Torrens Valley Table Tennis Association A Grade Finals results 06/09/2017
Lobethal Tigers 9-30 Defeated Lobethal Lights 6-25
Lobethal Tigers had been undefeated in 15 matches since dropping the first two matches of the 2017 season. They faced another Lobethal team, the Lights, in the grand final. Despite beating the Lights 11-4 two weeks previously, they knew that different pressures come with grand finals and that they could not afford to take any results for granted. Fresh in the memory was being behind 5-1 after the first round of singles in last season’s grand final against the other Lobethal team, the Dippers.
In this season’s semi-final, the Tigers enjoyed 5-1 lead after the first round of singles. In the grand final, Lights reversed two rubbers and were even at 3-all: Ollie Hughes was in fine form against Tyrone Hart playing very confidently to win in straight games; and Rohan Steffens who had not beaten Steve Harrison all season found a way to win in four games. It could have been more daunting for the Tigers. In the match of the number fours, the last time the Lights’ Tim Satchell had played Geoff Symons, he had had no answer to the positive play. Symons again started well winning the first two games. However, Satchell won the next two 11-9 to set up a crucial fifth game. Symons won some early points and everything fell into place as he pressed home the advantage to win it 11-2.
In the reverse singles, Hughes initially continued to dominate, winning the opening game against the Tigers best player Tom Symons 11-5. Symons fought hard to win the second game 11-9, but again fell behind when Hughes won the third 11-8. Symons gained the ascendency winning the next 11-5, but Hughes was not going to let that trend continue. The last game was fitting of this epic match and Symons fought to an 11-7 victory. Hart was very determined to make his mark on this premiership tilt, and used all of his experience to overcome Darren Stanbury in four games.
Lights skipper, Paul Arnup was to be presented with life membership later in the night, but he was only thinking about helping his team to claim a premiership. There was no sign of his mid-season slump when he dominated both of his singles to win each in straight games.
The score-line when Tigers captain, Audrey King stepped up to play her reverse singles against Steffens was 6-5. She was acutely aware that a victory would mean that the Tigers would only need to win one of their doubles to clinch the prize. For this to hap[pen, though, she would have to reverse the results not only from their semi-final match but their two other meetings earlier in the season- all decided in four games. She lost the opening game 11-8 but drew on all of her skills and excellent reflexes in her defensive play in a great captain’s effort which saw this four-gamer go in her favour.
The Tigers top pairing of Tom Symons and Tyrone Hart are rarely beaten. After going down 11-5 in the opening game, they played a very patient rubber to wear down their determined opponents and give their team an unassailable lead.
The final score line in this hotly contested grand final was 9-30 to 6-25, with the Tigers winning the A grade premiership for the first time since 2013..
B Grade
Harrogate 9-33 Defeated Woodside 6-30
C Grade
Woodside Red 11-35 Defeated Harrogate Red 4-21
D Grade
Birdwood White 8-29 Defeated Lobethal 7-25
Lobethal Tigers 9-30 Defeated Lobethal Lights 6-25
Lobethal Tigers had been undefeated in 15 matches since dropping the first two matches of the 2017 season. They faced another Lobethal team, the Lights, in the grand final. Despite beating the Lights 11-4 two weeks previously, they knew that different pressures come with grand finals and that they could not afford to take any results for granted. Fresh in the memory was being behind 5-1 after the first round of singles in last season’s grand final against the other Lobethal team, the Dippers.
In this season’s semi-final, the Tigers enjoyed 5-1 lead after the first round of singles. In the grand final, Lights reversed two rubbers and were even at 3-all: Ollie Hughes was in fine form against Tyrone Hart playing very confidently to win in straight games; and Rohan Steffens who had not beaten Steve Harrison all season found a way to win in four games. It could have been more daunting for the Tigers. In the match of the number fours, the last time the Lights’ Tim Satchell had played Geoff Symons, he had had no answer to the positive play. Symons again started well winning the first two games. However, Satchell won the next two 11-9 to set up a crucial fifth game. Symons won some early points and everything fell into place as he pressed home the advantage to win it 11-2.
In the reverse singles, Hughes initially continued to dominate, winning the opening game against the Tigers best player Tom Symons 11-5. Symons fought hard to win the second game 11-9, but again fell behind when Hughes won the third 11-8. Symons gained the ascendency winning the next 11-5, but Hughes was not going to let that trend continue. The last game was fitting of this epic match and Symons fought to an 11-7 victory. Hart was very determined to make his mark on this premiership tilt, and used all of his experience to overcome Darren Stanbury in four games.
Lights skipper, Paul Arnup was to be presented with life membership later in the night, but he was only thinking about helping his team to claim a premiership. There was no sign of his mid-season slump when he dominated both of his singles to win each in straight games.
The score-line when Tigers captain, Audrey King stepped up to play her reverse singles against Steffens was 6-5. She was acutely aware that a victory would mean that the Tigers would only need to win one of their doubles to clinch the prize. For this to hap[pen, though, she would have to reverse the results not only from their semi-final match but their two other meetings earlier in the season- all decided in four games. She lost the opening game 11-8 but drew on all of her skills and excellent reflexes in her defensive play in a great captain’s effort which saw this four-gamer go in her favour.
The Tigers top pairing of Tom Symons and Tyrone Hart are rarely beaten. After going down 11-5 in the opening game, they played a very patient rubber to wear down their determined opponents and give their team an unassailable lead.
The final score line in this hotly contested grand final was 9-30 to 6-25, with the Tigers winning the A grade premiership for the first time since 2013..
B Grade
Harrogate 9-33 Defeated Woodside 6-30
C Grade
Woodside Red 11-35 Defeated Harrogate Red 4-21
D Grade
Birdwood White 8-29 Defeated Lobethal 7-25
