Mallee Bearings have opened up a gap ahead of a logjam of teams jostling for finals positions in Sunraysia table tennis.
Only one win separates second and fifth positions, with Mallee Bearings clear on top after overcoming a gallant Weightman’s Packaging in Round 8.
Cookes Pools and Spas slipped from third to fifth after going down 5-6 for the third successive week.
Max Miller Carpets were the latest team to inflict defeat on Cookes in a thrilling contest to move into the top four for the first time this season.
In an even team display Kate Carmichael, Leon Brown and Liam Wood all won two singles to secure the 6-5 victory, despite Joel Thomas winning three singles and taking part in both doubles victories for Cookes.
With the scores at 5-4 in Cookes’ favour, Lee Leeson put extreme pressure on Carpeters’ Leon Brown. This match was an entertaining five setter with Brown levelling the match winning 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-13, 12-10 in a thriller.
Mallee Bearings were put under pressure by Weightman’s Packaging, but eventually prevailed 7-4.
The Bearings team were out of the blocks early winning the first three singles with the crucial victory being the four set victory by number three Rohan Reimers over Weightman’s number one Jackson Tung.
Reimers enjoyed a good night winning two singles and then partnering with Gavin Carmichael to win the second doubles. Carmichael won three singles to maintain equal leadership in the singles aggregate.
Tankard Dental proved too steady for Regional Taxation Services winning 7-4. The form of Tankard’s number three Paul Kealley with victory in both doubles, was the difference in this contest. Kealley was promoted to Pennant One after a very successful season in the summer Pennant Two competition. His two victories included a five set tussle with the inform Thahn Nguyen 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 12-10.
Matt Ljubic was in good form winning three singles for Regional Taxation Services including a five set tussle with Wayne Carmichael. Ljubic dominated in the first game then Carmichael fought back to take the match to a fifth game winning 11-1, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4.
RESULTS:
PENNANT 1: Mallee Bearings 7 (Gavin Carmichael 3, Rohan Reimers 2, Mark Dorman 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 4 (Reece Kurrle 2, Jackson Tung 1); Tankard Dental 7 (Wayne Carmichael, Paul Kealley 2, Jackson Murphy 1) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Matt Ljubic 3, Thanh Nguyen 1); Max Miller Carpets 6 (Kate Carmichael, Leon Brown, Liam Wood 2) d Cookes Pools and Spas 5 (Joel Thomas 3).
PENNANT 2: Weightman’s Packaging 7 (Quentin Clark 3, Andrew Jones, Tom Morrison 1) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Peter Midgley, Sony Sefer 2); Mallee Meats 7 (Kevin Johns 3, Terry Martin 2, James Jarvis 1) d Cookes Pools and Spas 4 (Ashley Morrison 2, Josh Arnold 1); Max Miller Carpets 9 (Jeremy Corrin 3, Daniel Jansen, John Fitzpatrick 2) d Mallee Bearings 2 (Jamie Kealley 2).
PENNANT 3: Mallee Meats 7 (Michael Smyth 3, Nick Kiapekos 2) d Weightman’s Packaging 4 (Sabrina Fitzpatrick 2, Karly Leach, Nicole Hunt 1); Tankard Dental 7 (Steve Pongrac, Luca Capizzoto 2, Steve Parker 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 4 (Marita Grace 3, Nhat Dat 1); Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Levi Williams 2, Riley Clemence, Dave Tanner, Steve Parker 1) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Shaun Gifford 3, Ashton McMullin 1).
PENNANT 4: Weightman’s Packaging 7 (Glenn Leeson, Chelsey Avers 3) d Mallee Meats 4 (Wendy Simpson, Keith Sharman, Nathan Beard 1); Tankard Dental 6 ( Maria Starikov 3, Ildi Healy 2) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Dianne Hannig 2, Katrina Clifford, Derek Hung 1).
