Respected Rebound Table Tennis columnist Henry Bird sat down with Illawarra coach Aaron Merriman to talk about his side’s amazing start to the season, recent scandals that have rocked the sport, and crooner Tony Bennett! Here’s what he had to say…
Henry Bird: Aaron. What a turn-around. From wooden spooners in 2010, to undefeated table leaders after 9 round in 2011. What’s the secret?
Aaron Merriman: The secret? OK there are a few, I might get to some, but most of all we’ve just been playing great Rebound Table Tennis. Really focussing on the basics you know, keeping the ball in play and not getting too fancy except at the right time. Last year we were often guilty of being fairly erratic and trying to win each point too quickly. Young Jammie Maybin was a great off-season signing, he comes off the bench and adds the spark we needed at the right time.
HB: And the secret?
AM: OK, maybe there aren’t many. (pause) Alright there’s one I’ll tell you. Remember the reports the Goulburn HyperBall side were practicing with rolled up tin-foil because they couldn’t afford table tennis balls? Well, we heard about that and we had an idea: What if we try it, just for fun. And we found when the players practiced that way for a few days, then switched back to regular table tennis balls, the re-simplification meant their game just lifted.
HB: Any insights on how that worked?
AM: Well I think the re-simplification as I said, and I suppose it’s like the young Bradman practicing with a cricket stump and a golf ball against a water tank, you force your eye to become more attuned. I’m really happy with it, it’s a bit of an innovation which contributes to the sport overall, we’ll share that technique more at the end of the season maybe… may if we win the Premiership. Maybe.
HB: You were facing relegation to Second Division at the end of last season. All the Second-Division sides defected to HyperBall. Were you ever tempted to join them?
AM: Well personally no, I never consciously thought to be tempted, but we were tempted as you might say by external forces. We had visits from nameless HyperBall reps, not only at the club they came to my house, and a few of the players’ houses. It was pretty bizarre. They tried on the honey and the vinegar. First they’d make an offer to sign you personally, then when that didn’t work they’d offer to pay you under the table to lobby the club to defect, then when you still refused they’d start suggesting if we didn’t defect they’d make us all redundant by setting up a rival side in the Illawarra region. At one point they said they’d look at acquiring the West Wollongong Rebound Table Tennis club and building it into a viable side.
HB: You’re joking? They thought West Wollongong could field a viable professional side? It’s just a local amateur dojo with about 20 players.
AM: They were crazy times. I think they were desperate. And in the end our solidarity with ARTTSL was vindicated because we weren’t left high and dry with no funding for several months like the clubs that initially defected. To be honest I think they were bloody lucky Wilky (ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy) accepted them back and didn’t just scrap them, well except Tweed Heads, who were the worst of them after the split with the Gold Coast, seriously they had it coming. It’s ironic we played with tin foil anyway but that was our choice, our finances were just fine the whole way through. I think by rejecting the distraction we were able to get on with developing our team in the off-season and now here we are top of the table after nine weeks. It’s a nice feeling. We played it with a straight bat so we can hold our heads up. Also I suppose it’s worth adding that we knew if we stayed true ARTTSL would probably spare us the relegation to Second Division, which turned out to be somewhat true as they abolished the whole concept.
HB: What do you make of the Featherlite-Blowingpam scandal?
AM: I think it’s all bullshit. (stops to sip his coffee, then waits patiently for the next question)
HB: No other comment?
AM: No. Well OK I just think that Angus is a little snot who needs to be sorted out, and his parents have a lot to answer for. It's your typical Baby Boomer/GenY disaster story. It’s dragging the whole sport down. Tasmania were like the other defectors, they’re lucky to still be here. They should be more appreciative of what they have and get their house in order. I heard that Angus passed out next to the spa the other day from intoxication, if someone associated with this club did that they'd be out the door. Those distractions mean you're less likely to win games, they're 16th on the table I think and even that's probably more than they deserve.
HB: Right. Well moving on. Um. What next?...
AM: You seem to have lost your place…
HB: Yeah sorry, um, oh… I understand the team’s had some inspirational words from (crooner) Tony Bennett. How did that come about?
AM: (laughs) It wasn't the plan. We were actually hoping to get (St George Illawarra coach) Wayne Bennett in to say a few words to the boys, but Margaret on the front desk doesn't know much about Rugby League...
