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ROUND 3
PENNANT ONE:
Mallee Bearings remain the only undefeated team after three rounds of the Sunraysia Table Tennis pennant.
– Mallee Bearings 8 (Gavin Carmichael 3, Mark Dorman, Rohan Reimers 2) d Weightmans Packaging 3 (Kate Carmichael 2)
For the second round in succession Mallee Bearings lined up against a team without two of their normal listed players and fill ins were required. Weightmans Packaging were without Jackson Tung and Reece Kurrle and they were replaced by Kate Carmichael and Mark Ljubic.
For the third week in succession Bearings Gavin Carmichael was able to win three singles defeating both Ljubic and Kate Carmichael in lengthy five setters. In particular the Carmichael versus Carmichael contest produced an exciting finish. Father Gavin trailed 2-6 in the fifth against Kate and fought back to a 10-8 lead.
A strong forehand by Gavin looked to be a winner however Kate in a tangle of arms and pirouetting fashion kept the ball alive much to her opponents dismay. With the score now at 10-9 in Gavin’s favour he managed something he is fairly or unfairly renowned for , an edge and victory. Mallee Bearings took an 8-3 win over their undermanned opposition.
– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Matt Ljubic 3, Thanh Nguyen 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Wayne Carmichael, Jackson Murphy 2, Paul Kealley 1)
Regional Taxation Services recorded their first win ,with a narrow 6-5 victory over the previously undefeated Tankard Dental. Two matches stood out in this contest, the second doubles featured Matt Ljubic and Shane Carmichael win in a thriller 14-12 in the fifth against Wayne Carmichael and Paul Kealley. The very next match decided the four points when Matt Ljubic edged out Wayne Carmichael in a thriller 12-10 -11 11-8 8-11 11-9 a top class match.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 7 (Joel Thomas 3, Lee Leeson, Russell Walder 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Kate Carmichael, Leon Brown 2)
Cookes Pools & Spas joined Tankard Dental on two wins when they accounted for Max Miller Carpets 7-4. Joel Thomas was back in the team and he won his three singles while team mates Russell Walder and Lee Leeson won one each. The Carpeters tried valiantly and in particular number three Liam Wood pushed both Walder and Leeson to five sets.
His match against Walder ended dramatically given that Wood took a 10-6 lead in the fifth only to see Walder snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling finish.
PENNANT TWO:
Having being absent for the first two weeks, Quentin Clark returned to captain Weightmans Packaging to a big 9-2 win against Pinnacle Packers; Cookes Pools & Spas took a tight match against Mallee Meats 6-5; and Max Miller Carpets chalked up their first win for the season, downing Mallee Bearing who now drop from first to second on the ladder.
– Weightmans Packaging 9 (Quentin Clark, Andrew Jones 3, Tom Morrison 1) d Pinnacle Packers 2 (Peter Midgley, Zac Galbraith 1)
Weightmans Packaging routed Pinnacle Packers 9-2 in this round, and in so doing jumped from fifth to first on the ladder.
Captain Quentin Clark, absent from rounds 1 and 2, was clearly refreshed from his extended summer break, winning all three singles rubbers and helping teammates Andrew Jones and Tom Morrison to victory in the two doubles. Clark dropped a set in each of his first two rubbers to Zac Galbraith and Farqaan Ahmad, but by the time he met opposite number Peter Midgley in the final round of singles he had blown all the accumulated rust out of his game, winning in straight sets, 11-7, 11-7, 15-13.
Like Clark, Weightmans Packaging number two Andrew Jones was in fine form, he too winning his three singles rubbers, similarly dropping sets in his first two encounters, before a dominant display against Galbraith in the penultimate rubber of the match.
The doubles rubbers were both hard fought affairs, Clark and Jones winning in five sets against Midgley and Galbraith, and later Clark and Morrison doing the same against Galbraith and Ahmad.
In a disappointing night for Pinnacle Packers, only Midgley and Galbraith could grab a win, both defeating Tom Morrison, Midgley in four sets, and Galbraith a tough five setter.
Final scores: 9 rubbers to 2 and 30 games to 15.
– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Ashley Morrison 3, Josh Arnold, Ryan Hensgen 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Sony Sefer, Terry Martin 2)
Ashley Morrison led his side to a close 6-5 win against Kevin Johns’ Mallee Meats team.
Johns was absent for the second week, with supersub Sony Sefer giving his side a big chance of winning.
Morrison was undefeated in his three singles rubbers, but still his side had to win the last two rubbers to take the win. After six rubbers Mallee Meats led four rubbers to two, but then Morrison played two rubbers in a row, easily defeating Mallee Meats number three James Jarvis, and then with Ryan Hensgen taking the second doubles rubber, coming back from two sets to one down against Sefer and Jarvis. That evened the score at four rubbers all, Sefer then made it to 5-4 for Mallee Meats (just) defeating Josh Arnold in a wildly fluctuating five set encounter 11-2, 4-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3.
Morrison and Hensgen quickly dashed Mallee Meats’ hope though, Morrison defeating Terry Martin in four sets, and Hensgen a straight sets win against Jarvis.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 24 games to 21.
– Max Miller Carpets 6 (Jeremy Corrin 2, Daniel Jansen, John Fitzpatrick 1) d Mallee Bearings 5 (Marcus Cimino 3, Jamie Kealley 2)
Mallee Bearings were the only undefeated side going into this round; Max Miller Carpets the only side that had failed to win a game. That changed though after this match, the win going to Max Miller Carpets in the final rubber of the night.
Mallee Bearings number two Marcus Cimino was the form player in this game, winning his three singles rubbers; in five sets against Max Miller Carpets Jeremy Corrin, then a dominant three set win against number three John Fitzpatrick, and in the final round of singles a determined four set win against Daniel Jansen 12-10, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7.
Mallee Bearings captain Jamie Kealley continued his consistent start to the season, bringing up two wins, a good four setter against Fitzpatrick, then an easy three set win against Jansen, 3, 5 and 8.
That however, was all Mallee Bearings could get, as Max Miller Carpets won both doubles, Corrin and Jansen in a thriller against Kealley and Cimino, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, winning just two points more in the entire match. Later Corrin and Fitzpatrick continued their great start to the season, winning their third doubles match for the season, the only undefeated pairing at this stage. when they downed Kealley and Sergi in four sets 11-13, 11-9, 11-2, 11-3.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 22 games to 19.
PENNANT THREE:
Regional Taxation Services and Tankard Dental remain undefeated after three rounds, both sides recording wins of 7 rubbers to 4. In the third match, Mallee Meats thrashed Weightmans Packaging 9 rubbers to 2.
– Regional Taxation Services 7 (Leo Parker 3, Shaun Gifford 2, Rodney Galvin 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 4 (Levi Williams 2, Dave Tanner 1)
Regional Taxation Services maintained their position at the top of the ladder defeating bottom side Exposed Signage & Apparel.
Regional Taxation Services number two Leo Parker had a great night, winning his three singles rubbers, all in four sets and with his captain Shaun Gifford, the first doubles against Levi Williams and Dave Tanner. Gifford picked up two wins, against Riley Clemence and Tanner, whilst number three Rod Galvin made it six singles wins for Regional Taxation Services with a five set victory against Clemence.
For Exposed Signage & Apparel, Williams won two rubbers, Tanner one, and Williams and Clemence the second doubles in a high scoring close five set encounter with Gifford and Galvin 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 26 games to 19.
– Tankard Dental 7 (Luca Capizzoto 3, Steve Pongrac 2, Steve Parker 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 4 (Marita Grace 2, Koby Grace 1)
Tankard Dental, the other undefeated side in this competition kept their second spot on the ladder (by virtue of Regional Taxation Service having a better percentage) with a strong win against Sammy’s Slammers.
Number two Luca Capizzoto again won his three singles rubbers, and now sits on top of the aggregate with a perfect score, nine wins from nine matches. He only dropped one set in those three wins, that against Sammy’s Slammers captain Marita Grace. Luca also played in both doubles rubbers, with captain Steve Pongrac not so lucky, losing to Marita and Nhat Dat in four sets, but later with Steve Parker a four set win against Marita and her son Koby.
