Fire Dragons, Raymond Kissell, Daniel Barry and Rohan Chugg, surprised unbeaten minor premier Defenders to win the A-grade championship. Photos: Matthew Kappos
Fire Dragons scored a huge upset win to be crowned A-grade champion in Echuca Table Tennis Association’s winter season finale on Wednesday, August 12, while Magpies closed out a dominant B-grade campaign, even with a substitute player on board.
A-grade
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Defenders came into the A-grade final a heavy favourite, a perfect 9-0 for the season and with a +27 game differential, although their form had been wavering over the final three weeks as they scraped out one-game wins.
Fire Dragons entered as the leading challenger, and in a shocking boilover, rolled to the championship in convincing fashion, six games to two.
All the tight match-ups swung the Dragons’ way, Daniel Barry starting the evening promisingly with an upset victory over Peter Retallick.
The doubles also proved defining, as Raymond Kissell paired first with Rohan Chugg to claim the first over the full five games, before partnering Barry to repeat the feat in the second.
Chugg’s five-set win over Jo Doller was also important for the Fire Dragons, who ended the night early before the final block of singles could be played.
B-grade
B-grade champions Magpies, Aryan Dadwal, Christian Marchetti and grand final substitute Nathan Mackrell (absent Rob Russell), put the finishing touches on a dominant season.
Magpies went into the B-grade final as another hot favourite, with a 7-1 record and ridiculous +40 percentage, with that lone defeat coming without the team’s regular lineup.
The side had to rely on another substitute in the final, with Nathan Mackrell stepping in to replace the absent Rob Russell, but this time it didn’t slow the Magpies down as they got the better of opponents ALKs.
Despite some close games, the first block of singles went to form, and it was actually ALKs who snatched the early advantage, claiming a tight first doubles in five games, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6.
ALKs almost grabbed another critical game, as third player Lachlan Chugg pushed Mackrell to 15-17 in the fifth game, ultimately falling just short.
The Magpies built on that momentum in another five-setter, Christian Marchetti going two games up against Kate Schultz and holding on to win in five.
The minor premier led 4-3 entering the second doubles, where Aryan Dadwal and Marchetti partnered for a three-set win to put their side on the brink of the title.
Needing just one more match for victory, the two followed up with singles wins as Magpies took the trophy 7-4.
Both winning teams will get their names added to the Geoff Nesbitt perpetual trophy.
A new competition will begin at the Moama Sporting Complex, corner of Echuca and Martin Sts, Moama, this Wednesday, August 26.
Doors open weekly before 6.30pm, with matches beginning at 7pm.
Interested players are encouraged to reach out to the club’s Facebook page to get their name down as soon as possible so teams can be finalised.
