The combination of Matthew Pettett, Monica Deeth, and Joe Clifton delivered an impressive performance to claim the gold medal in the fourth and final season of the year’s open-grade table tennis fixtures. Although the season wrapped up one week earlier than planned due to unforeseen circumstances, the result was never in doubt, with this trio securing the title weeks in advance.
Teams were selected based on the previous season’s form, and balancing them is always a challenge, particularly when some players have an off-season for various reasons. This year’s format differed from the usual setup, with each player contesting one singles match against their opposite number and pairing up for two doubles ties.
While Pettett’s consistently strong performances played a key role in the team’s success, the contributions of Deeth and Clifton made this a well-rounded and dominant outfit. After a quieter third season, Deeth rediscovered her A-game to great effect, recording an outstanding 90% singles average and excelling in her doubles matches. Her ability to step up in the number-two position against quality opposition proved critical to the team’s surge to the top of the leaderboard.
Clifton, returning to regular competition after several years of intermittent play due to work commitments, provided valuable support. His steady improvement and ability to contribute in doubles alongside Pettett and Deeth gave the team the edge they needed to stay ahead of the field.
The second-placed team of Dane Coughlan, Leo Lai, and Geoff Geddes can hold their heads high, with all three players achieving individual averages of no less than 70%. In many competitions, such strong performances would have been enough to secure the top prize, highlighting the quality of play throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Gerard Watts, marking his final full-time appearance in local fixtures after six decades at the Leichhardt Park playing centre, joined forces with Erica Nolan and Cooper Bulow. While their results didn’t trouble the scorekeeper, Watts’ farewell season was a memorable one as he prepares to transition into semi-retirement on the Gold Coast. He plans to continue competing both there and during visits back to Rockhampton for business commitments.
