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With the big dance just around the corner it is time to reflect upon the season that was and to make some predictions as to what may unfold in next week’s Grand Finals. I have had my ear to the ground and there have been many big statements made so far this season with many going home with tails between their legs. I also have been reading the abundance of statistical information presented on the website by our dedicated team of writers and Colleen Carmichael who has the job of deciphering the scoresheet that she meticulously puts before you each week. Well done again Colleen for your work and hopefully next year there will be less forensic work being done on the Hieroglyphics on these scoresheets.
Pennant 1
Choices Flooring V Weightmans Packaging
This shapes to be a close contest that will hopefully runs its full course. Last week Choices Flooring had a solid 6/4 win over Cookes Pools and Spas. Their opponent Weightman’s Packaging had a 6/5 win over Regional Taxation Services.
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Weightmans Packaging | 7 | 3 | 28 | 64 | 46 | 219 | 189 | 139% | 116% |
| Cookes Pools & Spas | 6 | 4 | 24 | 57 | 53 | 202 | 201 | 108% | 100% |
| Choices Flooring Mildura | 5 | 5 | 20 | 55 | 55 | 210 | 200 | 100% | 105% |
| Regional Taxation Services | 5 | 5 | 20 | 54 | 56 | 204 | 192 | 96% | 106% |
| Tankard Dental | 4 | 6 | 16 | 51 | 59 | 192 | 212 | 86% | 91% |
| Mallee Bearings | 3 | 7 | 12 | 49 | 61 | 180 | 213 | 80% | 85% |
When these two teams last met in round 9 and it was a conclusive 7/4 win to Weightmans Packaging with Captain Jamie Kealley winning 3 singles, Rohan 2 and Marcus 1 and the important doubles being shared.
With recent history against them and without number 2 Liam Wood being available I can still a possible way that Weightman’s can prevail in this match.
It is fair to say that Jamie has taken all before him this year and is a deserved aggregate winner in this pennant – however you can never count out Jackson Tung in the big matches. Jamie hits at a frenetic pace and tries to finish each point quickly on either forehand or backhand. Once Jamie is out in front, he is difficult to stop. Jackson will need to draw on his vast experience and try to slow down the play. He cannot over rely on his fantastic defence and will need to land a few telling blows of his own. I am predicting a tight match with Jackson getting the chocolates.
Liam Wood’s replacement Thanh Nguyen will need to play a key role by defeating Marcus Cimino and teaming well with Jackson in the doubles to give Weigtman’s any chance of victory. A slip up in any of these two matches will gift the ascendancy to Choices Flooring.
Weightman’s number two player Rohan Reimers is an important cog in his team. Rohan possesses the ability to win all three of his singles matches along with his doubles. If he achieves this it will be an early finish. At the very least Rohan will need to defeat Thahn and Ash Morrison to keep his team in the hunt.
The opposing number 3 players Ash and Marcus Cimino have both had important wins during the season and their doubles match will be vital in shaping the victor. Statistics show that Ash has had a lean November in singles,
and I believe this trend will continue with Marcus getting up in this match if it goes the distance.
In summary expect the unexpected. I have puzzled over some curious tactics in playing order from one of these teams so the final margin I am predicting may seem one sided.
Prediction: Choices Flooring 6 d Weightman’s Packaging 3
Pennant 2
Mallee Meats V Cookes Pools & Spas
Cookes Pools and Spas will enter the grand final after their huge upset (6/3) win over minor premiers Weightman’s Packaging in last weeks semi-final. Their opponent Mallee Meats had a comfortable win over Pinnacle Packers (6/3) in securing their place in this week’s final.
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Weightmans Packaging | 8 | 2 | 32 | 62 | 48 | 233 | 192 | 129% | 121% |
| Mallee Meats | 5 | 5 | 20 | 53 | 57 | 200 | 219 | 93% | 91% |
| Pinnacle Packers | 4 | 6 | 16 | 53 | 57 | 211 | 217 | 93% | 97% |
| Cookes Pools & Spas | 3 | 7 | 12 | 52 | 58 | 192 | 208 | 90% | 92% |
These two teams last met in round 10 with the following result:
Mallee Meats 7 (Harry Gujral, Therese Fitzpatrick, Peter Fitzpatrick 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Duy Truong 3)
Both number one players from each team Harry Gujral and Duy Truong were in terrific form last week in claiming 3 singles and two doubles victories each. Duy has only lost two singles matches this season with one of those being a four-set loss to Harry in round 7. So, I think we are in for a close contest.
The opposing number two players Therese Fitzpatrick and David Sergi will both have important roles to play in this match.
