It's a been a great year, and no doubt an exciting Grand Final to come on Sunday.
But first, let's take a quick look back and count down the top ten on- and off-table moments that helped to shape ARTTSL Season 2011 as arguably the most exciting ever.
10: Wilkington Tuffy Hospitalised with Pneumonia
9: Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam underwear photo released
8: Tuffy attacked by hotdog-wielding maniac at Leichhardt Oval
7: Tuffy announces 20-team competition for 2011, with Tweed Heads excluded
6: Mysterious video "Hitler Reacts to the Death of Bernard Elksteine" appears on YouTube
5: Big Peter Jackson passes out in Canberra
4: Gold Coast defeat Minor Premiers Sydney in Semi Final
3: Illawarra's 9-match winning streak, and 7-match losing streak
2: Jimmy Spring returns to Australia, signs with Perth
1: Patricia Elksteine hooks up with playboy Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam
Meanwhile, the traditional Grand Final breakfast is due to take place tomorrow at ARTTSL Headquarters in Phillip Street, Sydney.
Unlike previous breakfasts under the reign of the late Bernard Elksteine, which were televised, Wilkington Tuffy has declared the event will be closed to the public and the media to avoid a repeat of past embarrassing incidents, in which players frequently ate and drank too much at the breakfast.
Tuffy announced only today that the event will be held to fulfill tradition, but will be intentionally kept low-key and kept to a one-hour maximum.
"We've had our fair share of controversy already this year", Elksteine added.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Gold Coast Depose Sydney, Set Up 2010 Grand Final Rematch
The Gold Coast have pulled off the upset of the season, defeating Minor Premiers Sydney at Stadium Australia, and setting up a repeat of the 2010 Grand Final scenario against Newcastle next weekend.
The Gold Coast settled in well on Sydney's first serve, then took control of the match from their own service game, leading 5-2 at one stage. Although Sydney pulled the gap back to 4-6 by half time, the Gold Coast were able to stretch the gap out to 9-6 before their final serve.
Sydney seemed to find form again as they came back to 9-10, but the Gold Coast closed out the match with a clean winner by captain and server Jason Wood, a serve some are calling the serve of the season. You really had to be there.
The Gold Coast will no doubt be out to avenge last year's Grand Final loss to Newcastle, after which their joint venture with Tweed Heads collapsed. Newcastle will attempt to continue their perfect run as a relatively young club, which has seen them win the 2009 ARTTSL Second Division Premiership in their inaugural year, followed by the ARTTSL First Division Premiership in 2010.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Semi Final Results
Newcastle 12 d Canberra 10 at Newcastle
Gold Coast 11 d Sydney 9 at Sydney
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Grand Final
Newcastle vs Gold Coast at Newcastle
(Sunday, 2 October 2011, 1:00pm, Ozbid Stadium, Newcastle)
The Gold Coast settled in well on Sydney's first serve, then took control of the match from their own service game, leading 5-2 at one stage. Although Sydney pulled the gap back to 4-6 by half time, the Gold Coast were able to stretch the gap out to 9-6 before their final serve.
Sydney seemed to find form again as they came back to 9-10, but the Gold Coast closed out the match with a clean winner by captain and server Jason Wood, a serve some are calling the serve of the season. You really had to be there.
The Gold Coast will no doubt be out to avenge last year's Grand Final loss to Newcastle, after which their joint venture with Tweed Heads collapsed. Newcastle will attempt to continue their perfect run as a relatively young club, which has seen them win the 2009 ARTTSL Second Division Premiership in their inaugural year, followed by the ARTTSL First Division Premiership in 2010.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Semi Final Results
Newcastle 12 d Canberra 10 at Newcastle
Gold Coast 11 d Sydney 9 at Sydney
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Grand Final
Newcastle vs Gold Coast at Newcastle
(Sunday, 2 October 2011, 1:00pm, Ozbid Stadium, Newcastle)
Friday, September 23, 2011
Newcastle Hold Out Valiant Canberra
First Semi Final Result: Newcastle 12 d Canberra 10 at Newcastle
Newcastle has secured their second straight Grand Final berth, and the chance to win consecutive ARTTSL Premierships, with a tough 12-10 win over Canberra.
