The top-of-the-table clash between Grippers and Loopers produced the first tie of the Lithgow Table Tennis Association Winter Competition when Round 13 was played at the Old Trades Hall.
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Leaders Grippers were out to confirm their title favouritism against second-placed Loopers and made a good start with leads of 4-1 and 6-4.
A mid-match 6-0 run from Loopers showed they weren't going to lie down as they went ahead 10-6.
Grippers replied with six unanswered games themselves, taking the last two singles rubbers 2-0 and adding another 2-0 result in the first doubles to again take the lead at 12-10 with one rubber to play.
The second doubles saw Loopers win a first game squeaker 15-13 as well as the second game more comfortably 11-5 to see the teams finish the night locked at 12-all.
Pauline Wellfare was the star of the match with a perfect round-best 6-0 record for Loopers, while Riza Wiradi returned 3-4 and Michael Wood was below his best at 1-6.
Dave Mays (4-2) produced top marks for Grippers, who have now locked in a semi-final spot, with Kelly Gurney ending square at 4-4 and Lou Kappos up-and-down for a return of 2-4.
The match between the bottom two sides also went down to the wire, with fourth-placed Charolais attempting to get some breathing space and a last-placed Spinners side desperate to keep their play-off chances alive.
Charolais took the opening rubber 2-0 before Spinners fought back to go up 6-4. The two teams went virtually game-for-game from there and at the completion of the singles the score stood at 11-apiece. Spinners snatched the first doubles 2-1 and the second 2-0 to clinch a season-prolonging 15-12 victory.
Linda Kappos (5-3) edged out Roy Barlow (4-3) to the best record for Spinners, and Mark McAulay finished 2-5.
Sean Jenkins (6-1) did all he could to get Charolais home, while Sharnie Roberts (3-4) and Mark Watchorn (2-6) both lost some close games.
KaPooLow had the bye.
Pointscore: Grippers 40, Loopers 37, KaPooLow 36, Charolais 32, Spinners 30.
Draw for Round 14; Charolais v Grippers. KaPooLow v Loopers. Spinners bye.
