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GRAND FINAL
PENNANT ONE:
Mallee Bearings are the Sunraysia Table Tennis Pennant one premiers after a strong display over opponents Regional Taxation Services.
The scoreline of 6-2 did not reflect how these teams had matched up through the season. Head to head they had shared the spoils with one 6-5 win each and the thought was the grand final would go to the wire however two early results going the Bearing’s team way proved to be the difference.
Mallee Bearings 6 (Wayne Carmichael, Reece Kurrle 2) d Regional Taxation Services 2 (Jackson Tung, Leon Brown 1)
Regional Taxation Services courtesy of Leon Brown were able to take the early ascendancy albeit for a brief time. Brown lined up against Quentin Clark and it was Clark who fired early with many strong forehands however Brown settled to take the first narrowly 17-15 before motoring away in the second, the score 15-4.
As expected Bearings skipper Wayne Carmichael then defeated Ash Morrison to level the scores.
The next two matches then shaped the grand final result and they both involved Mallee Bearing’s number two Reece Kurrle, first he took to the table against RTS skipper Jackson Tung who had enjoyed a successful season finishing second in the singles aggregate, head to head during the season these two had shared a win each. Kurrle had finished fourth in the aggregate and in this singles match he remained composed and fired off many forehands however Tung is the master of defence and he was able to retrieve several of Kurrle’s strong forehands and fire off some of his own powerful drives. In a top class match Kurrle was able to prevail 17-15 15-13.
The first doubles then took place and Kurrle matched up with the experienced doubles performer Wayne Carmichael, these two had performed well during the season however they had not defeated the RTS pair of Tung and Leon Brown who had won the doubles aggregate, going in to this match they had won nine of their eleven matches, a great record.
Despite having an outstanding record, the RTS pair were shell shocked in the first with Carmichael and Kurrle motoring away to win 15-5 and stamp their ascendancy on the game. Tung and Brown fought hard in the second but could not stop the Mallee Bearings pair who took this game 15-12 and the Bearings team now took a 3-1 lead.
Wayne Carmichael then took to the table against Leon Brown and while this match contained some fine rallies Carmichael would always be in control winning 15-8 15-12. Spectators witnessed the shot of the grand final in this match when Brown in a long rally was under fire from Carmichael but was able to make several difficult retrieves, Carmichael then played an outstanding forehand swinging deep to the Brown back hand side, Brown somehow stretched out wide and the ball slowly curled back very high. As Carmichael looked toward the ceiling he was surprised to see the ball drop on to the baseline, stunned by this amazing return he was unable to put away the winner.
The next two matches went as expected with Jackson Tung defeating Quentin Clark and then Bearings Reece Kurrle scoring a straight sets victory over Ashley Morrison.
The scoreline was now 5-2 in favour of Mallee Bearings
The second doubles was a win at all costs for Regional Taxation Services with Jackson Tung and Morrison taking on Wayne Carmichael and Quentin Clark, the latter pair were too steady winning 15-9 15-12 and the premiership belonged to Mallee Bearings with a 6-2 result. After dropping the first match of the night the Bearings trio of Wayne Carmichael, Reece Kurrle and Quentin Clark had stamped their authority on the match.
Whilst a disappointing grand final for Regional Taxation Services, their team of Jackson Tung, Leon Brown and Ashley Morrison had enjoyed a successful season.
PENNANT TWO:
Pinnacle Packers won the Pennant Two Summer Table Tennis Grand Final. They took every chance that came their way, whereas Weightmans Packaging went away knowing they squandered a couple of opportunities to keep themselves in the contest.
Pinnacle Packers 6 (Daniel Jansen 2, Rasin Bhuiyan, David Sergi1) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Jeremy Corrin 2)
This promised to be a close match, as in their two prior meetings this season each side had won once, and scores had been six rubbers to five each time.
Pinnacle Packers have been playing without a regular number three since round four, and super-sub, David Sergi stepped up for duty in this match, as he did in the semi-final last week. His effect on the game was immediate, taking the first rubber in a match which Weightmans Packaging would have been hoping to win.
Sergi’s opponent here was Weightmans Packaging number two Shaun Gifford. Gifford, playing in this pennant for the second season, has performed well, accumulating 18 singles victories along the way. Sergi, who had filled in in just about every side this season, had won nine times in his 9 appearances.
Sergi controlled the first set taking it 15-9, and hopes were high that Gifford would regroup. This he did, but knew he was not in control of the match as he took the tight second set 16-14. As he did in the first set, Sergi once again dominated and saw Gifford off in the third set 15-10.
Pinnacle Packers made it two rubbers to love after the next match, captain Daniel Jansen comfortably defeating Weightmans Packaging number three Therese Fitzpatrick 15-3, 15-11.
Weightmans Packaging needed at win, and fast. But the next match was also a danger match, as Pinnacle Packers number Rasin Bhuiyan faced Weightmans Packaging captain Jeremy Corrin. Corrin controlled the match from the outset, and although Bhuiyan rallied in the second set, Corrin maintained the small break he had in the second set to close it out 15-7, 15-13.