Canberra looked poised and hungry, and Newcastle made the surprise decision to receive first after winning the toss, seemingly to distract Newcastle captain and receiver big Roscoe Roosevelt (the Big Mal of Rebound Table Tennis), who has been in damaging form throughout the finals series.
The tactic appeared to backfire though as Roosevelt came out firing when Newcastle did serve, and put away four clean winners to put Canberra ahead 6-4 at half time.
The match appeared to be heading for a boil-over as Canberra went ahead 9-7, only for Newcastle to claw back to 10-all, forcing the match into extra time.
Newcastle finally seemed to click into top gear, taking the next two points to seal the match 12-10.
Newcastle will play the winner of tomorrow night's match between Sydney and the Gold Coast in next Sunday's Grand Final. If Sydney win, the Grand Final will take place in Sydney (at the Sydney Stadium of Football given that Stadium Australia is being used for the NRL Grand Final).
If the Gold Coast win, the Grand Final will move to Newcastle. This would set up an enticing re-match of last year's Grand Final, in which the then Gold Coast-Tweed went down 11-8 in Newcastle. The following day the Tweed Heads side of the joint venture sensationally withdrew to defect to the National HyperBall League, and was subsequently excluded from this year's ARTTSL competition when HyperBall collapsed.
Second ARTTSL Semi Final: Sydney vs Gold Coast (at Sydney)
Newcastle has secured their second straight Grand Final berth, and the chance to win consecutive ARTTSL Premierships, with a tough 12-10 win over Canberra.
Canberra looked poised and hungry, and Newcastle made the surprise decision to receive first after winning the toss, seemingly to distract Newcastle captain and receiver big Roscoe Roosevelt (the Big Mal of Rebound Table Tennis), who has been in damaging form throughout the finals series.
The tactic appeared to backfire though as Roosevelt came out firing when Newcastle did serve, and put away four clean winners to put Canberra ahead 6-4 at half time.
The match appeared to be heading for a boil-over as Canberra went ahead 9-7, only for Newcastle to claw back to 10-all, forcing the match into extra time.
Newcastle finally seemed to click into top gear, taking the next two points to seal the match 12-10.
Newcastle will play the winner of tomorrow night's match between Sydney and the Gold Coast in next Sunday's Grand Final. If Sydney win, the Grand Final will take place in Sydney (at the Sydney Stadium of Football given that Stadium Australia is being used for the NRL Grand Final).
If the Gold Coast win, the Grand Final will move to Newcastle. This would set up an enticing re-match of last year's Grand Final, in which the then Gold Coast-Tweed went down 11-8 in Newcastle. The following day the Tweed Heads side of the joint venture sensationally withdrew to defect to the National HyperBall League, and was subsequently excluded from this year's ARTTSL competition when HyperBall collapsed.
Second ARTTSL Semi Final: Sydney vs Gold Coast (at Sydney)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Quarter Final Results
The Gold Coast have ended Singapore's season, and will play Sydney in the second Semi Final next week, after a nail-biting 11-9 home win.
Singapore came out firing and took an early 4-1 lead, before the Gold Coast clawed back to 4-6 at half time. The match then ran very close up to 9-all, before the Gold Coast closed it out with two brilliant returns of serve.
The top four teams have won all of their finals matches so far, and will now go head to head over the following two weeks to decide the 2011 ARTTSL Premiers.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Quarter Final Results
Canberra 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Canberra
Gold Coast 11 d Singapore 9 at Gold Coast
Singapore came out firing and took an early 4-1 lead, before the Gold Coast clawed back to 4-6 at half time. The match then ran very close up to 9-all, before the Gold Coast closed it out with two brilliant returns of serve.