HB: ... what, so she called Tony Bennett?!
AM: No, she actually called Tony Barber, but when he answered she said "Hi, is that Tony Bennett?" Well, it turns out Tony Barber has Tony Bennett's number on his mobile for just such occurrences - it happens a lot apparently - so he gave her Tony Bennett's direct number. Tony Bennett was confused but intrigued, he knows nothing about Rebound Table Tennis as a professional sport so thought he'd take the gig to find out more. Apparently he's a bit of a garage ponger himself. So we got the team in the boardroom and teed up a teleconference. Tony spoke to them about what it takes to be successful, how he overcame adversity, all the usual stuff. Then he did a rendition of our club song, "Who? Illawarra!" over the phone in his classic style. It was pretty bizarre and we had a bit of a chuckle afterwards. I think Margaret saw the funny side mostly. Actually I've heard Tony Barber took her to lunch as she's a big fan and was disappointed he wasn't coming to the club himself.
HB: Aaron Merriman, thanks for your time.
AM: No wuckers.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Featherlite-Blowingpam-inspired Tassie Cause Near-Boilover
Tasmania have almost produced the upset of the season in a dramatic clash with Newcastle in Launceston.
The controversy-racked Featherlite-Blowingpam family went through with their decision not to attend the match, to avoid the media spotlight, all that is except young Angus, who arrived unexpectedly five minutes before the match with Patricia Elksteine.
The couple formally outed their relationship and answered media questions after the match, but not before the Angus-inspired Tasmania players almost toppled 2010 Premiers Newcastle, running away to an early 5-2 lead. Newcastle, however, rallied and just scrambled home for an unconvincing 12-10 win.
The Featherlite-Blowingpam family were reportedly shocked at Angus's surprise attendance but such is becoming the norm for the unpredictable young Angus.
Meanwhile over in Wellington, Illawarra stretched their unbeaten run to 9, comfortably defeating North New Zealand 11-4.
The in-form Gold Coast continue their climb up the ladder, now sitting in 6th place after accounting for South New Zealand 11-4 in Christchurch.
At roughly the half-way point in the season, a small breakaway group seems to be forming at the front, comprised of Illawarra (18 Points), Canberra (16), Sydney (16), Newcastle (14), Brisbane (12), Gold Coast (12). Behind them the competition is fairly tight, stretching back to six teams equal-last on 4 points. The race for the last few top-8 positions is shaping as an interesting one as we head towards the business end of the season.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 9 Results
Canberra 11 d Darwin 4 at Darwin
Newcastle 12 d Tasmania 10 at Launceston
Geelong 11 d Brisbane 4 at Geelong
Singapore 11 d Perth 3 at Perth
Ipswich 11 d Melbourne 8 at Ipswich
North Queensland 11 d Greater Blacktown 9 at Cairnes
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 4 at Christchurch
Sunshine Coast 11 d North Melbourne 4 at Maroochydore
Sydney 11 d Adelaide 4 at Sydney
Illawarra 11 d North New Zealand 4 at Wellington
The controversy-racked Featherlite-Blowingpam family went through with their decision not to attend the match, to avoid the media spotlight, all that is except young Angus, who arrived unexpectedly five minutes before the match with Patricia Elksteine.
The couple formally outed their relationship and answered media questions after the match, but not before the Angus-inspired Tasmania players almost toppled 2010 Premiers Newcastle, running away to an early 5-2 lead. Newcastle, however, rallied and just scrambled home for an unconvincing 12-10 win.
The Featherlite-Blowingpam family were reportedly shocked at Angus's surprise attendance but such is becoming the norm for the unpredictable young Angus.
Meanwhile over in Wellington, Illawarra stretched their unbeaten run to 9, comfortably defeating North New Zealand 11-4.
The in-form Gold Coast continue their climb up the ladder, now sitting in 6th place after accounting for South New Zealand 11-4 in Christchurch.
