Summer 2023 Fast 15’s – Rnd 8 Wrap

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ROUND 8

tt-r-8-summer-2023.pdf

PENNANT ONE:

Close matches were the feature of round eight of the Sunraysia Table Tennis Summer pennant. All matches were decided by a 6-5 result and all six teams can mathematically play finals with two rounds remaining.

– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Jackson Tung 3, Leon Brown 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Rohan Reimers, Paul Kealley 2, Thanh Nguyen 1)

Led by Jackson Tung, Regional Taxation Services may have assured they will finish in the top four when they defeated sixth placed Tankard Dental by the narrowest of margins. Tung proved to be the matchwinner as he also played in both doubles victories each going to three sets. Overall, six three set matches took place indicating the closeness of the contest.

Tankard numbers two and number three Rohan Reimers and Paul Kealley both tried hard winning two singles each. Kealley has enjoyed a successful season, his two wins came against opposing number two Leon Brown in straight sets and later he defeated RTS number three Ash Morrison in a tense three setter.

The difference in this result was the form of Tung who is currently the equal leader in the singles aggregate.

– Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Jackson Murphy 2) d Max Miller Carpets 5 (Arhuang Lau 2, Rohan Reimers, Ed Hung 1)

The remaining match saw the second placed Cooke’s Pools & Spas defeat third placed Max Miller Carpets 6-5 in a match that amazingly included eight of the eleven rubbers being decided in three sets, including the last five. Cooke’s at one stage trailed 3-4 and then all of a sudden, they strung together three successful matches in succession all won in three sets to enable them to gain the four points.

For Cooke’s Kate Carmichael won three singles including an excellent match against opposing number one Arhuang Lau. This was an entertaining three set display from both players, Carmichael was able to counter many strong top spin forehands from Lau who plays an aggressive game based on many big top spin forehands.

Carmichael’s teammate Jackson Murphy after a two week break played a key role with two singles victories, his 13-15 15-11 15-8 against Rohan Reimers was vital for his team.

An unusual statistic in this match was the first doubles scoreline which was won by Lau and Reimers over Carmichael and Murphy in another three setter with the second game being decided by a score of 25-23 in favour of the aforementioned, what a tussle.  

– Mallee Bearings 6 (Reece Kurrle 3, Wayne Carmichael 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Gavin Carmichael, Mark Dorman 2, Russell Walder 1)

Ladder leaders Mallee Bearings survived a scare against fifth placed Weightmans Packaging winning 6-5 despite the in-form Wayne Carmichael being defeated in two of his three singles by brother Gavin and Mark Dorman respectively. Despite these losses Carmichael still played an important role by featuring in both doubles’ victories. For the third week in succession teammate Reece Kurrle won three singles and he proved to be the match winner. Kurrle has hit a purple patch and if he can maintain this form Mallee Bearings will be difficult to beat at the business end of the season..

The first doubles was the highlight match when Carmichael and Kurrle combined to outlast Mark Dorman and Gavin Carmichael 15-17 15-12-15-13 a fine line in the battle for the four points.

PENNANT TWO:

Three close matches this round, in the top of the table clash, ladder leaders Pinnacle Packers downed second placed Weightmans Packaging six rubbers to five; third placed Max Miller Carpets got home against bottom side Mallee Bearings thanks to fill-in Andrew Jones; and fourth placed Mallee Meats just about dashed Cookes Pools & Spas hopes of playing in the finals when they defeated them seven rubbers to four.

– Mallee Meats 7 (Tom Morrison 3, Terry Martin 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Kevin Johns, David Sergi, Marita Grace 1)

These two sides came into this round fourth (Mallee Meats) and fifth (Cookes Pools & Spas), separated by one win. Cookes Pools & Spas needed to win this match to keep their (slim) finals chances alive.

Both sides had regular players absent – Mallee Meats number three Leon Bailey has withdrawn for the balance of the season, and on this occasion Riley Clemence and Nhat Dat came up from Pennant Three to fill his spot. Cookes Pools & Spas number two Luca Capizzoto was absent also, the reliable David Sergi doing duty for Luca.

