Dragons players Darren Short, Raymond Kissell and Keith Price were thrilled with their upset win. Photos: Supplied.
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In the Echuca-Moama Table Tennis Association’s big dance for their second competition of 2024, the underdog Dragons conquered the top-seeded Racket Scientists to take home the title.
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The Racket Scientists, who were dominant throughout the regular season and weathered the Smash Bros in the semi final got off to a hot start with their one and two ranked players claiming the opening two matches.
The Dragons’ number one Raymond Kissell won the final match of the first round before the Racket Scientists asserted themselves in the first doubles, beating their opponents in straight sets.
After the first game of the second round, the Racket Scientists were up 4-1 and only two wins away from the trophy.
However, the Dragons weren’t going to roll over, winning the remaining two singles matches of the round to bring it back to 4-3 heading into the second doubles.
In a thrilling five setter, the Dragons’ one and three held their nerve to pip the Racket Scientists once more, scores now level at 4-4 with three singles matches remaining.
The Racket Scientists Stephen Hope, Daniel Barry and Duncan Friday were runners up.
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The third ranked match-up was back and forth, but it was the Dragon’s Keith Price who used his experience to power a stunning comeback from 2-1 down to win in five sets.
The seconds were next and after the Racket Scientists’ Daniel Berry won the first set, but the Dragons’ Darren Short took the next three sets to ice the game and the grand final, his side winning a staggering five games in a row after being 4-1 down to take the grand prize.
Typically, the number one face off is the pinnacle of the game and is the last game to be played. However with the grand final already done and decided, the number ones could relax and go for broke.
The Racket Scientists’ Stephen Hope received a consolation prize, beating Ray for the first time to bring the final score to 6-5 in favour of the underdog Dragons, who claimed the coveted Geoff Nesbitt Perpetual Trophy.
