Armidale Table Tennis Club – Round 7
THERE were some very close matches between the teams in this round and four or five matches that were runaway one-sided contests.
Norm Gaywood’s Unreturnable lived up to their name with a comprehensive 27-17 demolition of Jim Walkinshaw’s team The Baggies. Jim had a great six-setter against fellow captain, Norm Gaywood.
After being trounced in the first game Jim fired over the next two games and definitely had the edge.
Norm swung the fortunes around to his side with very good placements and deceptive spins to win the fourth game, tying the score at two games all. Jim, however, proved too strong on the night taking the next two games quite comfortably. Then Jim ran into Unreturnable’s #2 Dan Horarik who was in sublime form.
Dan matched Jim shot for shot and often placed the ball out of reach of Jim or swung in clever spins to leave Jim at a loss. Dan won 3-1.
Brian Humphries’ team Nuper Concidito just slipped home against Will Fang’s team Wall of Spin, 21-20.
The captains’ match was a very tight affair although the score line of 4-1 in Will’s favour did not indicate this. Both players pounded each other’s return and Will’s topspin forehands were shockingly good but Brian often returned them with something extra and both players were dancing around the table to get an edge.
Each game was extremely close with only the final game being a slightly easier game for Will to pocket. Like their captains, Felicity Barker-Smith and Harry Hughes had a great match.
Although ranked as a #3, Felicity belies this ranking with great snappy shots and a refusal to give in. Although Harry won 3-0, it could have easily been otherwise as the first two games were hard fought deuces with Felicity slamming back Harry’s looping spins. A great match.
Janette Holthuis’ team Dark Flow just managed a one-point victory on the night against Ann Joy’s On Call 22-21. There were several outstanding matches. First, the captains’ battle, with Janette taking Ann to the brink before losing the match 3-4.
Many rallies were simply outstanding with sliced backhands returned by sliced forehands and onwards with neither player backing off. The first opportunity to slam was often met with a counter sending the ball back again.
Ann took the first three games although each game was only just won, just to find Janette hitting back very strongly in the next three games and clearly in front. It could have been Janette’s game in the seventh but Ann held on even though some slams just missed the mark.
This match was equalled between the #3s with Erica Smith winning against Steve McPhee 4-2.
At first, the match looked like a one-way street with Erica clearly out front, especially with her cannonball-like serves. But Steve suddenly found gold and swept Erica aside easily, claiming the next two games.
It was such a change of momentum that it seemed a lost opportunity for Erica but she turned it around – strongly winning the last game.
Neil Dunstan’s team Air Swings continues to lead the competition with a strong victory over Noah L’Hostis’ team Tricky Spin 26-18. Can they be caught?