In the event, Mallee Meats took a comfortable win. Number two Tom Morrison continues his break-out season, this round winning his three singles rubbers, again (for just the fourth time!!). Morrison is incredibly agile around the table, and with his long reach not took many balls get past him. He started the night with a very convincing 15-12, 15-7 against veteran Kevin Johns, 15-9, 15-13 against Marita Grace and an easy 15-8, 15-4 win against David Sergi. He and his captain Terry Martin helped Mallee Meats take an early commanding lead of four rubbers to love after they won the first doubles against Johns and Sergi 6-15, 15-10, 15-8.

Martin for his part, won two singles … 15-11, 15-12 over Grace, and (one for the books) Terry defeated long-time nemesis Johns in a good three setter 15-9, 6-15, 15-10, a rubber which clinched the match for Mallee Meats.

Another notable performance for Mallee Meats was that of fill-in Riley Clemence. In just his first year of table tennis, Riley finds himself playing in Pennant Three this season (and doing well too, currently leading the aggregate). In his first foray into this grade, Riley was composed and clearly not overawed by his opposition. In his first match he outlasted Sergi in a good three setter 13-15, 15-6, 16-14 and later he and Martin got within a whisker of upsetting Johns and Grace in the second doubles. The Cookes Pools & Spas pair, who are fourth on the doubles aggregate, had to fight really hard to win in three sets 15-12, 10-15, 16-14.

For Cookes Pools & Spas, the pickings were pretty slim then. They each won one singles rubber, and Johns and Grace combined to take the second doubles, as just described.

The loss now sees Cookes Pools & Spas in fifth (still) but now two games away from the teams second, third and fourth, all locked on five wins. With two round to go, Cookes Pools & Spas will have to rely on those three teams not winning one of their matches, and they have to win both theirs, handsomely, as their percentage is also inferior to those three sides.

Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 17 games to 11

– Pinnacle Packers 6 (Daniel Jansen 3, Rasin Bhuiyan 2) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Jeremy Corrin 2, Shaun Gifford, Therese Fitzpatrick 1)

These two sides came into this match first (Pinnacle Packers) and second (Weightmans Packaging) on the ladder, equal on five wins and separated by percentage.

Pinnacle Packers took the early advantage, leading three rubbers to one, and although Weightmans Packaging fought back to level at four rubbers all late in the game, it seemed they were always playing catch up, for Pinnacle Packers then took the next two rubbers to extinguish Weightmans’ hopes of a win.

Once again Pinnacle Packers captain Daniel Jansen was the player of the match with three singles wins. In a miserly display the conceded 19 points to Weightmans Packaging number two Shaun Gifford, and then just 14 to number three Therese Fitzpatrick and opposing captain Jeremy Corrin. Daniel is now a game clear at the top of the individual aggregate, with 20 wins from 21 matches played.

Pinnacle Packers number two Rasin Bhuiyan made a return to form with two wins, breaking a streak in which he has won just one match in the last three rounds. In the match he lost he did take Corrin to three sets, but Corrin was clearly the better player wining 15-10, 13-15, 15-8.

Jansen and Bhuiyan kept their perfect doubles record intact too; they have now won on the seven occasions they have played, and lead the doubles aggregate by two rubbers from the pair they defeated in this match, Corrin and Fitzpatrick.

Weightmans Packaging took the remainder of the rubbers on offer, Corrin with two singles wins and Gifford and Fitzpatrick one each. Corrin and Gifford won the second doubles 15-8, 16-14 over Jansen and Tom Cottrell (subbing for Levi Williams). Although they lost this match, Weightmans Packaging retain second spot on the ladder, on percentage from Max Miller Carpets and Mallee Meats.

Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 13 games to 11.

– Max Miller Carpets 6 (Andrew Jones 3, Jamie Kealley 2) d Mallee Bearings 5 (John Fitzpatrick 2, Josh Arnold, James Jarvis 1)

Max Miller Carpets did just enough against Mallee Bearings to take the win in this round.

With number two Jordan Cole absent, Max Miller Carpets had the invaluable services of Andrew Jones. And Jones it was who was responsible for the team getting over the line. He downed Mallee Bearings captain John Fitzpatrick 15-12, 15-7, had a great tussle before getting the better of James Jarvis 15-11, 18-20, 15-9 and finished with a comfortable 15-11, 15-6 win against Josh Arnold. And with captain Jamie Kealley, Jones won the first doubles against Fitzpatrick and Arnold 16-14, 20-18.