Next up, the first doubles. Weightmans Packaging went with the pairing of Corrin and Fitzpatrick, this combination having won on six of the nine times they played together. Pinnacle Packers went with the pairing of Jansen and Sergi. These two had played together earlier in the season, but on that occasion were defeated.
After a bit of a nervous start by the Weightmans Packaging pair, the Pinnacle Packers duo took the first set 16-14. Corrin and Fitzpatrick hit back in the second set, taking it easily 15-6 and it appeared that when they led 9-4 in the third set we would end up with the match squared at two rubbers each. Alas, Jeremy and Therese saw their well earned lead leach away, as Jansen and Sergi pegged them back, then overtook them. The third set went to the Pinnacle Packers side 15-13 and at that point Weightmans Packaging knew they had probably done irreparable damage to their chances of winning this grand final. They had had chances of leading three rubbers to one, but instead trailed by that same margin.
The next three rubbers went as expected; Jansen defeated Gifford 15-10, 15-9, Corrin did the same to Sergi 15-6, 15-7
and Bhuiyan also a straight sets win over Fitzpatrick 15-9, 15-12.
Pinnacle Packers now led five rubbers to two.
Obviously, Weightmans Packaging had their back against the wall, needing to win the remaining four rubbers – a tall order. Pinnacle Packers could play with freedom, knowing they needed just one of the remaining four contests to lift the trophy.
Corrin and Gifford started well, taking the first set of the second doubles 15-12 against Jansen and Bhuiyan. But immediately the Pinnacle Packers pair, the best combination in this competition (having won nine times from nine contests), hit back with authority taking the second set 15-5. Corrin and Gifford did all they could to keep in touch in the third set, but Jansen and Bhuiyan established a small break and built on it, taking the third set 15-11, and with it, the match and wrapping up the grand final.
Pinnacle Packers were clearly the better side on the night – Jansen won both his singles rubbers, Bhuiyan and Sergi one each, and the team won both doubles. Try as they did, Weightmans Packaging did not convert the opportunities that came their way and only captain Jeremy Corrin worried the scorer, with two singles victories.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 2 and 12 games to 7
PENNANT THREE:
The two top sides in this pennant played off in the grand final. Exposed Signage & Apparel who had a great second half of the season (second in rounds six and seven, then leading for the remainder), took on a side which had two less wins than they, but two of those wins included a ten rubbers to one, and an eight rubbers to three win. Incidentally, the ten rubbers to one win was against this very side …
Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Wendy Simpson 2, Steve Parker 1) d Weightmans Packaging 1 (Karly Leach 1)
By virtue of finishing the season on top of the ladder two games clear of second placed Weightmans Packaging, Exposed Signage & Apparel went into this game as favourites.
But a little digging revealed that Sabrina Fitzpatrick, Steve Parker and Wendy Simpson were not going to be a push-over in this contest. Both captains (Karly Leach and Fitzpatrick) had missed two rounds, and had accumulated 15 and 11 singles wins respectively throughout the season. A tick to Weightmans Packaging then.
The number two’s were even more disparate. Weightmans Packaging Steve Parker had not missed a game all season, and had won 16 singles rubbers, compared to his opposite number here, Glenn Leeson, who had had a solid season (he failed to score in only one match) had won only half the number of singles rubbers that Parker had. Another tick to Weightmans Packaging.
Weightmans Packaging had been without a regular number three since round five, but Dianne Hannig who did duty here had played four times during the season with a 66% success rate, which equated to 8 wins. Exposed Signage & Apparel number three Wendy Simpson was much improved, but still had won just 3 singles. So Weightmans Packaging stronger there.
And to the match …
Weightmans Packaging number two Glenn Leeson (8 wins for the season) met Exposed Signage & Apparel number three Wendy Simpson (3 wins) in the first rubber. Simpson started more confidently than her opponent, and although she made plenty of mistakes, Leeson could keep up with her in the first set, Wendy taking it 15-11. Leeson put his head down in the second set, and this was a great contest, as the pair went point for point until 17 all. Leeson never held a set point in the second
set, and it seemed that if he did he would convert, but at 18-17 Simpson broke Glenn’s serve to take the set, and rubber. That was one that got away from Weightmans Packaging, and a bonus to Exposed Signage & Apparel.
Exposed Signage & Apparel captain Sabrina Fitzpatrick then played Weightmans Packaging number three Dianne Hannig and dutifully took the rubber 15-6, 15-9 to give her side a two rubbers to love lead.
Weightmans Packaging captain Karly Leach ensured her side got a foothold in the match, defeating the dangerous Steve Parker 15-11, 15-7.