The top four teams have won all of their finals matches so far, and will now go head to head over the following two weeks to decide the 2011 ARTTSL Premiers.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Quarter Final Results
Canberra 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Canberra
Gold Coast 11 d Singapore 9 at Gold Coast
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Semi Final Fixtures
Newcastle vs Canberra at Newcastle
Sydney vs Gold Coast at Sydney
Newcastle vs Canberra at Newcastle
Sydney vs Gold Coast at Sydney
Friday, September 16, 2011
South NZ and Big Peter Jackson Overcome in Canberra
Canberra have overcome South New Zealand to move to a Semi Final against Newcastle next week.
The match in Canberra was hindered by a thick blanket of smoke caused by a major chemical fire nearby, which threatened to cause a match delay. However ARTTSL officials decided at the last minute to go ahead, despite protests from South New Zealand, after their mascot The Big Peter Jackson was overcome by fumes and had to be rushed to hospital.
The match went ahead with both sides looking evenly poised, or if anything South New Zealand slightly on top, at 5-all at half time. However South New Zealand, like their mascot, collapsed, losing four of their next five serves to ultimately lose 11-6.
Tomorrow sees the second Quarter Final, with Singapore travelling to the Gold Coast, the winner of which will play Sydney in the second Semi Final.
The match in Canberra was hindered by a thick blanket of smoke caused by a major chemical fire nearby, which threatened to cause a match delay. However ARTTSL officials decided at the last minute to go ahead, despite protests from South New Zealand, after their mascot The Big Peter Jackson was overcome by fumes and had to be rushed to hospital.
The match went ahead with both sides looking evenly poised, or if anything South New Zealand slightly on top, at 5-all at half time. However South New Zealand, like their mascot, collapsed, losing four of their next five serves to ultimately lose 11-6.
Tomorrow sees the second Quarter Final, with Singapore travelling to the Gold Coast, the winner of which will play Sydney in the second Semi Final.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sydney Scrape Home Against Defiant Geelong
Sydney have secured their place in the Semi Finals in two weeks' time after holding out a defiant Geelong side who pushed them all the way to 8-all, before Sydney finally overpowered them 11-8 at Stadium Australia in front of 80,000 supporters.
The result means Geelong join Illawarra in exiting this week, while Sydney and Newcastle will enjoy the week off.
In next week's Quarter Finals, Canberra will play South New Zealand (winner to play Newcastle) and Gold Coast will play Singapore (winner to play Sydney).
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals Results
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Gold Coast
Canberra 11 d Singapore 7 at Canberra
Newcastle 11 d Illawarra 5 at Newcastle
Sydney 11 d Geelong 8 at Sydney
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Quarter Finals Fixtures
Week off: Sydney / Newcastle
Canberra vs South New Zealand (at Canberra)
Gold Coast vs Singapore (at Gold Coast)
The result means Geelong join Illawarra in exiting this week, while Sydney and Newcastle will enjoy the week off.
In next week's Quarter Finals, Canberra will play South New Zealand (winner to play Newcastle) and Gold Coast will play Singapore (winner to play Sydney).
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals Results
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Gold Coast
Canberra 11 d Singapore 7 at Canberra
Newcastle 11 d Illawarra 5 at Newcastle
Sydney 11 d Geelong 8 at Sydney
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Quarter Finals Fixtures
Week off: Sydney / Newcastle
Canberra vs South New Zealand (at Canberra)
Gold Coast vs Singapore (at Gold Coast)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Illawarra's season over, Singapore on edge
Illawarra's season of see-sawing fortune is over after a resounding 11-5 loss to Newcastle.
Newcastle went ahead from the outset and were never troubled by their southern steel city counterparts. Newcastle are now guaranteed next week off and a home match in the Semi Finals in two weeks' time.
