Season One Presenting Unique Tests in Action Packed Week of Fixtures

While there were some close and exciting matches in the second round of fixtures in open grade at the Leichhardt Park Table Tennis Centre last week the heat and humidity probably assisted some players to achieve better results than expected whilst others really struggled to produce their normal plays in the conditions, and as a consequence suffered on the scoreboard.

In the top division Dane Coughlan produced some outstanding rallies to totally outplay Rayden Smith after Smith won the opening set to nine points. Coughlan must not have got the message about the oppressive conditions as he went on to produce some very good left-handed attacking plays that just kept his opposite number totally out of the match as he went on to win the next three sets 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.

In the same team-match sub-player Joel Gifford and Glen McDonald faced off and McDonald looked the goods when he shot to a two-nil lead but the games were close. Gifford’s defensive shots, with the ability to finish off points with cracking forehand smashes, then started to wear down McDonald’s game and Gifford went on to win the next three sets 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.

Kerrod Coughlan, who has not been able to play much over the past three years due to work commitments, has subbed into vacancies for the opening two rounds of this season and he has clearly demonstrated why a lot of the sports onlookers were often impressed when he was a youngster and represented the state at national junior titles. In this round he was too strong for Jakob Baker over five very long games where he prevailed by four points in the decider. Coughlan also had too many aces for Judd Carr who is currently the local club’s leading junior and still learning how to play consistently-well against seasoned campaigners who have progressed through the club’s junior coaching program in past eras and have an abundance of major competition experience.

There were also some strong performances in the second division. The defence of Geoff Geddes was difficult to overcome on the night and his victims were Jeffrey Jordan and Pam Clarke. Both these players warded off the tricky game that Helga Leitner is known for over four games.

Warun Wilkinson and Julien Wright engaged in an aggressive contest and the favoured Wilkinson looked good when he won the opening two sets. But Wright demonstrated that he can mix it with the better players in the comp when he won the next two games to set up a decider in which he was beaten quite convincingly, but the match was closer than the score in the final game indicated. Chris Leitner created a handy two games to one lead over Allan Clarke after losing the opening set. However, Clarke cashed in on his experience and fought back to win the next two games and the clash 3-2.

The club’s beginner junior session from 4.30pm on Thursdays continues and children are welcome to join this session that has developed regional, state and even national champions in the past. Accredited and experienced coaches are on hand at every session to assist with the development of the city’s next front-line players in the sport.