Summer 2025 Season – Rnd 10 Wrap

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Maccas Player of the round: Thanh Nguyen

The hotly contested singles aggregate ended in dramatic circumstances with 17 year old Jamie Kealley claiming the title by a margin of one win. Leading in to this round Kealley and Jackson Tung were in the lead by one from Kate Carmichael.

Kealley went on to survive two scares, after trailing against his father Paul Jamie fought back to win in five sets. Later against Mark Dorman again Kealley was under pressure, as Dorman had two game points to go to a two one lead.

Showing great maturity young Kealley was able to settle and go on to win in four sets. By later winning his third singles Kealley could not be beaten in the aggregate. Meanwhile on another table Jackson Tung had won two singles and his final match was against Kate Carmichael. Carmichael would maintain control of the match winning in four which enabled Kealley to win the singles aggregate outright by one from Tung and Carmichael, a great achievement by the youngster.

– Weightmans Packaging 8 (Jamie Kealley, Rohan Reimers 3, Marcus Cimino 1) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Mark Dorman, Paul Kealley 1) 

With Kealley winning three singles and his team mate Rohan Reimers also in form winning another three singles. Ladder leaders Weightmans Packaging proved too strong for Regional Taxation Services winning 8-3. RTS have been the inform side over the past four rounds and will this week need to bounce back quickly as they will match up against Weightmans in the knockout final.

The highlight of this battle, for the four points was the five set singles between the Kealley’s in the very first game of the night. Father Paul was outstanding in the first game and was away quickly in the second taking a large lead. Jamie was able to survive several strong forehands to record an amazing comeback when all looked los, Jamie took the third narrowly before Paul levelled the match in the nail biting fourth. Jamie then grabbed the ascendancy in the fifth and went on to win 8-11 11-7 11-9 9-11 11-7.

– Mallee Bearings 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Tom Morrison, Lee Leeson 1) d Choices Flooring Mildura 5 (Jackson Tung, Liam Wood 2)

Going in to this round Choices Floors Mildura were in fourth place and even though they would lose 5-6 to bottom team Mallee Bearings moved up the ladder one spot to third, and in doing so have avoided playing ladder leader Weightmans Packaging in the first final. This contest was close all the way and wasn’t decided until the final match, when the scores were locked at five rubbers all. Mallee Bearings number three Lee Leeson then proved too consistent for opposing number three Ashley Morrison, in straight sets to enable her team to finish with their third win of the season.

Earlier Leeson teamed up with Kate Carmichael to win the important second doubles in four sets over Jackson Tung and Morrison. This match was followed by the singles match of Carmichael and Tung, and it was Carmichael who was able to take control early and win in four sets to assist her team to take the four points. In Mallee Bearings win Carmichael had won three singles while team mates Leeson and Tom Morrison won one each. Morrison had defeated his father Ashley in the first game of the night which was vital in the end result.

For Choices Flooring Jackson Tung won two singles while Liam “Hawkeye” Wood had an eventful night winning two hard-fought five set singles and he could prove to be the difference going in to this weeks semi final against second placed Cookes Pools and Spas.

– Tankard Dental 6 (Reece Kurrle, Thanh Nguyen 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Arhuang (Wong) Lau 3, Russell Walder, Jason Gifkins 1)

Fifth placed Tankard Dental finished the season strongly defeating second placed Cookes Pools and Spas 6-5 in another close result. Victory came despite Cookes number one Arhuang Lau winning three singles in fine style. For Tankards both Reece Kurrle and

Thanh Nguyen won two singles and the winning edge came Tankards way with success in both doubles. The second doubles in particular would decide the four points when Kurrle and team mate Ed Hung combined in a lengthy five setter to defeat Lau and Jason Gifkins 11-2 7-11 7-11 11-9 11-4 a strong finish by the Tankard pair after trailing early.
In this week’s knockout semi finals ladder leader Weightmans Packaging play fourth team Regional Taxation Services while second team Cookes Pools and Spas match up against Choices Flooring. Bring on the finals, some interesting contests coming up.

PENNANT TWO:

Maccas Player of the round: Peter Fitzpatrick

Mallee Meats 7 Harry Gujral (2), Therese Fitzpatrick (2), Peter Fitzpatrick (2) defeated Cookes Pools & Spas 4 Duy Truong (3), David Sergi (0), Deegan Kerslake (0).

