BY snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the preliminary final, Choices Flooring Mildura have advanced to the Sunraysia Table Tennis winter pennant grand final in a stunning comeback against opponents Cookes Pools & Spas.
Head-to-head this season Cookes were two wins, one loss, against their opponents and finished second on the ladder while Choices Flooring were fourth going into the finals.
Choices head into Wednesday’s grand final against Mallee Bearings.
Early in the match Choices took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Leon Brown and Wayne Carmichael defeating their respective singles opponents Russell Walder and Casper McCarthy.
From this point, Cookes took control of the final winning four of the next five matches, including victory in both doubles which was huge in the context of the match.
The first doubles featured Cookes pair Kate Carmichael and Casper McCarthy recovering from a one game to two deficit against Wayne Carmichael and Brown, to win in five sets 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6.
The second doubles was crucial for the Choices experienced pair of Wayne Carmichael and Ed Hung, however it was the Cookes combo of Kate Carmichael and Walder who proved too steady winning in four sets 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-2.
At 3-5 it looked grim for the Choices team, however, skipper Wayne Carmichael was expected to win over niece Kate, but he did not have it all go his way and this was an excellent five set contest with many long rallies.
Eventually Wayne took the points 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, and Choices Flooring remained alive, the score now 5-4 in Cookes’ favour.
The next match saw McCarthy against Brown, and latter control winning 11-7, 11-9, 11-2, levelling the match at five rubbers all.
The two number three players, Hung for Choices and Cookes’ Walder stepped up to the table to decide their respective team’s fate, the winner would take his team to the grand final.
Both sets of team mates nervously awaiting the outcome, head-to-head during the season honours were level between Hung and Walder, a win each.
From start to finish it was Hung who took control and maintained the ascendancy to win 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 much to the delight of his teammates.
This had been an outstanding recovery from Choices Flooring and in an even team performance Wayne Carmichael, Leon Brown and Ed Hung won three, two and one singles respectively to win a spot in the grand final.
Cookes Pools & Spas had tried their hardest with Kate Carmichael winning two singles and Casper McCarthy one. Victory in both doubles had given their team every chance, however, it wasn’t to be.
The grand final now awaits and it should be another tight contest, during the season Mallee Bearings lead the head to head contests two to one.
Mallee Bearings have only lost two matches for the season, however, one of these was against their grand final opponents way back in round five.
Any team that has Joel Thomas in their line-up should start as favourites and Mallee Bearings will look to keep their winning run intact.
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.
Sunraysia Table Tennis 2024 Winter Pennant results Preliminary Final: –
PENNANT ONE:
Choices Flooring Mildura 6 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Leon Brown 2, Ed Hung 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5 (Kate Carmichael 2, Casper McCarthy 1);
Mallee Bearings v Choices Flooring Mildura in Grand Final.
PENNANT TWO:
Choices Flooring Mildura 6 (Jason Gifkins, Kevin Johns 2, Harry Gujral 1) d Mallee Meats 2 (Ashley Morrison 1);
Cookes Pools & Spas vs Choices Flooring Mildura in Grand Final.
PENNANT THREE:
Sammy’s Slammers 6 (James Jarvis 3, Nhat Dat 1) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Andrew Kremor 2, Sam Campbell 1);
Weightmans Packaging vs Sammy’s Slammers in Grand Final.
PENNANT FOUR:
Weightmans Packaging 6 (Curtis Crabtree, Raj Gujral 2, Gary Leach 1) d Mallee Meats 2 (Maria Starikov 1);
Dunkley Scales vs Weightmans Packaging in Grand Final.