Earlier Canberra cruised to an 11-7 win over Singapore in the nation's capital. Singapore must now await the result of the Sydney-Geelong match tomorrow to find out if their season is also over.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals Results (so far)
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Gold Coast
Canberra 11 d Singapore 7 at Canberra
Newcastle 11 d Illawarra 5 at Newcastle
Tomorrow night: Sydney vs Geelong at Sydney
Newcastle went ahead from the outset and were never troubled by their southern steel city counterparts. Newcastle are now guaranteed next week off and a home match in the Semi Finals in two weeks' time.
Earlier Canberra cruised to an 11-7 win over Singapore in the nation's capital. Singapore must now await the result of the Sydney-Geelong match tomorrow to find out if their season is also over.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals Results (so far)
Gold Coast 11 d South New Zealand 6 at Gold Coast
Canberra 11 d Singapore 7 at Canberra
Newcastle 11 d Illawarra 5 at Newcastle
Tomorrow night: Sydney vs Geelong at Sydney
Friday, September 9, 2011
Gold Coast Cruise Amid Tweed Protest
The Gold Coast have won the first ARTTSL Premiership 2011 Qualifying Final with an ultimately comfortable 11-6 win over South New Zealand.
The match was marred by a sit-in protest by supporters of the Tweed Heads franchise, who sensationally split from the joint venture with Gold Coast after last year's Grand Final loss, and were then excluded from ARTTSL competition in 2011.
The Tweed fans had purchased tickets to the match but then forced their way onto the pitch and refused to move. After a brief stand-off with security, the group was cordonned off and the match was conducted as per usual. The silent protest was loudly booed vehemently by Gold Coast supporters.
The match was tight in the first half with South New Zealand leading on occasions, however Gold Coast hit their stride in the second half with five consecutive points to push to an 11-6 win.
Tomorrow sees the second and third Qualifying Finals with Canberra hosting Singapore in the afternoon and Illawarra travelling to Newcastle for the evening match. The round wraps up on Sunday afternoon with Sydney playing Geelong at Stadium Australia, which was disappointingly hacked up by tonight's disappointing first NRL Qualifying Final.
The match was marred by a sit-in protest by supporters of the Tweed Heads franchise, who sensationally split from the joint venture with Gold Coast after last year's Grand Final loss, and were then excluded from ARTTSL competition in 2011.
The Tweed fans had purchased tickets to the match but then forced their way onto the pitch and refused to move. After a brief stand-off with security, the group was cordonned off and the match was conducted as per usual. The silent protest was loudly booed vehemently by Gold Coast supporters.
The match was tight in the first half with South New Zealand leading on occasions, however Gold Coast hit their stride in the second half with five consecutive points to push to an 11-6 win.
Tomorrow sees the second and third Qualifying Finals with Canberra hosting Singapore in the afternoon and Illawarra travelling to Newcastle for the evening match. The round wraps up on Sunday afternoon with Sydney playing Geelong at Stadium Australia, which was disappointingly hacked up by tonight's disappointing first NRL Qualifying Final.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuffy Gets Horse On Trotter Over Cleaning Bill
ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy has held angry talks with NRL CEO David Trotter over a cleaning bill.
Both codes will stage finals matches at Stadium Australia this weekend: Western Suburbs and Illawarra will play the first NRL Qualifying Final on Friday night, followed on Sunday night by the Australasian Rebound Table Tennis Super League's (ARTTSL) fourth Qualifying Final, between Minor Premiers Sydney and 8th-placed Geelong. Both matches are tipped to fill the stadium to its 80,000 capacity.
The stadium contract provides for detailed cleaning at the end of each weekend. Clubs utilising the stadium for home matches are usually requested, out of goodwill, to provide a sufficient clean-up to allow any following matches to be undertaken in a safe and clean environment.
However the NRL's Western Suburbs, who are the hosts of the NRL match as the highest-qualifying team, have refused to guarantee to undertake the clean-up, on the basis that if they had their way they'd have been hosting their home final at their home ground in Campbelltown.
After initial discussions between Western Suburbs and Sydney RTTC management quicky broke down, and even threatened to turn violent, the matter was elevate to the codes' respective leaders to thrash out.