Kealley won two singles rubbers, against Jarvis (15-12, 15-9) and Arnold (15-12, 10-15, 15-12), and that was enough for Max Miller Carpets to get the four competition points.

Mallee Bearings captain John Fitzpatrick must be wondering if his side will win this season – on a night when he took a fighting 15-12, 7-15, 15-13 against opposing captain Jamie Kealley (second on the aggregate) and the opportunity was there for a trio of wins, who should he have to play against but Andrew Jones!! John has been Andrew in the past, but is always a tricky opponent, and as stated already, Jones got the better of their clash in this match. So John ended the night with two wins and his teammates Josh Arnold and James Jarvis one each and John and James won the second doubles, a fairly convincing (in the end) three set win 15-9, 10-15, 15-2. Once again then, Mallee Bearings fell one rubber short of a win, but surely a win this season is not out the question, and no one would begrudge this side a victory either.

Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 15 games to 12.

PENNANT THREE:

Bottom side Mallee Meats came close to toppling ladder leaders Weightmans Packaging in this round; and Exposed Signage & Apparel moved to outright third with their win against Regional Taxation Services.

– Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Steve Parker 2, Wendy Simpson 1) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Nhat Dat 3, Brian White 1)

Despite Regional Taxation Services’ Nhat Dat winning three singles rubbers, Exposed Signage & Apparel won this match in commanding fashion.

The Exposed Signage & Apparel team dominated the rest of the encounter – skipper Sabrina Fitzpatrick and her number two Steve Parker, both won two singles rubbers, Sabrina (very comfortably in two sets against both Brian White and Leo Parker) and Steve Parker (another three set tussle & win against son Leo 15-6, 13-15, 15-12 and a three set win also over Brian White 16-14, 11-15, 15-9).

Wins in both doubles inflicted more pain on Regional Taxation Services. Both encounters were over in two sets; Fitzpatrick and Steve Parker, after a tight first set won comfortably against Leo Parker and Nhat Dat 16-14, 15-9, and in the second Fitzpatrick and Wendy Simpson a similar score against Leo Parker and Brian White 15-8, 16-14.

Wendy Simpson chipped in with a singles win as well. Wendy is clearly benefitting from her Monday night coaching and her tussle with Nhat Dat in the opening rubber showed this. Although Wendy lost 15-9, 15-17, 9-15 it is clear she has made great strides in her play. Her win came against Regional Taxation Services captain Leo Parker who is enduring a horror run at the moment, having won just four rubbers in his last four matches. Here, Simpson was just too strong, winning 15-12, 15-4.

For Regional Taxation Services, Dat won his three singles rubbers, and this lifts him to outright first on the individual aggregate, one game clear of Mallee Meats captain Riley Clemence. Brian White hit his straps in the final rubber of the night, getting the better of Simpson 15-12, 15-13 in a well controlled match.

Final scores: 7 rubbers to 4 and 15 games to 10.

– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Dianne Hannig 3, Karly Leach 2, Glenn Leeson 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Riley Clemence 2, Koby Grace 1)

Weightmans Packaging won this match because they prevented opposing captain Riley Clemence from having a perfect night. Clemence won his three singles, but only two of the doubles, and this was key to the win.

What Weightmans Packaging did do though was to make the most of all the other opportunities that came their way in this match.

Captain Karly Leach won two singles (15-7, 15-8 against Koby Grace, and 15-6, 15-7 against Dave Tanner); number three Dianne Hannig also won two (a fighting three setter against Tanner 15-17, 15-7, 15-6, and a two set win against plucky Koby Grace 20-18, 15-11). Dianne was playing well, and gave Clemence a run for his money in their match-up, but Clemence did prevail 15-10 in the third.

Glenn Leeson made it five singles rubbers for the victors, a three set win against Tanner in the penultimate rubber 15-10, 13-15, 15-8, That was an important win, as it squared the match at five rubbers all with one to play.

Leach and Leeson grabbed the first doubles after coming from a set down 9-15 to get the better of Clemence and Tanner in the second and third sets 15-10, 15-8.

Clemence almost single-handedly dragged his side over the line, but the loss of the first doubles rubber proved too much to overcome. Immediately prior to the first doubles, Glenn Leeson took Riley to three sets, Riley winning 15-5, 10-15, 15-5; in the second round of singles Riley had another three setter, this time with Dianne Hannig, winning that oen 13-15, 18-16, 15-10; and in the final round of singles a high quality two set win against opposing captain Leach 15-12, 17-15. The second doubles went to Mallee Meats – Clemence and Grace proving too strong for Leach and Hannig in their 15-12, 15-13 win.

