History made in round three table tennis action

Mount Gambier Table Tennis club held its fourth round of the Spring season last week, comprehensive beatings and outright shellackings the order of the day in all grades.

Leigh Barry once again starred with a sublime clean sheet, this time with Aaron McPhee also playing a blinder alongside him, together they guided Macca Pacca to a dominant 10-1 victory over Bill-John Watson’s Billwillies team in their A Grade matchup. Kevin Patzel also contributed solidly with a couple of wins for the victors, while Robin Pellen could walk away with his head held high for Billwillies, defeating Patzel in 5 and pushing McPhee all the way in their encounter.
The second A Grade match was another one-sided affair, Travis Sweet and Rowan Hardcastle (pictured) both showing their class to give Goin’ Rowan a tight 7-5 win over Ben Newman’s Benz team. Newman had the chance to square the ledger and send it to a countback when he faced up to Sweet in the climactic rubber of the night, but it was always going to be an uphill battle for him when Sweet claimed the first game in style. Newman fought back bravely, taking the second game in a cliff-hanger, before Sweet edged ahead once again, taking the third. Refusing to lie down, Newman powered to a comfortable win in the fourth game, however this only appeared to spur Sweet to lift another gear. The Goin’ Rowan team’s number 1 player scooted out to an early lead in the decider and never looked back, claiming the game and with it victory for his team.

Both B Grade matches produced lopsided results. Firstly Peter McKenzie maintained an unbeaten singles record on the night to inspire his Outer Limits team to a comfortable 8-4 win over Rob Halleday’s Wanderers, then the Bachmann boys together with Nick Sweet all put on an absolute clinic, their Rennick Raiders absolutely dismantling Rayelene Hutchesson’s Ray Ban team to the tune of 11 rubbers to 1.

Chris McGregor and Dapo Olutayo both managed to keep their singles sheets clean for New Experience, but it wasn’t enough to stop an even team performance from Richard Horrigan’s Ramjet, who ran out comfortable 7-4 winners in their C Grade match.

The final C Grade match of the night saw Richard Van Der Linde’s Vandals completely outplayed by Nudee Cook’s Lendy team. Andrew Schubert was the hero for the victors, posting a clean singles sheet on the night, while father and son Van Der Linde, Richard and Lenny, both fought valiantly for their Vandals team but were powerless to prevent the 10-4 demolition.

Mount Gambier Table Tennis Club is always welcoming of new players of all ages, experience, and capability. Practice is held at 7pm on Monday nights and competition is at 7pm on Wednesday nights at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds Hall. Anyone interested in having a go, please contact the club at [email protected] or find the club’s Facebook page, or just come along on a Monday night and speak to a friendly welcoming committee member.

Undefeated players:

A Grade: Leigh Barry, Aaron McPhee (Macca Pacca), Travis Sweet, Rowan Hardcastle (Goin’ Rowan)

B Grade: Peter McKenzie (Outer Limits), Maddie McGregor (Wanderers), Mark Bachmann, Dale Bachmann, Nick Sweet (Rennick Raiders)

C Grade: Andrew Schubert (Lendy), Chris McGregor, Dapo Olutayo (New Experience)