third straight week. His teammates backed him handsomely, number two David Sergi got the better of Tankard Dental fill-in captain Andrew Jones, winning in three, and then kept it going with a two set win against the improving Tague Morris in the eleventh rubber. Number three Jordan Cole, in his first season in this grade (in his first full year of table tennis), picked up one win, and sits an impressive tenth on the aggregate.
And good news on the doubles front, the team has turned around its earlier season lethargy, and won five of their last six doubles rubbers, winning both in this match, Corrin and Cole combining well to see off the more experienced pairing of Jones and Marcus Cimino 16-14, 6-15, 15-12. And later on Corrin and Sergi emphatically defeated Jones and Morris 9 and 8.
With Max Miller Carpets controlling this match, Tankard Dental did not get much of a look in. Cimino won two (a really good three set win against Sergi 15-11, 15-17, 16-14 and a two set win against Cole), and Morris won one … against Cole in two.
Tankard Dental will be looking forward to the return of their captain Quentin Morris to continue the good form they have had this season, this being just their third defeat.
Final scores: 8 rubbers to 3 and 17 games to 10.
PENNANT THREE:
The “Fair Play Policy” focus this week was all about Respect and this was demonstrated to the nth degree as the level of compassion and respect given to a player in need was fully on display. Thankyou to everyone who assisted with this emergency and thankfully the player concerned is out of hospital.
– Dunkley Scales 5.5 (Dave Tanner 2, Nick Kiapekos, Marita Grace 1) drew Weightmans Packaging 5.5 (Gayle Cottrell, Alicia Tyers Ben Hosking 1)
This match was punctuated with a lot of close matches with one set in particular needing the umpire to resort to counting on fingers after the numbers ran out on the scoreboard. The first match of the evening saw Gayle Cottrell play Marita Grace that would set the tone for the evening. Cottrell had been playing well of late but had lost some close matches; whereas, her opponent Grace had won most of these close matches she has been involved in. It was little surprise that the first to sets were shared before Cottrell pulled away late in the third set to give the Packers the ideal start. Next up was Ben Hosking against Nick Kiapekos. It would be fair to say that both players had struggled for consistency and form this season and a winner wouldn’t be easy to pick. True to form the first set was a real arm wrestle with Hosking taking the set 19-17. The second set was quick in comparison as Hosking secured the set 15-11 and the match. The third match of the evening saw Dave Tanner take on Alicia Tyers. Tanner went on the attack in the first set and won this set comfortably 15-7 before his forehand bombs misfired in the second set with Tyers taking advantage and the set 15-7. Tanner regained his composure in the third and was more selective with his attacking shots to take this 15-10 thus giving Dunkley Scales their first winning match of the evening.
Now with two three set matches completed there were still three, three set thrillers to go. Try saying this with a face full of dry Salad biscuits! The match against Kiapekos and Cottrell threw up an insane score-line in the second set with Kiapekos staving off several match points to take this set 22-20. Kiapekos would win the last set to take this marathon match. This match did takes it toll on Kiapekos as later in the evening Alicia Tyers defeated him in straight sets. This was an excellent win by Tyers who was very close in defeating Kiapekos in the Winter Season Semi-Final only a few months ago.
The final two close matches involved Tanner who would beat Hosking in a great match 13-15, 15-9, 15-13 and then repeated the dose when he teamed with Grace in the doubles to defeat Cottrell/Tyers 13-15, 15-11, 15-12.
With so many three set matches there was an element of fatigue amongst all players with the match concluding early after 9 matches had been played. With a player unable to continue the Captain’s shook hands and declared the result a draw in a great goodwill gesture and in the spirit of the game. Well done to all players.
– Mallee Meats 6 (Shaun Gifford 3, Levi Williams 2) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Leo Parker 2, Rodney Galvin, Karly Leach 1)
Mallee Meats have survived a late scare to keep their perfect season alive with a nail-biting win over Sammy’s Slammers. Mallee Meats were without Ildi Healy this week and as such the grading committee decided to pen in Steve Parker for this contest. The first match of the evening was between Shaun Gifford and Rod Galvin – a match in which Gifford had the edge to win 15-13, 15-10 to get the Butcher’s off to the ideal start. The next match was a Father V Son with the Parker’s squaring off. In a tight match Leo beat Father Steve in straight sets 15-12, 16-14 with Steve squandering some golden chances in the second set. Leo would also go onto defeat Levi Williams with the identical score-line of 15-12, 16-14 to keep his team well in the hunt.
Both doubles matches were shared with both being decided in the third set. The Leach/Galvin combination accounted for Gifford/S. Parker while the undefeated pairing of Gifford/Williams were too strong for Leach/L. Parker. With the score at 5 rubbers all Gifford played L. Parker in a very entertaining match. Gifford ground out the first 15-13 with Parker hitting back to take the second 15-9. The third set saw Gifford firing on all cylinders, and he won this set comfortably and the match.
Overall, another win to Mallee Meats 6 rubbers to 5 (13 games to 12) against a very competitive Sammy’s Slammers.
PENNANT FOUR:
– Mallee Meats 6 (Maria Starikov, Tom Gilmour 2, Jim Vale 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 5 (Costa Skiadas 3, Keith Sharman 1)
Well this contest was decided late into the night with Mallee Meats flipping their recent run of form with a hard-fought win against Exposed Signage and Apparel. Maria Starikov’s performance was critical in getting her team over the line as she enjoyed two excellent singles victories over Derek Hung and Keith Sharman – the latter match being a tough three set win when needed late in the night. Tom Gilmour also played well and was also involved in some critical matches. The first of these matches was the doubles in which he paired with Jim Vale to take on the Costa Skiadis/Derek Hung. After losing the first set 12-15 Gilmour and Vale squared the match in a dramatic second set 16-14 before holding their nerve to win the third set 15-13.
Gilmour featured later in the evening when he defeated Keith Sharman in three sets in another important game. For the vanquished Skiadis played his usual steady style in securing three singles victories, however, it was quite enough to get his team over the line.
In conclusion Mallee Meats have done enough to secure the win 6 rubbers to 5 (13 games to 14) over Exposed Signage and Apparel. Statistically it is not often that the losing team have more games won, however, that is the price paid for not winning those close three set matches.
– MJM Automotive 8 (Hamish Smyth 3, Wendy Simpson, Koby Grace 2) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Glenn Leeson 2)
MJM just keep rolling on with another powerful display. Captain Wendy Simpson is now hitting top form and with aggregate leader Hamish Smyth also in stellar form they appear to be hard to stop. Also don’t discount the form of Koby Grace who has again won two singles of his own this week and is more rapidly on the rise than the Murray River. As for Weightmans Packaging they had one of those nights. Captain Glenn Leeson played well to win two singles matches, however Liam Nicolaou had an almost night in losing all his singles matches in three sets. Fill in Nathan Beard also tried hard but also just fell short in his matches.
Overall MJM Automotive have enjoyed a big win 8 rubbers to 3 (18 games to 9) against a luckless Weightmans Packaging.
I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. Hopefully someone other than me will win the raffle this week!