Therese is expected to beat David and Deegan Kerslake and David is expected to defeat Peter Fitzpatrick. If this is the case, then I believe that David will want to be a part of a successful doubles pairing with Duy to keep this match alive.
Number three players Peter and Deegan have had limited singles success for the season. However, in round 10 Peter won 2 matches including a
win against Deegan hence Peter should have the psychological edge over his opponent in this week’s match if it goes down to the wire.
Don’t plan on being home early – remember what happened last year when Harry played!
Prediction: Mallee Meats 6 d Cookes Pools & Spas 4
Pennant 3
Regional Taxation Services outlasted Mallee Meats (6/5) to qualify for this grand final in a match that could have gone either way. Their opponents this week are Sammy Slammers who accounted for Exposed Signage and Apparel (6/3).
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Sammy’s Slammers | 7 | 3 | 28 | 63 | 47 | 238 | 180 | 134% | 132% |
| Regional Taxation Services | 5 | 5 | 20 | 54 | 54 | 206 | 208 | 100% | 99% |
| Mallee Meats | 5 | 5 | 20 | 52 | 58 | 210 | 232 | 90% | 91% |
| Exposed Signage/Apparel | 3 | 7 | 12 | 49 | 59 | 196 | 230 | 83% | 85% |
These two teams last met in round 10 with the following result:
Regional Taxation Services 6 (Karly Leach 3, Leo Parker, Cooper Kalms 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Sam Campbell, Koby Grace 2)
Since this match it should be noted that Sam Cambell has been successful in the Super 8’s competition and she is in red hot form. This form will need to continue if she wishes to defeat her opposing number one player Karly Leach in what shapes to be the most critical match of the night.
I think this match is the one you don’t want to miss!
The battle of the number two players Leo Parker and Koby Grace will also be vitally important.
Leo’s form over the last six to seven (I know six seven) weeks has been hard to predict whereas
Koby has found a purple patch of form during the month of November.
Number three players Cooper Kalms along with Dianne Hannig will also play vital roles in their respective teams.
Cooper has had a very consistent season and can be relied upon to win at least one of his singles matches.
Dianne (who has replaced the injured Leanne Wilson)
will be looking to team with her Captain Sam Cambell to win an important doubles match.
So, we have a team of five versus a team of three. That is correct – Players Sam, Koby and Dianne with Leanne (mentor/coach) along with the spirit of Sam Hensgen (Sammy’s Slammers is named in his honour.)
Prediction: Sammy’s Slammers 6 d Regional Taxation Services 4
Pennant 4
Dunkley Scales have marched into the grand final with a resounding 6/0 win over Tankard Dental. Here they will meet Mallee Meats who defeated Weightmans Packaging 6/3 in last week’s semi-final. Little separated the teams during the regular season with Dunkley Scales being the minor premier by a margin of just one rubber.
| Win | Loss | Pts | Rubbers | Games | % | % | |||
| For | Agst | For | Agst | R | G | ||||
| Dunkley Scales | 8 | 2 | 32 | 66 | 44 | 240 | 187 | 150% | 128% |
| Mallee Meats | 8 | 2 | 32 | 65 | 45 | 230 | 177 | 144% | 130% |
| Weightmans Packaging | 4 | 6 | 16 | 55 | 55 | 213 | 197 | 100% | 108% |
| Tankard Dental | 0 | 10 | 0 | 44 | 76 | 134 | 256 | 58% | 52% |
The last time these teams faced off was in round 9 with the following scoreline:
Mallee Meats 8 (Nathan Beard 3, Yen Hwak 2, Conner Burnett 1) d Dunkley Scales 3 (Jakob Grzan 2, Jenny Leach 1)
This scoreline is misleading as Dunkley’s Captain Glenn Leeson was unavailable for this match.
Mallee Meats Captain Yen Hwak has been in fine form this season and has only dropped two singles games and is a deserved aggregate winner.
He has also won the super 8’s and if his team is successful in the grand final Yen will win a ‘gold shirt’. His opposition number one Glenn will need to bring his A game if he is to challenge Yen when they play their singles match.
Opposing number two players Nathan Beard and Jenny Leach have had very consistent seasons with both winning at least one singles match per night and the occasional two. Last time these players met was in the Super 8’s where Jenny was victorious.
Can Jenny bring this form into tonight’s matchup?
Number three players Connor Burnett and Jakob Grzan have shown great improvement this season.
Connor won a singles match on six consecutive weeks from rounds 4 to 9 where Jakob has
gone from strength to strength and has won 16 matches in the regular season.
This match looks to be going down to the wire.
Prediction: Dunkley Scales 6 v Mallee Meats 5
