Autumn table tennis season crowns its premiers

The Mount Gambier Table Tennis Autumn Season wound up earlier this month with all three grades displaying high quality table tennis worthy of the finale.

Leigh Barry once again starred for the Toffees team, in a seesawing A Grade decider against Scott Davies’ Gunners. Highlights included an epic encounter between Davies and Toffees player David Harris-Jones.

After Davies had looked to be in complete control with a 2-0 lead, Harris-Jones staged a remarkable fightback, taking the next two games to square the contest away.

Davies found an extra gear in the fifth and Harris-Jones was unable to go with him, the Toffees player taking out the rubber in convincing style.

Gunners player Ward Freeman had a similarly enthralling clash with Toffees’ Kevin Patzel later in the evening.

After Freeman drew first blood by claiming the opening game, Patzel equalized in the second.

Freeman gained the upper hand again by locking away the third game, Patzel then repeating to claim the fourth, setting up an exciting finish.

After trading points for most of the fifth game, a forehand error by Patzel at a critical stage gifted Freeman the tight win.

With the overall match score locked at 5 rubbers apiece, the stage was set perfectly for an all-in showdown between Barry and Davies to determine the champions.

After Barry had completely dominated the first game, Davies forced a scrap in the second before the Toffees player eventually prevailed to hold a 2-0 lead.

Davies wasn’t done though, turning the tables to outclass his opponent in the third and seemingly on track to force the battle into overdrive.

Barry’s class came to the fore in the fourth however, once again showing why he is one of the competition’s top players as he closed out the contest, Toffees (top right) crowned the A Grade champions.

The B Grade final was a much more one-sided affair, Cameron Beal and Nathan Schubert both producing stellar individual performances for to power the Hammers to a strong 8-3 victory over Rob Halleday’s Cottagers.

Beal set the tone early with a convincing win over Rayelene Hutchesson before Halleday squared the ledger with victory over Hammers’ Richard Horrigan.

Schubert’s win over Cottagers’ Jedda Hardcastle sparked an avalanche of sorts, Hammers (centre right) taking out 7 of the remaining 9 rubbers to claim the B Grade title decisively.

The C Grade finale told a similar tale, Blades player Aravind Bablu ‘carrying his bat’ in a magnificent individual display against Deakin Lofthouse’s Canaries.

Lofthouse was looking to continue his remarkable recent record in finals, and was by far Canaries’ best player, but he was unable to prevent the Bablu-led Blades’ onslaught.

A run of 4 rubber victories set the tone early, the Blades (bottom right) eventually running out 7-4 victors to claim the C Grade trophy.

Mount Gambier Table Tennis Club is always welcoming of new players of all ages, experience, and capability.

The Winter season will commence on Wednesday, July 26.

Practice is held at 7pm on Monday nights, and competition is at 7pm on Wednesday nights at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds Hall.

To register your interest, please contact the club at mtgtabletennis@gmail.com 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 (Toffees)

B Grade: Cameron Beal, Nathan Schubert (Hammers)

C Grade: Aravind Bablu (Blades)