It was a solid night for Mallee Meats with all three players obtaining two singles wins. Cookes’ Duy Truong won his three singles, but his two teammates couldn’t help him out, with both going home empty handed.

Peter Fitzpatrick took the first win for the evening, besting Sergi in four sets 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 while Gujral made it 2-0 by taking down Kerslake 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. Then Therese Fitzpatrick and Truong faced off in a tight five-setter with Fitzpatrick taking the first set 11-7, Truong then firing up and taking the next two 11-4, 11-5, Fitzpatrick then snatched up the fourth 12-10, but Truong brought it home in the fifth, winning 11-6. Therese and Gujral then paired up to take on Truong and Sergi in the first doubles, besting the Cookes duo in four 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4.

Gujral then put his team ahead 4-1 by downing Sergi confidently 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. Peter Fitzpatrick then struggled against Truong and went down in straight sets 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 while Therese sorted out Kerslake to bring the score up to 5-2, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9. It was then Gujral and Peter’s turn to play in the doubles, coming up against some strong competition from Cookes. The duo took the first set 11-9, Cookes nabbed the second 11-9, Meats prevailed in the third 11-4, but couldn’t keep it up in the last two, losing to Cookes 9-11, 7-11.

Truong was resolved to come from behind and beat Meats as he took down Gujral 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, bringing the score to 5-4. Unfortunately, his two teammates couldn’t find a way past the two Fitzpatricks, with Sergi losing in straight sets to Therese 5-11, 8-11, 7-11, and Kerslake going down to Peter in four 8-11, 13-11, 10-12, 6-11.

Final score 7 rubbers to 4 and 25 games to 15.

Weightmans Packaging 6 Rasin Bhuiyan (2), Michael Tan (2), Steve Parker (1) defeated Pinnacle Packers 5 Josh Arnold (2), James Jarvis (2), Ryan Hensgen (0).

Aggregate leaders Weightmans Packaging and fourth-placed Pinnacle Packers went head-to-head in the final round of the season, with Packers being 5-2 up halfway through the night. Weightmans however, struggled on and would eventually take the victory 6-5.

The clash began with Hensgen taking on Tan, with the latter taking the win 12-10, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7. Arnold then scraped it out against Parker and won 11-7, 5-11, 11-3, 11-6 whilst Jarvis and Bhuiyan went head-to-head in the first of night’s many five-set matches. Jarvis won the first set 11-4, Bhuiyan swept up the next two 11-8, 11-9, but Jarvis stood his ground, beating the No. 1 back and taking the match 11-8, 11-7. In the first doubles, Packers duo Arnold and Jarvis took it to the mat against Weightmans, winning the game after five hard-fought sets 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6.

Next up, Tan gave Arnold a proper run for his money, winning the first two sets 11-9, 11-9, but Arnold found a chink in his opponent’s armour and exploited it, taking the last three sets 11-6, 11-4, 11-8. With the score now 4-1, it was time for Weightmans to put a few wins on the board. Bhuiyan took out Hensgen in four 11-5, 11-3, 8-11, 11-3, but then the ever-reliable Jarvis made the score 5-2 with a win over Parker, putting his team on the very edge of taking the victory. Jarvis started the match slowly, losing the first two sets, 0-11, 6-11, but then he found his stride and came all the way back, much to Parker’s bewilderment, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5. It looked like the end of the line for Weightmans as they went into the second doubles, knowing they would have to get the last four rubbers in a row if they were going to win the night. Bhuiyan and Parker took the first set 11-9, Arnold and Hensgen then won the second 11-5, but Weightmans stayed strong and won the third 11-7. Packers fought hard and won the fourth 11-6, but Weightmans held them off and took the fifth 11-6.

This win breathed new confidence into Weightmans as they went into the last three rubbers of the night. Bhuiyan sorted out Arnold easily enough, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6, then Tan took on Jarvis and after four tough sets took the win 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, bringing the score to 5-5. Weightmans had done well to come back from 5-2 down and now it was up to Parker to seal the win for his team.

He took the first set from Hensgen 11-9, then Hensgen fired back and won the second 11-9, then the two fought tooth and nail in the third, with Parker just taking it 12-10. Parker then seemingly lost his focus in the fourth, losing 4-11 but then gathering all his strength, he went neck-and-neck with Hensgen and secured the fifth set 12-10.

