Charolais are Champions of the Lithgow Table Tennis Association Summer Competition following a hard-fought victory over minor premiers Loopers in the grand final played at the Old Trades Hall.
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Loopers went into the decider as heavy favourites after they had accounted for Charolais comfortably in the major semi-final 16-5.
Charolais turned the tables though, with their good doubles form getting them home at the end.
The match was evenly poised the whole way, with neither team able to break away.
The score stood at 4-all after three rubbers before Charolais nosed ahead 6-4. Loopers edged back in front at 8-7 but at the completion of the singles it was Charolais who held a precious one-game advantage, 12-11.
As they had done the previous week, Charolais turned it on in the doubles rubbers, winning the first 2-1, after dropping the first game, to have one hand on the trophy with the score 14-12 in their favour.
Loopers now had to win the second doubles 2-0 to send the match into a sudden-death third doubles.
Charolais would not be denied though, as they won it themselves 2-0 to record a minor upset and claim the Championship, 16-12.
All of the Charolais players contributed to the victory, especially having found the right recipe with their doubles in the past two weeks.
In the singles, Sean Jenkins had best figures on the night at 5-2, followed by Pauline Wellfare on 4-3. Dave Mays was unlucky to lose his three rubbers all 2-1 to finish 3-6 but the three single games he picked up proved crucial in the final wash-up.
For Loopers, who had started the season slowly but finished top of the ladder after a late burst, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Linda Kappos returned 4-3, Michael Wood played three three-gamers for 5-4 and Kelly Gurney lost a few close games to finish 2-5.
For information on playing Table Tennis in Lithgow, including details of next year’s competitions, contact Peter Jaccoud (0404 467 852) or Pauline Wellfare (0432 265 624).
Full Results: (Charolais players mentioned first)
P Wellfare (Handicap +3) def K Gurney (-4) 12-10, 11-9. S Jenkins (-13) lost to M Wood (-20) 11-7, 9-11, 8-11. D Mays (+2) lost to L Kappos (+1) 11-6, 7-11, 10-12.
S Jenkins (-13) def K Gurney (-4) 11-7, 11-7. P Wellfare (+3) lost to L Kappos (+1) 8-11, 7-11. D Mays (+2) lost to M Wood (-20) 9-11, 11-(-8), 8-11.
S Jenkins (-13) def L Kappos (+1) 11-3, 11-6. D Mays (+2) lost to K Gurney (-4) 11-7, 4-11, 7-11. P Wellfare (+3) def M Wood (-20) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7.
S Jenkins / P Wellfare (-5) def M Wood / K Gurney (-12) 10-12, 11-3, 11-6. S Jenkins / D Mays (-5) def M Wood / L Kappos (-9) 11-4, 11-6.