Ryan Simmons keeps his eye on the ball. Photos: Matthew Kappos
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The grand final match-up has been decided in Echuca table tennis, with Spin Wizards and The Golden Trio successfully negotiating the semi-finals on Wednesday at the Moama Sporting Complex.
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The Golden Trio burst to the top of the table in the final round and were matched up with Regal Rippers.
Early singles games followed the expected script as each team’s higher ranked players did what was required against their opponents.
Kevin Mao sets up for a powerful backhand.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The doubles matches were sure to be crucial and The Golden Trio struck the first blow, Kevin Mao and Daniel Barry taking the first 3-1 over opponents Jimmy Greenwood and Chris Hawking.
Greenwood and Tom Cunningham looked to steady the ship in the second doubles, taking the first game 11-8, but Mao and partner Andrea Barry responded to take the next three and put the Golden Trio within a match of the grand final.
In a tense final block of singles, Hawking and Daniel Barry battled for the full five games, Hawking eventually keeping the Rippers in the contest with a 12-10, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7 victory.
Tom Cunningham keeps the ball in play with a defensive return.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
It was somehow even tighter between Cunningham and Andrea Barry, with four of the five games going to a tiebreak.
In the end, Barry earned the win 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 12-10, sealing the match for The Golden Trio, before Mao added to the scoreline in the remaining singles for a final margin of 7-4.
Hank Doller keeps the ball low.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
In the other semi-final, Racketeers would have felt confident going into the game against Spin Wizards.
The Wizards had given up top spot on the ladder after losing their last two games, including to Racketeers in round eight.
Both sides were keen to have the doubles swing their way and both matches were hotly contested.
Brady Cronin goes on the attack.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The first saw Racketeers Raymond Kissell and John Eddy battle Spin Wizards’ Hank Doller and Phil Higgins in five tight games, with the Wizards grabbing the deciding game 12-10.
Kissell and Brady Cronin tried to right things for Racketeers but Doller and Ryan Simmons prevailed, once again in five games to put Spin Wizards well ahead in the tie.
John Eddy starts a point effectively.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Racketeers required wins in all three remaining singles to take the match but faltered at the first hurdle when Simmons proved too strong for Cronin 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11.
With the result determined, the teams agreed not to continue with the remaining matches, Spin Wizards progressing to the final 6-3.
Raymond Kissell retrieves the ball from down low.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
It promises to be a hard-fought final with The Golden Trio taking the pairs regular season meeting by a single game.
After the grand final on July 10, the club will hold a hit-up night on July 17 to gauge numbers for the next competition, expected to begin on July 24. Interested non-members are encouraged to attend.