Final score 6 rubbers to 5 and 27 games to 22.

PENNANT THREE:

A one-sided match and a thriller in the other was the feature of round ten matches in pennant three and an exciting finals series is approaching. Despite a rare loss by ladder leader Sammy’s Slammers, they have finished two games clear at the head of the ladder and will go in as favourites however two of their losses have come at the hands of their opponents in this round Regional Taxation Services.

Maccas Player of the round: Brenden Johnson

– Regional Taxation Services 6 (Karly Leach 3, Leo Parker, Cooper Kalms 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Sam Campbell, Koby Grace 2)

 This was a topsy turvy match as the Slammers took the early initiative to lead 3-1 and then 4-2 and were looking comfortable. Things were going well as skipper Sam Cambell had accounted for Leo Parker and Cooper Kalms in her first two singles while teammate Koby Grace had defeated Cooper Kalms in four sets in the first singles of the night.

Sam and Koby also combined to win the first doubles against Karly and Leo after dropping the first game and this took the score to 4-2 in Sammy’s Slammers favour.

From here RTS bounced into action courtesy of Leo defeating fill in Dianne Hannig in a tight four setter with several long rallies. Leo took the points 10-12 11-8 11-9 11-8. Karly and Cooper then combined in the important second doubles against Sam and Dianne and what a match this proved to be. After five long sets the Regional Taxation Services pair of Karly and Leo had taken the points 7-11 11-8 11-9 8-11 11-7 and now the scores were four rubbers all as the two captains stepped up to the table.

Sam is the singles aggregate leader with Karly running second. Sam has been outstanding over the season and her only loss was way back in round four against Karly. Karly grabbed the initiative early in this match and took the first game, the second was close but again Karly took the points and in the third Karly was able to take control early and go on to win in an impressive fashion 11-5 11-9 11-4.

Regional Taxation Services now took a 5-4 lead, and the match had shifted in a big way. Knowing his team had no alternative Slammers Koby came out and proved too steady for Leo who tried hard but could not stop Koby levelling the match at five rubbers all. The scoreline in Koby’s favour 11-8 11-5 11-9.

RTS number three Cooper Kalms then played fill in Dianne Hannig to decide the four points and what a match it proved to be going to five sets. Dianne took a two game to one lead before Cooper fought back to level with a strong display in the fourth. Cooper was then able to hold the initiative in the fifth and go on to win 7-11 12-10 9-11 11-2 11-7. This had been an excellent comeback by RTS and victory meant they were able to hold on to second place on the ladder by a small percentage margin.

While Karly won three singles her teammates Leo and Cooper also played their role winning a singles each. Slammers Sam with two singles finished 3 clear at the head of the singles aggregate, well played, while teammate Koby continued his good form winning two again. Koby has finished third in the aggregate race.

Will these two teams meet in the finals !!, time will tell.

Winner:  Regional Taxation Services 6 defeated Sammy’s Slammers 5

Games : 20 to 23

– Mallee Meats 8 (Brenden Johnson 3, Hayden Wilson 2, Sabrina Fitzpatrick 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 3 (Nick Kiapekos 2, Michael Hensgen 1)

 Going in to the final round Mallee Meats were third and opponents Exposed fourth separated by one win and a small percentage. The winner would finish third and avoid  playing the top team Sammy Slammers in the first knockout final. 

Michael Hensgen was a late replacement for the absent Exposed captain Steve Pongrac while Dianne Hannig lined up again in the Mallee Meats team to cover the injured Leanne Wilson. 

Mallee Meats started strongly with Brenden Johnson defeating Curtis Crabtree in four sets followed by team mate Hayden Wilson playing a great match to defeat Michael in straight sets. This was a good reward for Hayden as he has been training hard on a Monday. 

With his team trailing 0-2 Nick Kiapekos recorded an excellent four set win over difficult opponent Sabrina Fitzpatrick. Sabrina then combined with Brenden to win the first doubles against Michael and Nick, Mallee Meats now took a 3-1 lead and improved this scoreline in the next two matches courtesy of the in form Brenden who outlasted Michael in a lengthy five set singles. Brenden took the first two games in an impressive manner before Michael fought back to level. The fifth was exciting however with a few big forehands it was Brenden who came out on top 11-8 11-5 3-11 8-11 11-7.