After several hours of tense talks, a compromise of sorts was reached, whereby students from local high schools will be bussed in to clean up the stadium on Sunday morning, in return for the right to attend the ARTTSL match for free on Sunday night.
However Tuffy was not entirely satisfied with the solution, as he said it would still present risks for contractors on Saturday who would be installing the perspex table in the middle of the pitch ready for the Sunday night match. Tuffy explained that it wasn't possible to set up the table on the day due to the extensive calibration required for competition-grade Rebound Table Tennis tables.
Tuffy's willingness to accept the compromise is again seen as indicative of the difference between himself and former ARTTSL President, the late Bernard Elksteine, who would no doubt have fought the matter all week if necessary, including taking it to court.
Tuffy briefly told the media outside the NRL Headquarters in Phillips Street, "Let's hope the kids have a good day. We'll try to put on a good show for them".
Western Suburs CEO Tommy Rawdonnikiss was less conciliatory. "#### 'em. What sort of nancy-pants sport is Rebounce Table Tennis (sic) anyway? #### 'em. Where's me smokes?"
Both codes will stage finals matches at Stadium Australia this weekend: Western Suburbs and Illawarra will play the first NRL Qualifying Final on Friday night, followed on Sunday night by the Australasian Rebound Table Tennis Super League's (ARTTSL) fourth Qualifying Final, between Minor Premiers Sydney and 8th-placed Geelong. Both matches are tipped to fill the stadium to its 80,000 capacity.
The stadium contract provides for detailed cleaning at the end of each weekend. Clubs utilising the stadium for home matches are usually requested, out of goodwill, to provide a sufficient clean-up to allow any following matches to be undertaken in a safe and clean environment.
However the NRL's Western Suburbs, who are the hosts of the NRL match as the highest-qualifying team, have refused to guarantee to undertake the clean-up, on the basis that if they had their way they'd have been hosting their home final at their home ground in Campbelltown.
After initial discussions between Western Suburbs and Sydney RTTC management quicky broke down, and even threatened to turn violent, the matter was elevate to the codes' respective leaders to thrash out.
After several hours of tense talks, a compromise of sorts was reached, whereby students from local high schools will be bussed in to clean up the stadium on Sunday morning, in return for the right to attend the ARTTSL match for free on Sunday night.
However Tuffy was not entirely satisfied with the solution, as he said it would still present risks for contractors on Saturday who would be installing the perspex table in the middle of the pitch ready for the Sunday night match. Tuffy explained that it wasn't possible to set up the table on the day due to the extensive calibration required for competition-grade Rebound Table Tennis tables.
Tuffy's willingness to accept the compromise is again seen as indicative of the difference between himself and former ARTTSL President, the late Bernard Elksteine, who would no doubt have fought the matter all week if necessary, including taking it to court.
Tuffy briefly told the media outside the NRL Headquarters in Phillips Street, "Let's hope the kids have a good day. We'll try to put on a good show for them".
Western Suburs CEO Tommy Rawdonnikiss was less conciliatory. "#### 'em. What sort of nancy-pants sport is Rebounce Table Tennis (sic) anyway? #### 'em. Where's me smokes?"
Sunday, September 4, 2011
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Final Fixtures
After 19 rounds all teams have played each other once, and we move to the finals series for the ARTTSL Premiership 2011.The finals series follows the standard McIntyre Final 8 System. Week one (Qualifying Finals) matches are below:
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals
Gold Coast [4th] vs South New Zealand [5th] (at Gold Coast)
Canberra [3rd] vs Singapore [6th] (at Canberra)
Newcastle [2nd] vs Illawarra [7th] (at Newcastle)
Sydney [1st] vs Geelong [8th] (at Sydney)
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Qualifying Finals
Gold Coast [4th] vs South New Zealand [5th] (at Gold Coast)
Canberra [3rd] vs Singapore [6th] (at Canberra)
Newcastle [2nd] vs Illawarra [7th] (at Newcastle)
Sydney [1st] vs Geelong [8th] (at Sydney)
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 19 Results
Brisbane were the victims of the final-round squeeze for the top 8, losing 11-6 to the top-4 Gold Coast outfit, leaving them in 9th place behind Illawarra and Geelong.
