WEIGHTMAN’S Packaging are the 2025 Sunraysia Table Tennis winter pennant premiers courtesy of their 6-4 victory over Regional Taxation Services, which had finished first on the ladder at the end of the home and away competition.
In a mixed season the Weightman’s trio of Shannon Bowen, Reece Kurrle and Lee Leeson had peaked at the right time of the year.
After a slow start to the season, Weightman’s had lost their first three matches including a 2-9 loss in round three. From there they were able to string together nine wins in the following twelve rounds to secure third place on the ladder. To gain a berth into the grand final they survived match points against them in the preliminary final.
Their opponents in the grand final Regional Taxation Services had enjoyed a successful season only losing three games and finishing twelve points clear at the head of the ladder, however, Weightman’s Packaging had soundly defeated them in round 16, the final home-and-away match.
RTS were without skipper Matt Ljubic in the grand final and he was replaced by Kate Carmichael.
The very first game of the final possibly shaped the result when Weightman’s number three Lee Leeson played opposing number two Thahn Nguyen.
What a match this was with Nguyen taking control immediately winning the first two games, Leeson cannot be discounted and in a short time she had edged back into the match levelling at two games all.
Nguyen gained the ascendancy early in the fifth to lead 7-3 and again Leeson clawed her way back with consistent play and in a nail biter Leeson had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9.
Buoyed by this win, Leeson’s teammate Shannon Bowen then accounted for young gun Jamie Kealley in four sets.
This match containing some excellent rallies.
Needing to register a win, RTS stand-in skipper Kate Carmichael played well against the hard-hitting Reece Kurrle. The first two games were close going point for point and it was Carmichael winning 11-9 in both, a close tussle.
In the third Kurrle raced away as he can and took a 9-3 lead, however, Carmichael was able to hang in and slowly picked up point after point and amazingly recovered to take the third 13-11, an excellent recovery and Regional Taxation Services were on the board trailing 1-2.
The first doubles was now crucial, however, the odds were against the RTS pair of Carmichael and Jamie Kealley as their opponents Shannon Bowen and Reece Kurrle had not lost a doubles since way back in round three, including finals that was fourteen rounds ago.
The Weightman’s pair were away quickly winning the first, however, Carmichael and Kealley bounced back to narrowly take the second. They took the early ascendancy in the third to lead 6-3, however, it was at this point the wheels fell off as Bowen and Kurrle then rattled off eight points in succession to go to a two games to one lead.
They then controlled the fourth to go on and win 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 ,11-6. Weightman’s now in control leading 3-1.
As expected, Shannon Bowen then accounted for Thahn Nguyen winning in three sets and the grand final was within their grasp as they went to a 4-1 lead. RTS then fought back bravely with Carmichael accounting for Leeson in straight sets but it was the next match that was an impressive contest with Weightman’s Kurrle playing the exciting Jamie Kealley.
Kealley took the lead early as they traded blows, winning the first two games , Kurrle then took control and smartly levelled at two games all, the fifth was a nail biter and it was Kealley showing great maturity who took the match 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8 and now the deficit had been reduced to 3-4.
The second doubles was now huge and the Regional Taxation Services pair of Carmichael and Nguyen gave their team confidence by taking the first game, however, reality struck quickly when opponents Shannon Bowen and Lee Leeson steamed through the second game easily and then they were able to hang on in the third and fourth in an excellent tussle winning 5-11, 11-2, 11-9 ,11-9.
With Weightman’s one win away from the premiership skipper Bowen took control against Kate Carmichael winning the first two games comfortably.
Amazingly these two had met a few weeks earlier when Bowen had raced ahead and on this occasion, history was able to repeat and Carmichael amazingly would win the third, fourth and fifth 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 after many long entertaining rallies. The spectators showed their appreciation to two skilful players.
The scoreline was now 5-4 in favour of Weightman’s who earlier had raced to a four one lead. Both number two players then took to the table, Kurrle for Weightman’s and Nguyen for Regional Taxation Services, both sets of team mates nervously awaiting the result.
Kurrle was out of the blocks quickly and raced through the first two games winning comfortably, Nguyen fought back in the third however Kurrle grabbed the ascendancy late to win in three 11-4, 11-4, 13-11 and in doing so, Weightman’s were premiers, a 6-4 result.
The Weightman’s trio of Shannon Bowen, Reece Kurrle and Lee Leeson were deserved premiers and they were presented with the Red Cliffs Club Shield by long time champ Wayne Carmichael.
For Shannon Bowen this was his fourth pennant one premiership over a long career, his first win back in 2011.
This was the first for teammates Reece Kurrle and Lee Leeson and well deserved as both have played over many seasons.
Bowen and Kurrle had excellent seasons not only with their doubles play but also finished fifth and sixth respectively on the singles aggregate. Leeson had played a major role in the finals winning crucial five set matches in both the preliminary and grand finals.
After a slow start in the grand final Regional Taxation Services had been brave in defeat and it was their inability to win a doubles which was costly.
Stand in skipper Carmichael played well to win three singles and an excellent win by Kealley over Kurrle had kept his team in with a chance. To finish with 12 wins at the head of the ladder proved they were worthy of playing in the grand final.
Sunraysia Table Tennis 2025 Winter Pennant results Grand Finals: –
PENNANT ONE: Weightman’s Packaging 6 (Shannon Bowen 2, Reece Kurrle, Lee Leeson 1) d Regional Taxation Services 4 (Kate Carmichael 3, Jamie Kealley 1)
PENNANT TWO: Cookes Pools & Spas 6 (Quentin Clark, Duy Truong 2) d Mallee Meats 2 (Jason Gifkins, Peter Midgley 2)
PENNANT THREE: Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Deegan Kerslake 3, Karly Leach 1) d Weightmans Packaging 4 (Nhat Dat 2, Steve Parker, Leo Parker 1)
PENNANT FOUR: Mallee Meats 6 (Curtis Crabtree 3, Nathan Beard, Conner Burnett 1) d Weightman’s Packaging 3 (Glenn Leeson 2)
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.