Meats skipper Sabrina then took her team to a 5-1 lead when she proved too steady for Curtis winning in straight sets. Again it was up to Nick to stem the flow and again he came up with the points defeating Hayden in four sets. 

Meats pair of Brenden and Hayden then sealed the four points and third place on the ladder by defeating Michael and Curtis in four sets 11-8 7-11 11-8 13-11 a close tussle. Michael then matched up against Sabrina and it was Sabrina who took the first game however from here Michael was able to play solid table tennis against a tough opponent. After many long rallies Michael took a well deserved win 8-11 11-9 11-7 11-7 

The following singles was the pick of the night when Brenden and Nick played an outstanding five set marathon, after Nick took the first comfortably the remaining four games were separated by two points only, indicating how close this was. With his trademark big forehand on song Brenden took the second  and third. The experienced Nick then proved too steady taking the fourth and the scene was set for a thrilling finale and that’s how it panned out. What a fifth it was Nick playing steady table tennis while Brenden was always willing to play his forehand drive. In an exciting climax it was Brenden who took the match and his third singles with a score line of 5-11 11-9 11-9 10-12 12-10 a ripper match. 

The final singles featured Mallee Meats Hayden up against Curtis and while it was won by Hayden in three sets , Curtis was close all the way with each game separated by two points. 

In an encouraging lead up to the finals Mallee Meats were victors 8-3 , an excellent team effort with Brenden winning three singles and taking part in both doubles victories. Hayden played well and won two singles while skipper Sabrina won one.

For Exposed Nick played well winning two singles.

Winner : Mallee Meats 8 defeated Exposed Signage / Apparel 3 

Games: 27 to 15

PENNANT FOUR:

Well, those ten rounds of Summer Pennant went so quickly. We still have the Super 8’s and Finals to come, which will hold plenty of excitement for the players.

The last round saw the two top teams holding their positions on the Ladder, but only narrowly, as Tankard Dental pushed top team Mallee Meats to 6/5, which could have changed the whole scenario for the Finals. 

Maccas Player of the round: Ildi Healy

– Mallee Meats 6 (Yen Hwak 3, Nathan Beard 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Maria Starikov, Ildi Healy 2, Gary Leach 1)

Tankard – Maria Starikov, Ildi Healy and Andrew Jeffries (Fill in – Gary Leach). Mallee – Yen Hwak, Nathan Beard and Conner Burnett.

Tankards fill in, Gary, was first up and was facing Conner, with a tough first set falling to Gary. He kept the pressure on to pick up the second as well, before Conner made a move, taking the third and giving Gary something to think about. With this being the first game he has played for the season, he did a good job to finish it in four and mark up Tankards first Rubber. (13/11, 11/4, 7/11, 11/7).

Ildi and Nathan had a ripper five set clash, with the first game going out to 19 to  Nathan’s advantage. Ildi fought back for the second, but Mallee’s number two grabbed the next. With a rally filled final two sets, Ildi marked up a second win for Tankard. (17/19, 11/4, 3/11, 15/13, 11/7).

The final singles in this bracket, fell to Yen in three, but not before a Maria gave it a good shake, pushing the second game to 13. (11/9, 13/11, 11/8).

Tankards pair of Maria and Ildi put themselves in a position to win the Doubles against Yen and Nathan with a two to one lead after the third game, but to Mallee’s credit, they found a way to take the next couple to bring the scores back to even. (11/8, 10/12, 4/11, 11/7, 11/6).

Gary was unable to find a way around Nathan’s game, wrapping it up in three sets, for Mallee’s third Rubber. (11/4, 11/8, 11/9).

Ildi, along with most of the Pennant four players, have been pushed to find a way around Yen’s game. He has made major steps forward and uses his super fast back hand to polish off any challenges, hence, Mallee’s fourth Rubber. (11/8, 11/4, 11/7).

Tankards Captain, Maria, put a temporary halt to the oppositions run, winning her match against Conner in a three set burst. (11/7, 11/6, 11/9).

The combination of Yen’s speed and Conner’s spin, was too much for Maria and Gary, in the last Doubles. (12/10, 11/6, 11/7).