At roughly the half-way point in the season, a small breakaway group seems to be forming at the front, comprised of Illawarra (18 Points), Canberra (16), Sydney (16), Newcastle (14), Brisbane (12), Gold Coast (12). Behind them the competition is fairly tight, stretching back to six teams equal-last on 4 points. The race for the last few top-8 positions is shaping as an interesting one as we head towards the business end of the season.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 9 Results
Canberra 11 d Darwin 4 at Darwin
Newcastle 12 d Tasmania 10 at Launceston
Geelong 11 d Brisbane 4 at Geelong
Singapore 11 d Perth 3 at Perth
Ipswich 11 d Melbourne 8 at Ipswich
North Queensland 11 d Greater Blacktown 9 at Cairnes
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 4 at Christchurch
Sunshine Coast 11 d North Melbourne 4 at Maroochydore
Sydney 11 d Adelaide 4 at Sydney
Illawarra 11 d North New Zealand 4 at Wellington
Thursday, June 23, 2011
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 9 Fixtures
As we head towards the half-way point in the regular season, undefeated table leaders Illawarra travel to Wellington to play 13th-placed North New Zealand.
The Featherlite-Blowingpams will allegedly miss their Tasmania franchise's match with 2010 Premiers Newcastle to avoid further media scrutiny, until the scandal involving their son Angus and Patricia Elksteine blows over. If so it will be the first time the entire Featherlite-Blowingpam family have missed a match since Tasmania entered ARTTSL competition as Hobart in 2009.
ARTTSL Championship 2011, Round 9 Fixtures:
Darwin vs Canberra (at Darwin)
Tasmania vs Newcastle (at Launceston)
Geelong vs Brisbane (at Geelong)
Perth vs Singapore (at Perth)
Ipswich vs Melbourne (at Ipswich)
North Queensland vs Greater Blacktown (at Cairnes)
South New Zealand vs Gold Coast (at Christchurch)
Sunshine Coast vs North Melbourne (at Maroochydore)
Sydney vs Adelaide (at Sydney)
North New Zealand vs Illawarra (at Wellington)
The Featherlite-Blowingpams will allegedly miss their Tasmania franchise's match with 2010 Premiers Newcastle to avoid further media scrutiny, until the scandal involving their son Angus and Patricia Elksteine blows over. If so it will be the first time the entire Featherlite-Blowingpam family have missed a match since Tasmania entered ARTTSL competition as Hobart in 2009.
ARTTSL Championship 2011, Round 9 Fixtures:
Darwin vs Canberra (at Darwin)
Tasmania vs Newcastle (at Launceston)
Geelong vs Brisbane (at Geelong)
Perth vs Singapore (at Perth)
Ipswich vs Melbourne (at Ipswich)
North Queensland vs Greater Blacktown (at Cairnes)
South New Zealand vs Gold Coast (at Christchurch)
Sunshine Coast vs North Melbourne (at Maroochydore)
Sydney vs Adelaide (at Sydney)
North New Zealand vs Illawarra (at Wellington)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Stupendously, Illawarra Win Again! Angus F-P Watches On
Illawarra have taken their unbeaten run in the 2011 ARTTSL Championship to eight matches, this time beating the controversy-racked Featherlite-Blowingpam-owned Tasmania 11-5 in Wollongong.
Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam, recently romantically linked with the late Bernard Elksteine's widow Patricia, was this time present at the match, having last week allegedly been photographed dancing in his underwear at the Normandy Hotel in Brisbane. Angus appeared mostly detached as he sat beside his staunch mother, Greteska Featherlite-Blowingpam, family matriarch, and appeared to feign a conversation on his mobile phone when reporters approached him at the end of the match.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast finally broke into the top 8, defeating Ipswich 11-7 at home.
Both Canberra and Sydney are holding on to Illawarra's coat-tails just one win (2 points) behind, having accounted for North Queensland 11-7 and Melbourne 11-7 respectively.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 8 Results
Gold Coast 11 d Ipswich 7 at Gold Coast
Sydney 11 d Melbourne 7 at Melbourne
Geelong 12 d Singapore 10 at Singapore
Darwin 12 d North Melbourne 10 at North Melbourne
North New Zealand 11 d Greater Blacktown 4 at Blacktown
Canberra 11 d North Queensland 7 at Canberra
Illawarra 11 d Tasmania 5 at Wollongong
Adelaide 12 d Sunshine Coast 10 at Adelaide
Newcastle 11 d Perth 9 at Newcastle
Brisbane 11 d South New Zealand 5 at Brisbane
Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam, recently romantically linked with the late Bernard Elksteine's widow Patricia, was this time present at the match, having last week allegedly been photographed dancing in his underwear at the Normandy Hotel in Brisbane. Angus appeared mostly detached as he sat beside his staunch mother, Greteska Featherlite-Blowingpam, family matriarch, and appeared to feign a conversation on his mobile phone when reporters approached him at the end of the match.
