Lai flying high

WITH the conditions more comfortable in round three of the Sunraysia Table Tennis senior pennant, there was again some excellent table tennis played with two matches decided by the barest margin.

Meanwhile, ladder leader Mallee Bearings scored a strong 9-2 victory over Weightman’s Packaging with their form looking ominous.

Bearings skipper Arhuang Lau is in excellent form and remains undefeated in singles matches as is Choices Flooring captain Wayne Carmichael.

On paper going into this round Mallee Bearings and Weightman’s Packaging looked an even contest, however, this was not to be the case.

Early in the match, Bearings’ experienced number two Mark Dorman defeated Shannon Bowen in four sets, Dorman like his skipper Lau would go on to win three singles, while they won both doubles to strengthen their dominance.

Tom Morrison, the Mallee Bearings number three played his part in the victory by winning a singles, and partnering Lau to a win in the second doubles.

Regional Taxation Services scored their second win of the season inflicting the first defeat on Tankard Dental. With the match at five rubbers all, 16-year-old Jamie Kealley won his second singles of the night defeating the experienced Ed Hung. In the first match of the night Kealley defeated Rohan Reimers in four sets giving his team an encouraging start.

Victory came to RTS despite Tankard Dental winning both doubles. Skipper Matt Ljubic has been improving steadily each week and in this round he won three singles including a tough straight sets win over Kate Carmichael 12-10, 11-8, 11-8. Following this match, Tankards Reimers kept his team alive temporarily when he recovered to defeat Thahn Nguyen in a thriller 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 16-14, 11-9.

It was at five rubbers all that Jamie Kealley sealed the four points for Regional Taxation Services. Despite the loss Tankards remain second on the ladder by a narrow percentage.

Cooke’s Pools and Spas also recorded their second win 6-5 at the expense of Choices Flooring Mildura. Cooke’s now occupy third on the ladder while their opponents are yet to trouble the scorers , their losses to date only narrow.

In an even team performance, the Cooke’s trio of Jackson Tung, Paul Kealley and Russell Walder won two , two and one singles each , while the doubles were shared.

The highlight match was the singles played between Choice’s captain Wayne Carmichael against Cooke’s number one Jackson Tung. Tung had Carmichael under pressure early leading two games to one before Carmichael narrowly won the fourth before taking control in the fifth to win 10-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6.

With Carmichael in excellent form Cooke’s first win may not be far away.

Sunraysia Table Tennis 2025 Winter Pennant results Round 3:

PENNANT ONE: Mallee Bearings 9 (Arhuang Lau, Mark Dorman 3, Tom Morrison 1) d Weightmans Packaging 2 (Shannon Bowen, Reece Kurrle 1); Regional Taxation Services 6 (Matt Ljubic 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Thanh Nguyen 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Kate Carmichael 2, Rohan Reimers 1); Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Jackson Tung, Paul Kealley 2, Russell Walder 1) d Choices Flooring Mildura 5 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Liam Wood 1)

PENNANT TWO: Pinnacle Packers 6 (Marcus Cimino 3, Peter Midgley 2, Peter Fitzpatrick 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (John Fitzpatrick 2, Sony Sefer 1); Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Therese Fitzpatrick, Duy Truong 2, Terry Martin 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Jason Gifkins 3, James Jarvis 1)

PENNANT THREE: Regional Taxation Services 6 (Steve Parker 2, Sam Campbell, Hayden Wilson 1) d Sammy’s Slammers 5 (Ryan Hensgen 3, Koby Grace, Yen Hwak 1); Weightmans Packaging 7 (Nhat Dat 3, Steve Parker, Leo Parker 1) d Exposed Signage/Apparel 4 (Deegan Kerslake 2, Karly Leach, Brendon Johnson 1)

PENNANT FOUR: Dunkley Scales 6 (Maria Starikov 2, Jenny Leach, Jake Hines 1) d Mallee Meats 5 (Curtis Crabtree 3, Conner Burnett 2); Weightmans Packaging 6 (Glenn Leeson, Gary Leach 2, Eddie Parker 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Leanne Wilson 3, Jakob Grzan 1)

Pennant 1 Ladder

Mallee Bearings 12

Tankard Dental 8

Cookes Pools & Spas 8

Regional Taxation Services 8

Choices Flooring Mildura 0*-+

Weightmans Packaging 0

For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.