The next match was worrying for Tankard, as Mallee only needed one more Rubber to win and Gary was about to face Yen. Mallee’s Captain nabbed the first two games, but a determined Gary fought back, to sneak a set, before Yen hammered home the last game, for the team victory, his third singles win for the night and an impressive Aggregate win for the season.   (11/7, 11/3, 10/12, 11/7).       

 If you want to see a match full of rallies, watch Maria and Nathan, as they just keep going and going, like a long life Battery. This encounter was a four set wrestle, which went to Maria. (11/8, 10/12, 14/12, 11/7).

The last match was also a great watch, with Ildi and Conner both showing determination in their quest to get the win. Ildi wasn’t successful in the first game, but put together the following three to give her two Singles wins for the night. (10/12, 11/7, 11/5, 11/7).

WINNER : Mallee Meats  6  to Tankard Dental  5.

GAMES : 23  to 18.

– Dunkley Scales 7 (Glenn Leeson 3, Jenny Leach, Jakob Grzan 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Tom Gilmour, Eddy Parker 2)

Dunkley – Glenn Leeson, Jenny Leach and Jakob Grzan. Weightman’s – Tom Gilmour, Eddy Parker and Liam Milton.

It was a five setter for the first Singles match, with Jakob at one end and Eddie at the other. Both these players have stepped up their skill level over the Summer season and this meeting was a saw Eddie get the upper hand, but Jakob played some amazing shots as well. (7/11, 11/3, 11/6, 8/11, 11/3).

Liam got a good start in the first game against Glenn, but not enough to sneak a win. A good effort from Liam, but Dunkley’s number one was too strong. (11/7, 11/9, 11/3).

Jen fought hard and made some ground in her match against Tom, pocketing one set, before Weightman’s Captain snuck in a run of winning shots to go one up in the Rubbers. (11/8, 11/9, 5/11, 11/6).

The Doubles pairs of Glenn and Jen, were challenged by Tom and Eddie, in a battle of spin, chop and forehand. After four sets, it was the Dunkley team who took the win. (11/7, 11/7, 9/11, 11/4).

Eddie was defending well in his tussle with Glenn, with a tight game in the first, before Dunkley’s Captain turned on the pressure to come away with the Rubber. (11/9, 11/2, 11/7).

Jakob put up a great show against Tom, pinching the second game and showing his ability to cope with varying shot, but it was Tom who closed it out in four to add another win for Weightman’s. (12/10, 8/11, 11/9, 11/6).

Jen had control of the match, when she faced Liam, until he pressed go to take a set, but in the end the Rubber went Jen’s way. (11/6, 11/4, 11/13, 11/6).

The last Doubles grew into a five setter, with a very even match see sawing between each pair. Glenn and Jakob had a slight edge in the last game, which was enough to sneak under Tom and Liam’s guard and give Dunkley a 5 to 3 lead. (11/6, 9/11, 11/9, 6/11, 12/10).

With Weightman’s desperately needing to win all remaining Matches, the heat was about to be ramped up, with the two number ones fighting it out. Every game showed total focus, with Tom taking a two game lead, before Glenn flicked the switch and pulled in the final three games to give his team the Rubber needed for success on the night and bring up three Singles wins for him, in terrific season. These two players had been very close in the Summer Aggregate and it was Tom, landing 2nd place, who just piped Glenn by one (7/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/9, 12/10).

Jen and Eddie fought it out for three sets, but Eddie played some excellent shots, which to leave with the win. (11/8, 11/2, 11/9).

The number three’s were the last to play out and although Liam produced quite a few impressive shots, it was Jakob who notched up the win. (11/6, 11/3, 11/7).

WINNER : Dunkley Scales  7  to Weightman’s Packaging  4.

GAMES : 25  to 18.    

It was an extremely close battle in the finish for the number one spot in the Finals. Dunkley held this spot until they were defeated in Rd 9, by Mallee, which enabled them to jump ahead by a very slim % margin. But the Tables were turned in Rd 10 and although both teams came away with wins, Dunkley’s 7 / 4 against Weightman’s gave them the Rubbers needed to leap frog Mallee in a shock finish, to put them back on top. 

With four teams contesting Pennant four, all teams will be involved in the Finals. The Semi’s will see number one on the Ladder, Dunkley Scales, playing number four, Tankard Dental. With number two, Mallee Meats contesting, number three,  Weightman’s Packaging.  Good Luck to all teams in the Finals. 

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