ARTTSL Teams Release Round 1 Player Lists

Jimmy Spring is not listed, having not signed a contract in time to take part in Round 1. Spring has until Wednesday to secure a deal to commence play in Round 2.

The big surprise is Perth's star rookie of last year, and national representative, Ian McGovern, being promoted to the captaincy. Most had expected the experienced Brandon Moore to inherit the captaincy after the retirment of former captain Mike Spitler.

Adelaide
Server: Levi Fitzpatrick (c)
Receiver: Ryan Caulcrick
General Play: Jehuu Jackson
Bench: Fred McIntyre
Coach: Corey Easley

Brisbane
Server: Marcus Evans
Receiver: Lee Hubbard (c)
General Play: Paul Johnson
Bench: Steve Jones
Coach: Donald Nelson

Canberra
Server: David Parrish
Receiver: Roscoe Roosevelt (c)
General Play: Naaman Caussin
Bench: Mike Martin
Coach: David Nelson

Darwin
Server: Shawn Bell
Receiver: Demetrius Brown (c)
General Play: Colin Hangartner
Bench: Geoff Howard
Coach: Cordaro Levitre

Geelong
Server: Andy Pears (c)
Receiver: Erik Rinehart
General Play: Chad Urbik
Bench: Kraig Wang
Coach: Ed Watkins

Gold Coast
Server: Jason Wood (c)
Receiver: Eric Wrotto
General Play: Mansfield Carrington
Bench: Alex Edwards
Coach: Dwan Heard

Greater Blacktown
Server: Kellen Johnson
Receiver: Spencer Troup (c)
General Play: Torell Williams
Bench: Kyle Batten
Coach: Danny Coleman

Illawarra
Server: Antonio Davis
Receiver: Andra Kelsay
General Play: Chris Kirlew (c)
Bench: Jammie Maybin
Coach: Aaron Merriman

Ipswich
Server: Shawne Moats
Receiver: Arthur Torbor (c)
General Play: Reggie Byrd
Bench: Jairus Corner
Coach: Reggie Corto

Melbourne
Server: Jon McGee
Receiver: Terrence McKelvin
General Play: Leodis Scott (c)
Bench: Bryan Wilson
Coach: George Lindell

Newcastle
Server: Rian Moorman (c)
Receiver: Brian Ayodele
General Play: Akin Ellison
Bench: Keith Florence
Coach: Drayton McCargo

North Melbourne
Server: John Posluszny (c)
Receiver: Paul Whitner
General Play: Donte Youboty
Bench: Ashton Brohm
Coach: Brian Chandler

North New Zealand
Server: Scott Ganther
Receiver: Quinton Huggins
General Play: Felton Sanborn (c)
Bench: Solomono Vave
Coach: Jonathan Brandstater

North Queensland
Server: Tom Henne
Receiver: Chad Polite
General Play: Lousaka Bess (c)
Bench: Garrison Stupar
Coach: Patrick Foster

Perth
Server: Brooks Hartline
Receiver: Ian McGovern (c)
General Play: Brandon Moore
Bench: Marlon Pruitt
Coach: Julius Wallace

Singapore
Server: Roberto Epps
Receiver: Dedrick Fasano
General Play: Anthony Mastrud (c)
Bench: Jeron Shuler
Coach: Mickey Barbre

South New Zealand
Server: Allen Berger (c)
Receiver: Joe Carey
General Play: Vernon Feinga
Bench: Ray Incognito
Coach: Richie Jerry

Sunshine Coast
Server: John Kopa (c)
Receiver: Matt Long
General Play: Jake Marten
Bench: James Baker
Coach: Chris Baker

Sydney
Server: Ryan Langford
Receiver: Kendall Merling (c)
General Play: Phillip Odrick
Bench: Jared Rose
Coach: Rob Starks

Tasmania
Server: Randy Soliai
Receiver: Paul Alama-Francis (c)
General Play: Ikaika Crowder
Bench: Channing Dansby
Coach: Karlos Dobbins

Sides Prepare for Round 1

ARTTSL sides are completing final training and preparations before Round 1 of the ARTTSL Premiership this weekend, which kicks off with the Gold Coast hosting Canberra.

