04/10/2024
Traralgon Table Tennis Inter-Association 2024
Traralgon vs Wonthaggi
22-9-2024
The Traralgon Table Tennis Association hosted the Wonthaggi Table Tennis Association for their Inter-Association contest on Sunday at the Davidson St Complex. Wonthaggi brought four teams for the bi-annual event, and, almost as if scripted, the scoreline ended with two tables each in a very entertaining day of play.
Table 1 was a topsy-turvy affair, with the teams trading early rubbers to reach 2-all after the first doubles. The Traralgon trio of Heath Sposato, Jon Joseph, and Geoff Lawn then found their form, winning three straight to jump to 5-3. Jon Joseph’s third singles win secured the 6th rubber for the hosts, before they went on to win the table 7-4. Sposato won two singles for Traralgon, Lawn won one, and the doubles were split one each.
Table 2 was even closer, although it did not appear that way at first as the visitors jumped to a 4-1 lead. Peter Gomez led the comeback, winning his three singles matches, and a crucial doubles win with Jeff Pollard brought the hosts back to 5-3 down. Ian Strong’s win contributed to the tally, but Traralgon ultimately fell short, losing 6-5 in a classic contest.
Table 3 was much closer than the 8-3 scoreline to Wonthaggi suggested. The hosting trio of Daniel Stevens, Brent Causen, and Norm Cottrell were unlucky, as nine matches went to a 4th or 5th set for a result. Stevens and Causen were beaten in their opening matches 11-8 in the 5th set, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The next four matches were lost in 4 sets, and the visitors went up 6-0, deciding the result. Two wins to Cottrell and the second doubles to Traralgon narrowed the gap to 8-3, but all matches were incredibly tight.
Kamy Wu, Trent Strong, and Maya Gomez waved the flag for the hosts on Table 4. Like Table 2, they went 1-3 down after losing two 5-set matches. They all won their second singles matches but lost the second doubles 11-8 in the 5th set, leaving the score tied at 4-all. Gomez fell in 4 sets, and Strong won his third singles, also in 4 sets, leaving it up to Wu with a 5-5 scoreline. After dropping his first rubber in 5 sets and winning his second in 5 sets, Wu stayed composed to win the 11th rubber in 4 sets, securing a 6-5 victory in an absorbing contest.
Final Score – Wonthaggi won on countback: 2 tables each, 23-21 rubbers in a great day of play.
Traralgon Table Tennis now looks forward to the Summer Pennant, the Junior Club Championships, the Bairnsdale and District tournament, and Traralgon’s State Circuit Tournament on Dec 1st.
Mark Strini
President