Meanwhile the Gold Coast finally broke into the top 8, defeating Ipswich 11-7 at home.
Both Canberra and Sydney are holding on to Illawarra's coat-tails just one win (2 points) behind, having accounted for North Queensland 11-7 and Melbourne 11-7 respectively.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 8 Results
Gold Coast 11 d Ipswich 7 at Gold Coast
Sydney 11 d Melbourne 7 at Melbourne
Geelong 12 d Singapore 10 at Singapore
Darwin 12 d North Melbourne 10 at North Melbourne
North New Zealand 11 d Greater Blacktown 4 at Blacktown
Canberra 11 d North Queensland 7 at Canberra
Illawarra 11 d Tasmania 5 at Wollongong
Adelaide 12 d Sunshine Coast 10 at Adelaide
Newcastle 11 d Perth 9 at Newcastle
Brisbane 11 d South New Zealand 5 at Brisbane
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Wilkington Tuffy Hospitalised With Pneumonia
ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy is the latest celebrity to be hospitalised with pneumonia.
ARTTSL Management released a short statement indicating the President will be in hospital for a number of days but competition will continue as normal. Tuffy continues to work from his bed in Sydney's Westmead Hospital.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 8 Fixtures
Gold Coast vs Ipswich (at Gold Coast)
Melbourne vs Sydney (at Melbourne)
Singapore vs Geelong (at Singapore)
North Melbourne vs Darwin (at North Melbourne)
Greater Blacktown vs North New Zealand (at Blacktown)
Canberra vs North Queensland (at Canberra)
Illawarra vs Tasmania (at Wollongong)
Adelaide vs Sunshine Coast (at Adelaide)
Newcastle vs Perth (at Newcastle)
Brisbane vs South New Zealand (at Brisbane)
ARTTSL Management released a short statement indicating the President will be in hospital for a number of days but competition will continue as normal. Tuffy continues to work from his bed in Sydney's Westmead Hospital.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 8 Fixtures
Gold Coast vs Ipswich (at Gold Coast)
Melbourne vs Sydney (at Melbourne)
Singapore vs Geelong (at Singapore)
North Melbourne vs Darwin (at North Melbourne)
Greater Blacktown vs North New Zealand (at Blacktown)
Canberra vs North Queensland (at Canberra)
Illawarra vs Tasmania (at Wollongong)
Adelaide vs Sunshine Coast (at Adelaide)
Newcastle vs Perth (at Newcastle)
Brisbane vs South New Zealand (at Brisbane)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: Has Patricia Elksteine Found New Love?
Photographs have surfaced of Patricia Elksteine, widow of late Rebound Table Tennis Supremo Bernard Elksteine, dining and looking "more than happy" with soldier and socialite Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam.
The photographs, which allegedly show the couple enjoying fish and chips with an "unidentified companion", were submitted to several major newspapers late last week, however their publication has been withheld after ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy successfully applied for a Suppression Order through the Supreme Court on the basis that they would hurt the ARTTSL brand.
The photographs allegedly show the couple enjoying fish and chips "and each other", at the Aquarius Seafood Cafe in Sydney, as they appear to be a couple in the early stages of an intense relationship.
Angus is a relatively young member of the prominent Featherlite-Blowingpam family, which owns the ARTTSL Tasmania franchise. The family is also well known in social circles and Angus, approximately 15 years Patricia Elksteine's junior, is a full-time member of the army.
Angus is known to be "shy and well-mannered", however he is also prone to moments of poor judgement. As such the scandal deepened on Sunday night as Angus was allegedly photographed dancing in his underwear at the Normandy Hotel in Brisbane with members of the Brisbane ARTTSL side. He was as such notably absent from Tasmania's match with Greater Blacktown at Hobart, in which they went down narrowly 11-9. These photos are also covered by the current Suppression Order.
The Suppression Order suppresses the release of all photos related to the scandal, however legal advice indicates such Orders are frequently overturned on appeal. Wilkington Tuffy spoke briefly to the media.