Last year's Premiers Newcastle will be on the road to play new side North Melbourne, while further south, 2009 Premiers Melbourne will take on their arch rivals Brisbane.

At this stage Jimmy Spring has not announced a contract, so it seems safe to assume if he joins the competition it will not be for this round.

ARTTSL 2011 Premiership - Round 1:

Gold Coast vs Canberra (at Gold Coast)

Ipswich vs North New Zealand (at Ipswich)

North Melbourne vs Newcastle (at North Melbourne)

Adelaide vs Singapore (at Adelaide)

South New Zealand vs Tasmania (at Christchurch)

Sunshine Coast vs Greater Blacktown (at Maroochydore)

Sydney vs North Queensland (at Sydney)

Darwin vs Illawarra (at Darwin)

Geelong vs Perth (at Geelong)

Melbourne vs Brisbane (at Melbourne)

Spring: "I'm here to play"

Jimmy Spring, the Godfather of Rebound Table Tennis, who was dramatically arrested at Melbourne Airport after "returning from the dead" (Morocco), has been released from custody and declared his intention to play in the 2011 ARTTSL Premiership.

Police were unable to justify any of the charges they were considering in regard to his alleged links to organised crime.

In an impromptu media conference, the 73-year-old stunningly declared, "I'm here to play".

"I've hired a manager. I'm fit, I've got my reflexes... I've been practicing for six months. I'm coming back. I was the best, I'll be the best again. I'll take them all on. I'm the spring that's been missing from the step of Rebound Table Tennis. You wait and watch". This brought a loud cheer from a small band of followers who had gathered behind the media scrum.

As to whether Spring can live up to his hopes depends firstly on finding a team willing to sign him, and then on being able to handle the stresses of modern Rebound Table Tennis.

Asked to explain his reported "death" in 1995, or any knowledge he may have on the true status of the "late" Bernard Elksteine, Spring flatly refused to comment.

The 2011 ARTTSL Premiership commences this weekend.

Pre-Season Premiership Odds Released

In the wake of confirmation of the 20-Team Line-Up, bookmakers have released betting odds for each ARTTSL to win the 2011 Premiership....

Tuffy Releases Ambitious 199-Match ARTTSL 2011 Draw

ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy has released the 2011 ARTTSL Draw, less than 24 hours after announcing there will be 20 teams competing.

The competition will consist of 19 rounds in which all teams will play each other once, followed by a four-week Finals Series using the McIntyre Final Eight System. Hence the entire competition will take 23 weeks, with 199 matches to be played, culminating in the Grand Final in early October.

Round 1
Gold Coast vs Canberra (at Gold Coast)
Ipswich vs North New Zealand (at Ipswich)
North Melbourne vs Newcastle (at North Melbourne)
Adelaide vs Singapore (at Adelaide)
South New Zealand vs Tasmania (at Christchurch)
Sunshine Coast vs Greater Blacktown (at Maroochydore)
Sydney vs North Queensland (at Sydney)
Darwin vs Illawarra (at Darwin)
Geelong vs Perth (at Geelong)
Melbourne vs Brisbane (at Melbourne)

Round 2
Gold Coast vs Melbourne (at Gold Coast)
Illawarra vs Sunshine Coast (at Wollongong)
Singapore vs North Melbourne (at Singapore)
North Queensland vs Ipswich (at Townsville)
Tasmania vs Geelong (at Hobart)
Canberra vs Perth (at Canberra)
Newcastle vs Darwin (at Newcastle)
North New Zealand vs South New Zealand (at Auckland)
Greater Blacktown vs Sydney (at Blacktown)
Brisbane vs Adelaide (at Brisbane)

Round 3
Melbourne vs Canberra (at Melbourne)
Adelaide vs Gold Coast (at Adelaide)
Perth vs Tasmania (at Perth)
Darwin vs Singapore (at Darwin)
North Melbourne vs Brisbane (at North Melbourne)
Geelong vs North New Zealand (at Geelong)
Ipswich vs Greater Blacktown (at Ipswich)
Sunshine Coast vs Newcastle (at Maroochydore)
Sydney vs Illawarra (at Sydney)
South New Zealand vs North Queensland (at Christchurch)

