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