"Patricia Elksteine's romantic life is her own business, however the Featherlite-Blowingpam's are owners of an ARTTSL Franchise so I would like to keep this situation under control until we can look into any risks of conflict of interest arising from such a relationship. That's my job as ARTTSL President, I need to protect the interests of Patricia Elksteine and the brand her late husband built so successfully. I'd like to speak to Patricia to clarify the matter but haven't been able to as yet, but I expect she'll contact me in due course. Once this is all resolved I strongly recommend we leave them to conduct their lives as they wish. I hope the photographs are destroyed".
Bernard Elksteine was found dead in his Maroochydore home in July 2010, after dying of a heart attack. However rumours have since arisen that he is alive and well in Morocco, having faked his own death. Patricia Elksteine has to date been reported to be in deep state of mourning and unable to leave the house for long periods of time. She has also frequently stated publicly that she believes Bernard did not die of a heart attack, but was murdered by one of his many enemies in the Rebound Table Tennis world.
The photographs, which allegedly show the couple enjoying fish and chips with an "unidentified companion", were submitted to several major newspapers late last week, however their publication has been withheld after ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy successfully applied for a Suppression Order through the Supreme Court on the basis that they would hurt the ARTTSL brand.
The photographs allegedly show the couple enjoying fish and chips "and each other", at the Aquarius Seafood Cafe in Sydney, as they appear to be a couple in the early stages of an intense relationship.
Angus is a relatively young member of the prominent Featherlite-Blowingpam family, which owns the ARTTSL Tasmania franchise. The family is also well known in social circles and Angus, approximately 15 years Patricia Elksteine's junior, is a full-time member of the army.
Angus is known to be "shy and well-mannered", however he is also prone to moments of poor judgement. As such the scandal deepened on Sunday night as Angus was allegedly photographed dancing in his underwear at the Normandy Hotel in Brisbane with members of the Brisbane ARTTSL side. He was as such notably absent from Tasmania's match with Greater Blacktown at Hobart, in which they went down narrowly 11-9. These photos are also covered by the current Suppression Order.
The Suppression Order suppresses the release of all photos related to the scandal, however legal advice indicates such Orders are frequently overturned on appeal. Wilkington Tuffy spoke briefly to the media.
"Patricia Elksteine's romantic life is her own business, however the Featherlite-Blowingpam's are owners of an ARTTSL Franchise so I would like to keep this situation under control until we can look into any risks of conflict of interest arising from such a relationship. That's my job as ARTTSL President, I need to protect the interests of Patricia Elksteine and the brand her late husband built so successfully. I'd like to speak to Patricia to clarify the matter but haven't been able to as yet, but I expect she'll contact me in due course. Once this is all resolved I strongly recommend we leave them to conduct their lives as they wish. I hope the photographs are destroyed".
Bernard Elksteine was found dead in his Maroochydore home in July 2010, after dying of a heart attack. However rumours have since arisen that he is alive and well in Morocco, having faked his own death. Patricia Elksteine has to date been reported to be in deep state of mourning and unable to leave the house for long periods of time. She has also frequently stated publicly that she believes Bernard did not die of a heart attack, but was murdered by one of his many enemies in the Rebound Table Tennis world.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 7 Results
Illawarra have miraculously pulled off their seventh straight victory, again by 2 points, this time against Perth.
The visitors looked in trouble down 5-2 before rallying to win 3 straight points, taking the match to 5-all at half time. Perth again pulled slightly ahead but Illawarra came back to 9-all then toook the final two points to win 11-9.
Meanwhile previous table leaders Brisbane suffered their second-straight defeat, this time thrashed by Ipswich in a lop-sided Brisbane local derby. The result was also marred by its connection to an as-yet-unclarified scandal involving a member of the Featherlite-Blowingpam family, who apparently danced in his underwear at the Normanby Hotel while partying with the losing Brisbane side. Rumours are swirling linking young Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam to Bernard Elksteine's widow, Patricia Elksteine.
Featherlite-Blowingpam was as such notably absent in Hobart as his family's Tasmania franchise went down 11-9 to Greater Blacktown.