Round 4
North New Zealand vs Perth (at Wellington)
Newcastle vs Sydney (at Newcastle)
Brisbane vs Darwin (at Brisbane)
Melbourne vs Adelaide (at Melbourne)
Gold Coast vs North Melbourne (at Gold Coast)
North Queensland vs Geelong (at Cairnes)
Greater Blacktown vs South New Zealand (at Blacktown)
Canberra vs Tasmania (at Canberra)
Illawarra vs Ipswich (at Wollongong)
Singapore vs Sunshine Coast (at Singapore)

Round 5
Darwin vs Gold Coast (at Darwin)
Perth vs North Queensland (at Perth)
Sydney vs Singapore (at Sydney)
Geelong vs Greater Blacktown (at Geelong)
South New Zealand vs Illawarra (at Christchurch)
Ipswich vs Newcastle (at Ipswich)
Adelaide vs Canberra (at Adelaide)
North Melbourne vs Melbourne (at North Melbourne)
Sunshine Coast vs Brisbane (at Maroochydore)
Tasmania vs North New Zealand (at Launceston)

Round 6
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)

Round 7
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)

Round 8
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)

Round 9
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)

Round 10
Brisbane vs Perth (at Brisbane)
Melbourne vs South New Zealand (at Melbourne)
Canberra vs Greater Blacktown (at Canberra)
North Melbourne vs Sydney (at North Melbourne)
Newcastle vs North New Zealand (at Newcastle)
Illawarra vs North Queensland (at Wollongong)
Adelaide vs Ipswich (at Adelaide)
Singapore vs Tasmania (at Singapore)
Gold Coast vs Geelong (at Gold Coast)
Darwin vs Sunshine Coast (at Darwin)

Round 11
North Queensland vs Newcastle (at Townsville)
Greater Blacktown vs Illawarra (at Blacktown)
Tasmania vs Brisbane (at Hobart)
South New Zealand vs Adelaide (at Christchurch)
Sydney vs Darwin (at Sydney)
North New Zealand vs Singapore (at Auckland)
Ipswich vs North Melbourne (at Ipswich)
Geelong vs Melbourne (at Geelong)
Perth vs Gold Coast (at Perth)
Sunshine Coast vs Canberra (at Maroochydore)

Round 12
Darwin vs Ipswich (at Darwin)
Melbourne vs Perth (at Melbourne)
Adelaide vs Geelong (at Adelaide)
Newcastle vs Greater Blacktown (at Newcastle)
Brisbane vs North New Zealand (at Brisbane)
Gold Coast vs Tasmania (at Gold Coast)
Canberra vs Illawarra (at Canberra)
Singapore vs North Queensland (at Singapore)
Sunshine Coast vs Sydney (at Maroochydore)
North Melbourne vs South New Zealand (at North Melbourne)

Round 13
North Queensland vs Brisbane (at Cairnes)
South New Zealand vs Darwin (at Christchurch)
North New Zealand vs Gold Coast (at Wellington)
Perth vs Adelaide (at Perth)
Ipswich vs Sunshine Coast (at Ipswich)
Tasmania vs Melbourne (at Launceston)
Geelong vs North Melbourne (at Geelong)
Illawarra vs Newcastle (at Wollongong)
Greater Blacktown vs Singapore (at Blacktown)
Sydney vs Canberra (at Sydney)

Round 14
Gold Coast vs North Queensland (at Gold Coast)
Adelaide vs Tasmania (at Adelaide)
Brisbane vs Greater Blacktown (at Brisbane)
Sunshine Coast vs South New Zealand (at Maroochydore)
North Melbourne vs Perth (at North Melbourne)
Melbourne vs North New Zealand (at Melbourne)
Canberra vs Newcastle (at Canberra)
Singapore vs Illawarra (at Singapore)
Darwin vs Geelong (at Darwin)
Sydney vs Ipswich (at Sydney)

Round 15
Greater Blacktown vs Gold Coast (at Blacktown)
South New Zealand vs Sydney (at Christchurch)
Perth vs Darwin (at Perth)
Tasmania vs North Melbourne (at Hobart)
North Queensland vs Melbourne (at Townsville)
Newcastle vs Singapore (at Newcastle)
North New Zealand vs Adelaide (at Auckland)
Ipswich vs Canberra (at Ipswich)
Geelong vs Sunshine Coast (at Geelong)
Illawarra vs Brisbane (at Wollongong)