Tasmania's disappointing season was capped off with an 11-3 thrashing by Ipswich in Hobart. The match was remarkable for the fact that Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam actually played for Tasmania as first receiver. While he has some raw skills with the bat, he was not a logical inclusion and is not a professionally-accredited Rebound Table Tennis player. One can only assume he pulled strings with his influence as a member of the Featherlite-Blowingpam, who own the Tasmania franchise.
There is also speculation that Featherlite-Blowingpam plans to release an album in a few months, with girlfriend Patricia Elksteine playing keyboard.
Sydney secured the minor premiership with an 11-7 win over North New Zealand in Auckland. They will play Geelong in the first week of the Finals. Geelong would be disppointed after going down 11-3 at home to Canberra, slipping from 6th to 8th on the table. Had Brisbane defeated the Gold Coast, Geelong's season would already be over.
Perth went down narrowly 11-9 to South New Zealand, having this week sensationally sacked Rebound Table Tennis legend Jimmy Spring over his failure to turn the side into a premiership force. Spring's comeback to the sport appears to be in tatters.
Darwin were left holding the wooden spoon after 11-5 loss to Greater Blacktown in Blacktown.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 19 Results
Greater Blacktown 11 d Darwin 5 at Blacktown
Sydney 11 d North New Zealand 7 at Auckland
Singapore 14 d Melbourne 12 at Singapore
Gold Coast 11 d Brisbane 6 at Brisbane
Ipswich 11 d Tasmania 3 at Hobart
South New Zealand 11 d Perth 9 at Perth
North Queensland 11 d Sunshine Coast 8 at Townsville
Newcastle 11 d Adelaide 8 at Newcastle
Illawarra 11 d North Melbourne 5 at Wollongong
Canberra 11 d Geelong 3 at Geelong
Tasmania's disappointing season was capped off with an 11-3 thrashing by Ipswich in Hobart. The match was remarkable for the fact that Angus Featherlite-Blowingpam actually played for Tasmania as first receiver. While he has some raw skills with the bat, he was not a logical inclusion and is not a professionally-accredited Rebound Table Tennis player. One can only assume he pulled strings with his influence as a member of the Featherlite-Blowingpam, who own the Tasmania franchise.
There is also speculation that Featherlite-Blowingpam plans to release an album in a few months, with girlfriend Patricia Elksteine playing keyboard.
Sydney secured the minor premiership with an 11-7 win over North New Zealand in Auckland. They will play Geelong in the first week of the Finals. Geelong would be disppointed after going down 11-3 at home to Canberra, slipping from 6th to 8th on the table. Had Brisbane defeated the Gold Coast, Geelong's season would already be over.
Perth went down narrowly 11-9 to South New Zealand, having this week sensationally sacked Rebound Table Tennis legend Jimmy Spring over his failure to turn the side into a premiership force. Spring's comeback to the sport appears to be in tatters.
Darwin were left holding the wooden spoon after 11-5 loss to Greater Blacktown in Blacktown.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Round 19 Results
Greater Blacktown 11 d Darwin 5 at Blacktown
Sydney 11 d North New Zealand 7 at Auckland
Singapore 14 d Melbourne 12 at Singapore
Gold Coast 11 d Brisbane 6 at Brisbane
Ipswich 11 d Tasmania 3 at Hobart
South New Zealand 11 d Perth 9 at Perth
North Queensland 11 d Sunshine Coast 8 at Townsville
Newcastle 11 d Adelaide 8 at Newcastle
Illawarra 11 d North Melbourne 5 at Wollongong
Canberra 11 d Geelong 3 at Geelong
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