Adelaide finally managed their first win of the season, comfortably beating Darwin 11-5. In the process Adelaide lifted themselves off the bottom of the table and handed the provisional wooden spoon to Darwin on points difference.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 7 Results
Adelaide 11 d Darwin 5 at Darwin
Ipswich 11 d Brisbane 3 at Ipswich
South New Zealand 11 d Singapore 8 at Christchurch
Illawarra 11 d Perth 9 at Perth
North New Zealand 11 d North Queensland 6 at Auckland
Sydney 11 d Gold Coast 4 at Sydney
Canberra 11 d North Melbourne 7 at North Melbourne
Greater Blacktown 11 d Tasmania 9 at Hobart
Sunshine Coast 11 d Melbourne 9 at Maroochydore
Newcastle 11 d Geelong 4 at Geelong
The visitors looked in trouble down 5-2 before rallying to win 3 straight points, taking the match to 5-all at half time. Perth again pulled slightly ahead but Illawarra came back to 9-all then toook the final two points to win 11-9.
Meanwhile previous table leaders Brisbane suffered their second-straight defeat, this time thrashed by Ipswich in a lop-sided Brisbane local derby. The result was also marred by its connection to an as-yet-unclarified scandal involving a member of the Featherlite-Blowingpam family, who apparently danced in his underwear at the Normanby Hotel while partying with the losing Brisbane side. Rumours are swirling linking young Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam to Bernard Elksteine's widow, Patricia Elksteine.
Featherlite-Blowingpam was as such notably absent in Hobart as his family's Tasmania franchise went down 11-9 to Greater Blacktown.
Adelaide finally managed their first win of the season, comfortably beating Darwin 11-5. In the process Adelaide lifted themselves off the bottom of the table and handed the provisional wooden spoon to Darwin on points difference.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 7 Results
Adelaide 11 d Darwin 5 at Darwin
Ipswich 11 d Brisbane 3 at Ipswich
South New Zealand 11 d Singapore 8 at Christchurch
Illawarra 11 d Perth 9 at Perth
North New Zealand 11 d North Queensland 6 at Auckland
Sydney 11 d Gold Coast 4 at Sydney
Canberra 11 d North Melbourne 7 at North Melbourne
Greater Blacktown 11 d Tasmania 9 at Hobart
Sunshine Coast 11 d Melbourne 9 at Maroochydore
Newcastle 11 d Geelong 4 at Geelong
Thursday, June 9, 2011
ARTTSL Championship 2011 - Round 7 Fixtures
Round 7 sees undefeated competition leaders Illawarra travel across the country to take on Ian McGovern, Jimmy Spring and the boys in Perth. After a slow start to the season, Perth have managed two wins in a row and there are signs of more to come. Can they finally bring Illawarra's dream run of 6 narrow wins from 6 matches to a halt?
Meanwhile Sydney Entertainment Centre has sold out already for the match between Sydney and the hard-charging Gold Coast, who have won their last four matches and are on the cusp of breaking into the top 8 on the back of form that took them to last year's Grand Final as Gold Coast-Tweed.
ARTTSL Championship 2011 - Round 7 Fixtures
Darwin vs Adelaide (at Darwin)
Ipswich vs Brisbane (at Ipswich)
South New Zealand vs Singapore (at Christchurch)
Perth vs Illawarra (at Perth)
North New Zealand vs North Queensland (at Auckland)
Sydney vs Gold Coast (at Sydney)
North Melbourne vs Canberra (at North Melbourne)
Tasmania vs Greater Blacktown (at Hobart)
Sunshine Coast vs Melbourne (at Maroochydore)
Geelong vs Newcastle (at Geelong)
Meanwhile Sydney Entertainment Centre has sold out already for the match between Sydney and the hard-charging Gold Coast, who have won their last four matches and are on the cusp of breaking into the top 8 on the back of form that took them to last year's Grand Final as Gold Coast-Tweed.
ARTTSL Championship 2011 - Round 7 Fixtures
Darwin vs Adelaide (at Darwin)
Ipswich vs Brisbane (at Ipswich)
South New Zealand vs Singapore (at Christchurch)
Perth vs Illawarra (at Perth)
North New Zealand vs North Queensland (at Auckland)
Sydney vs Gold Coast (at Sydney)
North Melbourne vs Canberra (at North Melbourne)
Tasmania vs Greater Blacktown (at Hobart)
Sunshine Coast vs Melbourne (at Maroochydore)
Geelong vs Newcastle (at Geelong)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 6 Results
Illawarra are the surprise front-runners after the first 6 rounds of the 2011 ARTTSL Premiership, being the only team to win 6 from 6. It was another narrow win, this time edging out Geelong 11-8 in front of a capacity crowd in Wollongong. With a total points difference of +15, Illawarra are only averaging wins of 2.5 points per match, but a win is a win.