Grace contributed the other rubber to Mallee Meats, a three set win against Glenn Leeson 15-8, 11-15, 15-12.

Final scores: 6 rubbers to 5 and 15 games to 13.

PENNANT FOUR:

Round 8 was another encounter of the top 2 and the Bottom 2 teams, with only four matches all night going through to three sets.

– Weightmans Packaging 6 (Tom Gilmour, Gary Leach 2) d Mallee Meats 5 (Maria Starikov 3, Selma Mayne, Jenny Leach 1)

Weightman’s Gary Leach gave it a good crack, but Mallee Meats number one, Maria Starikov was too strong pinched the first Rubber (15/7, 15/9). Tom Gilmour brought it back to even when he won a close tussle with Jenny Leach (16/14, 15/11). The two number three’s were up next and Selma Mayne and Cetty Bonaccorso both put in a great effort, with Mallee’s Selma collecting the win (15/10, 15/12).

Tom and Gary pretty much had Maria and Jen struggling right from the get go, pocketing a win for Weightman’s (15/8, 15/1).

Maria wasn’t going to see Tom getting the better of her, and won their match in two sets (15/12, 15/9). Selma took on Gary, which turned out to be a winner for Gary, but not before a few nervus moments in the last set (15/7, 16/14). With the scores at three all, Jen and Cetty fought hard to gather a point for their teams, with Jen coming out the better this time (15/9, 15/12).

It then came to the Doubles, which was between Tom and Cetty and Mallee’s Maria and Selma, which went in favor of Weightmans (15/9, 15/10).

Once again the scores were even and the last bracket of Singles saw Tom against Selma, up first, with the spin of Tom too much for Selma (15/6, 15/4). Surprisingly, Maria was pushed to three sets, by Weightmans number three player, Cetty, with some great rallies, but the rubber finally went to Maria (16/18, 15/8, 15/11).

All tied now, with the last Rubber to decide the night and the Husband V  Wife challenge began. Gary and Jen’s match was a beauty, Jen got out of the barriers early, but the next two sets were hard fought, with Gary finding what was needed to give Weightman’s Packaging the Victory (6/15, 17/15, 16/14).

Winner : Weightman’s Packaging 6 to Mallee Meats 5 (Games 13 to 11). 

– Dunkley Scales 7 (Katrina Clifford, Brandt Dolic 3) d Tankard Dental 4 (Derek Hung, Nathan Beard, Curtis Crabtree 1)

The first Rubber was a see sawing three set battle between Tankards Curtis Crabtree and Dunkley’s Brant Dolic. As the season has progressed, not too many succeed in coming out on top in a game against Brant, this was true once again (15/6, 7/15, 15/10). Although Oliver Bremner is improving, Derek Hung had a comfortable win, giving Tankard a point (15/4, 15/6). The last singles in this set brought another win to Dunkley’s team, with Katrina Clifford making short work of Tankard’s Nathan Beard (15/7, 15/9).

The first Doubles meant Derek and Curtis were up against Kat and Brant, which was the second three setter and it fell Dunkley way (15/6, 14/16, 15/6). 

Brant kept the ball rolling in his second singles, adding another win, this time versing Derek (15/4, 15/7). Curtis played Kat in the next rubber, but Kat is performing to her best at the moment and seized the opportunity to increase Dunkley Scales lead (5 to 1). Nathan and Oliver had a good match, with Nathan pulling back the lead a tad, adding a point to the tally for Tankard (15/11, 15/6).

The last Doubles saw the pairing of Derek and Nathan, jumping out of the box early and stealing another point, over Kat and Oliver, giving Tankard a sniff at pulling in a win (15/10, 15/13).

Kat clicked up her third win, taking this one over Derek (15/8, 15/6) which gave her team the overall win for the night. Then Brant followed suit, putting an end to Nathan’s night and increasing his wins to 3 (15/10, 15/7).

Curtis softened the blow for Tankard, with a win, completing his rubber against Oliver (15/12, 15/12).

Winner : Dunkley Scales 7 to Tankard Dental 4 (Games 14 to 10).

For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.

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