Team returns with silverware

TABLE Tennis champions from Mount Gambier travelled to Hamilton earlier this month to compete in an annual shield competition against Horsham, Hamilton and Warrnabool.

Each team sent their best available juniors, women and men to compete for the right to hold the shield.

Mount Gambier men, Leigh Barry, Youssef Malicdem and Ben Newman, played hard and fought fiercely but managed to only come third out of the four teams.

Barry was a star, winning six out of nine of his games, including a decider match against Hamilton’s Leon Forrest that had the whole crowd on the edge of their seats.

Mount Gambier women, Sirinat Sweet, Katrina McPhee and Melissa Schaefer, faced a broad range of opponents from D graders to State Champions.

Their first round against Warrnambool was nearly a clean sweep, with Mt Gambier winning 9:2.

Horsham provided more of a challenge but weren’t strong enough to topple the Gambier team, losing 4:7.

Their final round against Hamilton saw them competing against highly ranked players who challenged them at every turn, with Gambier still managing to eek out a 6:5 victory.

Their wins saw them claim the Women’s shield back from Hamilton.

Sirinat Sweet was a standout performer for the weekend, winning all of her games with her consistent returns and fierce slams.

The junior team from Mount Gambier, comprising of Jarrah Schaefer, Nathaniel Harris-Jones and John Malicdem, were victorious over each of the other teams with clear victories.

Each competitor played outstanding games but the game of the day was between long-standing rivals Ruby Rankin from Hamilton, and Jarrah Schaefer.

Each of these young players showed persistence and high-skill technique that drew the crowds in.

Schaefer was able to skim in a victory for the first two sets but Rankin rebounded to win the third with long range slams.

Schaefer replied in the fourth set with quick shots that limited Rankin’s ability to control the game and managed to claim the win.

Schaefer’s victory meant that he was undefeated, winning the title of best junior player for the weekend.

The Mount Gambier Juniors returned home with the Shield, its first time back in South Australian hands since 2011.

Next year, the tournament is being held in Hamilton, continuing the traditions these four competitive towns have held since the competition originated in 1964.