It is a much unexpected situation for the club who finished last on the 2010 ARTTSL First Division ladder and faced certain relegation to second division this year, but gained a reprieve when the Divisional system was abolished after the resolution of that phase of the Rebound Table Tennis War. A 2011 Finals berth seems almost certain now so long as Illawarra can manage just a few more wins in the remaining 13 rounds.
Previous joint leaders Brisbane suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 11-7 to Sydney at home.
Gold Coast continue their impressive run of four straight wins after losing their first two matches, and have now moved up to the cusp of final contention in 9th place.
2010 Premiers Newcastle suffered their second defeat of the season, narrowly losing a 16-14 thriller at home to South New Zealand, in a spiteful and sometimes-violent encounter that included several table collapses.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 6 Results
Melbourne 11 d Darwin 8 at Melbourne
Sydney 11 d Brisbane 7 at Brisbane
Illawarra 11 d Geelong 8 at Wollongong
North Melbourne 11 d Adelaide 4 at Adelaide
Singapore 11 d Ipswich 8 at Singapore
Perth 11 d Greater Blacktown 7 at Blacktown
Canberra 11 d North New Zealand 9 at Canberra
North Queensland 11 d Tasmania 8 at Townsville
Gold Coast 11 d Sunshine Coast 7 at Gold Coast
South New Zealand 16 d Newcastle 14 at Newcastle
It is a much unexpected situation for the club who finished last on the 2010 ARTTSL First Division ladder and faced certain relegation to second division this year, but gained a reprieve when the Divisional system was abolished after the resolution of that phase of the Rebound Table Tennis War. A 2011 Finals berth seems almost certain now so long as Illawarra can manage just a few more wins in the remaining 13 rounds.
Previous joint leaders Brisbane suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 11-7 to Sydney at home.
Gold Coast continue their impressive run of four straight wins after losing their first two matches, and have now moved up to the cusp of final contention in 9th place.
2010 Premiers Newcastle suffered their second defeat of the season, narrowly losing a 16-14 thriller at home to South New Zealand, in a spiteful and sometimes-violent encounter that included several table collapses.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 6 Results
Melbourne 11 d Darwin 8 at Melbourne
Sydney 11 d Brisbane 7 at Brisbane
Illawarra 11 d Geelong 8 at Wollongong
North Melbourne 11 d Adelaide 4 at Adelaide
Singapore 11 d Ipswich 8 at Singapore
Perth 11 d Greater Blacktown 7 at Blacktown
Canberra 11 d North New Zealand 9 at Canberra
North Queensland 11 d Tasmania 8 at Townsville
Gold Coast 11 d Sunshine Coast 7 at Gold Coast
South New Zealand 16 d Newcastle 14 at Newcastle
Thursday, June 2, 2011
ARTTSL Premiership 2011 - Round 6 Fixtures
The highlight of Round 6 is ironically the bottom-of-the-table clash between Adelaide, the only side not to have won a match in 2011, and North Melbourne, who are second-last after one win and four major losses to give them a minus-19 points difference.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011 - Round 6 Fixtures
Melbourne vs Darwin (at Melbourne)
Brisbane vs Sydney (at Brisbane)
Illawarra vs Geelong (at Wollongong)
Adelaide vs North Melbourne (at Adelaide)
Singapore vs Ipswich (at Singapore)
Greater Blacktown vs Perth (at Blacktown)
Canberra vs North New Zealand (at Canberra)
North Queensland vs Tasmania (at Townsville)
Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast (at Gold Coast)
Newcastle vs South New Zealand (at Newcastle)
ARTTSL Premiership 2011 - Round 6 Fixtures
Melbourne vs Darwin (at Melbourne)
Brisbane vs Sydney (at Brisbane)
Illawarra vs Geelong (at Wollongong)
Adelaide vs North Melbourne (at Adelaide)
Singapore vs Ipswich (at Singapore)
Greater Blacktown vs Perth (at Blacktown)
Canberra vs North New Zealand (at Canberra)
North Queensland vs Tasmania (at Townsville)
Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast (at Gold Coast)
Newcastle vs South New Zealand (at Newcastle)
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