All matches were decided 6-5, but in an unusual twist all winning teams were actually trailing 3-4 going into the second doubles.
Only one ladder change took place, with Cookes Pools & Spas reclaiming fourth spot from Tankard Dental, who dropped back to fifth, albeit by percentage only.
Choices Flooring Mildura took a 5-3 lead after winning the second doubles in their clash with Cookes.
Then Choices skipper Reece Kurrle took to the table against Cookes’ Mark Dorman, and when Kurrle raced through the first game winning 11-1, it looked ominous for the opposition.
However, knowing his team’s season was on the line, Dorman stepped up to show his vast experience by taking the next three games and victory 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.
Dorman’s teammates Dylan Wood and Ed Hung followed in their skipper’s footsteps by defeating Leon Brown and Daniel Jansen, respectively, to finalise a brilliant comeback.
In another exciting finish, ladder leader Weightman’s Packaging were defeated for the second round in a row, this time by second-placed Mallee Bearings 6-5.
When Wayne Carmichael of Weightman’s defeated Jackson Tung in straight sets, his team took a 5-4 lead.
In the next match Russell Walder was quickly away, taking the first two games against Liam Wood, to make it look like Weightman’s might have been home.
However, Wood grabbed the third narrowly 13-11, then was able to complete an excellent comeback to take the match in five sets, the last three games decided by the barest margin.
It was a Houdini act by Wood, who survived four match points.
The scores at five rubbers all, Weightman’s had Lee Leeson against Tom Morrison, and spectators again witnessed another thriller.
The less-experienced Morrison took the first, however Leeson steadied with consistent play to win the second and third.
Morrison lifted and after many fine rallies, it was the Mallee Bearings No.3 who took the match 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.
Third-placed Regional Taxation Services won four of the last six rubbers to win 6-5 over Tankard Dental.
For RTS, Kate Carmichael won three singles, while her teammates Thanh Nguyen and Jason Gifkins picked up a win each.
With the scores locked at five rubbers all, two nervous players took to the table and it was anticipated that Tankards young gun Jamie Kealley may overpower opponent Jason Gifkins.
However, the latter was out of the blocks early, comfortably winning the first, and started the second well. Young Kealley settled late in the game to take it narrowly and then proved too strong in a game of many long rallies.
Gifkins then showed excellent maturity controlling the fourth and motoring away in the fifth to win 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4.
Round 8 results:
PENNANT 1:
Regional Taxation Services 6 (Kate Carmichael 3, Thanh Nguyen, Jason Gifkins 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Rohan Reimers, Paul Kealley 2);
Mallee Bearings 6 (Jackson Tung, Liam Wood 2, Tom Morrison 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 5 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Russell Walder 1);
Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Mark Dorman 3, Dylan Wood 2, Ed Hung 1) d Choices Flooring Mildura 5 (Reece Kurrle 2, Leon Brown 1).
PENNANT 2:
Mallee Meats 7 (Mark Cleary 3, John Fitzpatrick 2) d Pinnacle Packers 4 (Ryan Peterson 2, Rasin Bhuiyan, Therese Fitzpatrick 1);
Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Ashley Morrison 3, David Sergi 2, Nhat Dat 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 5 (James Jarvis, Josh Arnold, Harry Gujral 1).
PENNANT 3:
Mallee Meats 7 (Karly Leach 3, Curtis Crabtree 2, Jenny Leach 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 4 (Nick Kiapekos 2, Maria Starikov 1);
Sammy’s Slammers 6 (Sam Campbell, Deegan Kerslake 3) d Dunkley Scales 5 (Ildi Healy, Koby Grace, Wendy Simpson 1);
Exposed Signage/Apparel 7 (Steve Parker 3, Ted Cleary 2) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Hwak Beh 2, Tom Gilmour, Jakob Grzan 1).
LADDER
Weightman’s Packaging 24
Mallee Bearings 20
Regional Taxation Services 20
Cookes Pools & Spas 12
Tankard Dental 12
Choices Flooring Mildura 8