Exposed Signage & Apparel kept the pressure on the minor premiers in the next rubber, the first doubles. Fitzpatrick and Parker had won three times during the season, as had Leach and Leeson. The evenness of the two pairing was evident from the scoring in this game, which was a close nervous contest. Sabrina’s team was looking at a three rubbers to one lead, Karly trying to get the score back to two rubbers each. In the event, Sabrina and Steve got over the line against Karly and Glenn 15-11, 10-15, 15-12 and got their three rubbers to one lead.
Sabrina and Glenn did not get any rest, and had to front up next for the next singles rubber. Both players were suffering, to various degrees from the heat, but Sabrina made it worth her while and contained Glenn to win 15-6, 15-10. Four rubbers to one.
Next rubber, Karly Leach met Wendy Simpson and this match really showcased how much Wendy has improved lately. She has availed herself of coaching on Monday nights, and invested in a new bat, and the results were displayed in this match. This was more like a contest between two number ones, but Simpson controlled the match, and every time Leach looked like she was getting some confidence to build an attack, Wendy simply blasted a backhand past the Weightmans Packaging captain. It was a close match too, so Wendy had to hold her nerve, and she did so admirably, winning 15-12, 15-13. That upset win pretty much put Weightmans Packaging chances of victory to bed.
Exposed Signage & Apparel number two Steve Parker took on Weightmans Packaging number three Dianne Hannig in the next rubber. Although he finished third on the aggregate (a great achievement), Parker and Hannig were close in terms of win rates. Steve won 59% of the time, Dianne had a 66% success rate, and the score in this match bore that out. Hannig took the early ascendency 15-10 in the first set, Parker rallied to
take the second 15-7, then held off a very determined Weightmans Packaging opponent to take the third set 15-12.
Weightmans Packaging were left feeling a bit bewildered as they did not really mount a contest in this match, which seemed odd as they had handled the home-and-away season so well. It just seemed like the Exposed Signage & Apparel trio swooped out of the clouds and took all before them, and that is pretty much what happened.
In summery, Fitzpatrick and Simpson won both their singles rubbers, Parker one of his and Fitzpatrick and Parker took the only doubles match played.
For Weightmans Packaging, the solitary rubber that went their way came from Karly Leach’s bat.
Final scores: 6 rubbers to 1 and 12 games to 4
PENNANT FOUR:
The end of the Summer season saw the Grand Final produce a whitewash in all four Pennants. As much as the runner up teams put in their best effort, the Winners seemed to find a way to break through in most every match.
Dunkley Scales 6 (Katrina Clifford, Brant Dolic 2) d Tankard Dental 2 (Derek Hung, Curtis Crabtree 1)
Pennant four’s Final was between the ever consistent Dunkley Scales (Captain – Katrina Clifford, Brant Dolic and Oliver Bremner, who had been on top of the ladder for the majority of the season and Tankard Dental (Captain – Derek Hung, Curtis Crabtree and Nathan Beard) who had been improving as the season progressed.
The number three players played off first up, with numerous lengthy rallies, but Nathan once again put together a win (15/12, 15/8) to give Dunkley the first point. Kat came up against Derek in the next and although he put up a good fight, Kat was far too strong, winning in two sets (15/7, 15/10). Brant and Curtis had a good tussle, which looked like it might go the three sets, but Brant kept his cool and clean it up in two (15/11, 15/12).
The first Doubles saw some great shots coming from both teams, with the pairing of Dunkley’s Kat and Brant putting together a powerful game to bring it to an end for Derek and Curtis, in two sets (15/13,15/13).
Nathan made it a good contest against Kat, grabbing 12 games from one set and and 10 from the other, with Kat adding Dunkley’s fourth rubber (15/12, 15/12).
Oliver did well to push Curtis to three sets, with Dunkley Scales nudging ahead towards a big win, but the desperation of Curtis landed Tankard their second rubber, to give them a little bit of hope (12/15, 15/6, 15/10).
It was another three setter in the next Singles, with Brant calling the shots in the last set, to defeat Derek and give Dunkley a five to two lead (15/4, 9/15, 15/9).
The second Doubles saw Katrina and Oliver bring it home, in two sets, over Derek and Nathan, to have their Team awarded the Pennant four Grand Finalist Winners. (15/12, 15/11).
WINNER : Dunkley Scales 6 to Tankard Dental 2 ( games 13 to 5).
Congratulations to Dunkley Scales.
Pennant four will loose a couple of players in 2024, with both heading off to Adelaide. Kat Clifford for Uni and Brant Dolic for work. We wish you both well and hope you are able to find a Table Tennis association to be involved with.
Congratulations to Kat for winning the Top Aggregate player in Pennant 4, becoming the Pennant 4 Super eights Champ and Captaining the Pennant four Winning Team. Brant for winning the number two player best Aggregate and Nathan for winning the number three best aggregate. Brant and Kat also took out the most wins in the Pennant 4 Doubles.
I’m sure everyone will be looking forward to 2024 Season. Hoping everyone has a Safe and Happy Christmas and a New Year full of great Memories.