Steve Pongrac won two singles rubbers, and Steve Parker one.
For Sammy’s Slammers, Marita Grace won two of her three singles rubbers, and her son Koby won is first for the season, a good five set win against Steve Parker in the final rubber. Koby was down two sets to love 9-11, 12-14, but refused to concede. The final three sets were close too, the scores being 11-8, 12-10, 11-8.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 25 games to 17.
– Mallee Meats 9 (Michael Smyth, Nick Kiapekos 3, Hamish Smyth 1) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Karly Leach, Nicole Hunt 1)
Mallee Meats really started their season with a win in this round. Languishing second last on the ladder with two games and two defeats, they needed something a bit different to get their season going. And this game provided just that.
Captain Michael Smyth and number two Nick Kiapekos both scored maximum wins in their singles, whilst number three Hamish Smyth chipped in with a further rubber. Added to that the team won both doubles rubbers, Michael and Nick a three set win against Sabrina Fitzpatrick and Karly Leach, and then father and son Michael and Hamish a four set win against Sabrina and Nicole Hunt.
All that winning made it nine rubbers from the eleven available, and from fifth on the ladder, they now sit comfortably in third spot.
For Weightmans Packaging then, it was obviously a night to forget. Their side did the opposite of their opponents here, starting at third on the ladder at the start of the night, they now occupy fifth spot, and in need of some solid performances in the upcoming games.
Final scores: 9 rubbers to 2 and 31 games to 14.
PENNANT FOUR:
Tankard Dental took on the previously undefeated Weightmans Packaging and won 7-4; and Mallee Meats got their first win for the season with a close 6-5 win against Dunkley Scales.
– Tankard Dental 7 (Maria Starikov, Ryyan Doherty 3, Liam Nicolaou 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Gleen Leeson 2, Chelsey Avers 1)
Substitute Ryyan Doherty, playing at number three for Andrew McMahon, starred for his adopted team in this clash with Weightmans Packaging. Ryyan could do no wrong, winning all his singles rubbers; in four against opposing captain Glenn Leeson; a come from behind win against number two Chelsey Avers 9-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9; and then in three sets against his opposite number Curtis Crabtree.
He and his captain Liam Nicolaou also won the second doubles in three close sets, 11-9, 15-13, 15-13 against Leeson and Crabtree.
Maria Starikov continued her good form, picking up two singles rubbers, a three set win against Curtis Crabtree, then against her opposite number Chelsey Avers, also three sets.
Tankard Dental captain Liam Nicolaou had a quiet night, with just the one win, this against Crabtree in three sets.
For Weightmans Packaging captain Glenn Leeson won two singles and the first doubles with Avers. Maria Starikov certainly made Glenn work for his first singles rubber, taking him to five sets before Glenn won 11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9 in a close affair. The final rubber for Weightmans Packaging came from the bat of Avers, who defeated Nicolaou in four sets.
Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 24 games to 15.
– Mallee Meats 6 (David Healy, Ildi Healy, Nathan Beard 2 ) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Costa Skiadas 3)
Mallee Meats had been unsuccessful in the first two weeks of competition, so they apparently took the night off, captain Wendy Simpson allowing David Healy to play for her, Keith Sharman stepping aside for Ildi Healy and Sush Muthumuni inviting Nathan Beard to play for her. Seems the night off did them a world of good, as the substitute team eked out a win against Dunley Scales six rubbers to five.
The three substitutes each won a pair of singles rubbers; none of them could get the better of Costa Skiadas, but able to defeat Katrina Clifford and Derek Hung. Clifford led Ildi Healy two sets to love, but Ildi got the
better of her younger opponent, and went on to win in five sets. Nathan Beard did a similar thing to Derek Hung earlier in the night, down to sets to love 7-11, 8-11, Nathan turned the game around and with 14-12, 11-9, 11-8 taking the win.
In winning three singles rubbers and helping his teammates to victory in both doubles, Costa Skiadas could all he could to get his side across the line, but Clifford and Hung, although they came close, could just not get that vital win to give victory to Dunkley Scales. A good game decided in the final rubber.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 19 games to 21
