19/08/2026
Morning Fixtures Round 5 Wrap-Up
The last scraps of winter are still hanging around, spring is warming up in the background, and somewhere in the distance the future air-conditioning is quietly waiting for its grand entrance.
After a bit of a break from the weekly wrap-ups, Tuesday Morning Fixtures returned with players proving that while the weather may be changing, one thing remains constant: nobody is prepared to win easily if a five-game drama is available.
Division 1
Division 1 came back with plenty happening. Zulu Spears defeated Pirate Plunge 8–4, Celtic Smash also claimed an 8–4 win over Pharaoh Aces, while Spartan Serve edged Roman Legion 7–5.
Match of the Division contender:
Donna Abbott d. Tony Bowman (2, -4, -7, 8, 11)
Donna started well, lost the next two, then apparently decided there was no point waiting for spring to do all the warming up. She fought all the way back and took the fifth 13–11. That is not just a win; it is a polite refusal to go quietly. Sometimes spin is matched by style.
Also worth a spotlight:
Branko Vucurovic / Doug Dungavell d. Andrea Nicholson / Steve Mathieson (11, 6, -10, -10, 7)
Branko and Doug looked in control, then Andrea and Steve dragged the match back from the edge. The fifth game arrived like an unexpected winter morning: slightly uncomfortable, definitely inconvenient, and eventually survivable for Branko and Doug.
Division 2
Division 2 was not interested in gentle re-entry either. Cheetah Race defeated Bear Claws 8–4, and Buffalo Herd matched that scoreline with an 8–4 win over Dolphin Divers.
Comeback of the Division:
John Hamelink d. Kim Daffy (-8, -9, 5, 8, 7).
Two games down, then John slowly worked his way back into the match one point at a time. By the fifth, the comeback was fully operational, even if the air-conditioning is still on the “coming attractions” list. But with one week off, maybe Kim is working on a comeback.
Five-game grit:
Ken Best d. Pam Keune (7, -6, 9, -6, 7)
Ken and Pam traded games like nobody wanted ownership of the result too early. In the end Ken claimed the fifth, but only after both players had made sure the scorekeeper earned their morning tea.
Division 3
Division 3 kept the theme going, with Amazon Guards defeating Mongol Power 8–4, and Aztec Warriors also recording an 8–4 win over Gladiator Grip.
Battle of the Division:
Sharon Muller d. Laurie Bradshaw (9, -8, -9, 10, 9)
Sharon took the first, dropped the next two, then fought back through a tight fourth and an even tighter fifth. That is not just determination; that is “spring may be coming, but I am not leaving this table yet” energy.
Still fighting to the end:
Allison Day d. Myles Dutton (7, -2, 5, -8, 7)
Allison and Myles traded momentum across five games before Allison finally claimed the decider. It was the table tennis equivalent of both players saying, “After you,” until someone finally had to finish it.
Congratulations to all players, especially those who treated five games not as a problem, but as a scenic route to the finish line.
Full results are available on the website:
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/mackaytta/fixtures-results
Interested in playing Tuesday Morning Fixtures?
Contact Steve Mathieson on 0418 700 236.
