TWO matches that went down to the wire shaped the top four in the final round of Sunraysia Table Tennis Winter Pennant.
In an outstanding display, bottom team Weightman's Packaging upset Regional Taxation Services who were second going in to round 15, but slipped to third and gave up the important double chance.
Weightman's, who had just one win entering the last round, looked a good team on paper for the clash and recovered from a 1-3 deficit to win five of the final seven matches. The highlight was an outstanding five set victory by Weightman's number two Reece Kurrle over aggregate leader Matt Ljubic 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7.
Max Miller Carpets needed to topple ladder leaders Mallee Bearings to secure a finals spot, but got off to a slow start when Bearings number three player Rohan Reimers accounted for Carpeters number two player Leon Brown 11-6, 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8.
Later Brown was unlucky when he took a 7-2 lead in the fifth against Gavin Carmichael, only to go down narrowly 9-11 in the final game.
Mallee Bearings were able to win 7-4 despite Carpeters number one Kate Carmichael winning three singles. She was able to defeat father Gavin in four sets to avenge three narrow five set losses to him throughout the season. Victory in both doubles by Mallee Bearings also ensured victory.
Tankard Dental snatched second spot and the double chance by the barest margin after defeating Cookes Pools and Spas 6-5.
Cookes have finished on exactly the same wins and rubbers as Regional Taxation and they could only be separated by percentage on actual games won and lost, the difference was gaining the coveted double chance. Victory came for Tankards despite opposing captain Joel Thomas winning three singles as well as participating in both doubles victories.
An even team performance by Tankard Dental featured Wayne Carmichael, Jackson Murphy and Paul Kealley all winning two singles each. Kealley in particular played a key role recovering from a 1-2 deficit against Russell Walder to win 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6.
Winter Pennant results, round 15:
PENNANT 1: Tankard Dental 6 (Wayne Carmichael, Paul Kealley, Jackson Murphy 2) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Joel Thomas 3); Weightman's Packaging 6 (Reece Kurrle 3, Jackson Tung, Ed Hung 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Matt Ljubic, Thanh Nguyen 2); Mallee Bearings 7 (Gavin Carmichael, Mark Dorman 2, Rohan Reimers 1) d Max Miller Carpets 4 (Kate Carmichael 3, Liam Wood 1)
PENNANT 2: Pinnacle Packers 6 (Sony Sefer 3, Peter Midgley, Furqaan Ahmad 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Ashley Morrison, Josh Arnold 2); Mallee Bearings 6 (David Sergi, Marcus Cimino 2, Jamie Kealley 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Kevin Johns 3, Terry Martin 1); Max Miller Carpets 6 (Jeremy Corrin, Daniel Jansen, John Fitzpatrick 2) d Weightman's Packaging 5 (Andrew Jones 2, Quentin Clark 1)
PENNANT 3: Mallee Meats 6 (Michael Smyth, Nick Kiapekos 2, Hamish Smyth 1) d Regional Taxation Services 5 (Shaun Gifford 3, Rodney Galvin 1); Exposed Signage/Apparel 5 (Levi Williams 3, Riley Clemence 1) d Sammy's Slammers 4 (Marita Grace, Nhat Dat 2); Tankard Dental 6 (Steve Pongrac 3, Steve Parker 2) d Weightman's Packaging 3 (Karly Leach 2, Dianne Hannig 1)
PENNANT 4: Mallee Meats 7 (Wendy Simpson, Tom Gilmour 3) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Ildi Healy, Derek Hung, Katrina Clifford 1); Weightman's Packaging 9 (Glenn Leeson, Chelsey Avers 3, Gary Leach 1) d Tankard Dental 2 (Liam Nicolaou, Maria Starikov 1)
