Flying high: Yik Lam, left, Bransen Gibson and Chris Hawking of the Flyers after winning the Geoff Nesbitt Perpetual Trophy at the Echuca Table Tennis Association grand final on Wednesday night. Photo: Contributed
The Echuca Table Tennis Association has crowned its latest champions at the spring season grand final on Wednesday night.
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The team of Chris Hawking, Yik Lam and Bransen Gibson (the Flyers) defeated Keith Price, Stephen Hope and Nila Zampa (the Stayers) seven rubbers to four to take home the Geoff Nesbitt Perpetual Trophy.
With grand final glory on the line, it was the Flyers who got off to a solid start, winning two of the first three singles matches of the night.
A win by Lam and Hawking in the doubles over Hope and Price then extended their advantage to 3-1 in the best-of-11 format.
Focused: Yik Lam in action during the Echuca Table Tennis Association grand final on Wednesday night. Photo: Bransen Gibson
In the second phase of singles play it was the Flyers who again won two of the three rubbers, putting them on the cusp of victory.
They needed one more win to clinch the match, and it came in dramatic fashion.
In the second doubles rubber, Lam and Gibson trailed Hope and Zampa two sets to love, but stormed home to win the last three sets to secure both games and the title.
The Stayers’ Hope and Price both earned wins in the final round of singles matches to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough to catch their opponents.
It was a stellar season overall from the Flyers’ Hawking, Lam and Gibson, who finished on top of the ladder before capping it off with a win on grand final night.
The spring competition was the Echuca Table Tennis Association’s last competition of the year, with the next season to get started in February, 2023.
Eye on the ball: Chris Hawking makes a serve during the Echuca Table Tennis Association grand final. Photo: Bransen Gibson
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