Round 16
North Melbourne vs North New Zealand (at North Melbourne)
Sunshine Coast vs Perth (at Maroochydore)
Brisbane vs Newcastle (at Brisbane)
Adelaide vs North Queensland (at Adelaide)
Gold Coast vs Illawarra (at Gold Coast)
Ipswich vs South New Zealand (at Ipswich)
Darwin vs Tasmania (at Darwin)
Sydney vs Geelong (at Sydney)
Melbourne vs Greater Blacktown (at Melbourne)
Canberra vs Singapore (at Canberra)

Round 17
South New Zealand vs Canberra (at Christchurch)
Perth vs Sydney (at Perth)
Illawarra vs Melbourne (at Wollongong)
Tasmania vs Sunshine Coast (at Launceston)
Greater Blacktown vs Adelaide (at Blacktown)
North New Zealand vs Darwin (at Wellington)
North Queensland vs North Melbourne (at Cairnes)
Geelong vs Ipswich (at Geelong)
Singapore vs Brisbane (at Singapore)
Newcastle vs Gold Coast (at Newcastle)

Round 18
South New Zealand vs Geelong (at Christchurch)
Melbourne vs Newcastle (at Melbourne)
North Melbourne vs Greater Blacktown (at North Melbourne)
Darwin vs North Queensland (at Darwin)
Gold Coast vs Singapore (at Gold Coast)
Adelaide vs Illawarra (at Adelaide)
Ipswich vs Perth (at Ipswich)
Canberra vs Brisbane (at Canberra)
Sunshine Coast vs North New Zealand (at Maroochydore)
Sydney vs Tasmania (at Sydney)

Round 19
Greater Blacktown vs Darwin (at Blacktown)
North New Zealand vs Sydney (at Auckland)
Singapore vs Melbourne (at Singapore)
Brisbane vs Gold Coast (at Brisbane)
Tasmania vs Ipswich (at Hobart)
Perth vs South New Zealand (at Perth)
North Queensland vs Sunshine Coast (at Townsville)
Newcastle vs Adelaide (at Newcastle)
Illawarra vs North Melbourne (at Wollongong)
Geelong vs Canberra (at Geelong)

PRELIMINARY FINALS
1st vs 8th (Game 1)
2nd vs 7th (Game 2)
3rd vs 6th (Game 3)
4th vs 5th (Game 4)
Note: The four winners are ranked "Winner 1" to "Winner 4", the four losers are ranked "Loser 1" to "Loser 4", as per the order they finished on the table after Round 19.

QUARTER FINALS
[Winner 1 and Winner 2 have week off]
Winner 3 vs Loser 1 (Game 5)
Winner 4 vs Loser 2 (Game 6)

SEMI FINALS
Winner 1 vs Winner Game 6 (Game 7)
Winner 2 vs Winner Game 5 (Game 8)

GRAND FINAL
Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8

Note: All Finals matches played at home ground of team that finished highest on the table after Round 19.

Tuffy Announces 20-Team Line-Up, Tweed Left Out

ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy has astounded the Rebound Table Tennis world by announcing a single-tier, 20-team competition for 2011.

All eight teams that defected to the failed National HyperBall League in 2010 have been allowed to return, as Tuffy had previously eluded to in proposing a softer stance than his predecessor, the late Bernard Elksteine. However Tweed Heads, the portion of runners-up Gold Coast-Tweed, who dramatically defected to HyperBall after losing the 2010 Grand Final to Newcastle, have been excluded.

Tuffy told a packed press conference that the decision was made as the best means of re-unifying the game. He did not specifically state, but eluded to, the notion that he had avoided the mistakes of Elksteine, who forced teams into second-tier divisions, the apparent catalyst for last year’s defections.

The competition will consist of 19 rounds in which all teams will play each other once, followed by a four-week Finals Series using the McIntyre Final Eight System. Hence the entire competition will take 23 weeks, culminating in the Grand Final in early October.

Tuffy also noted that due to the late start to the season after resolving the defection/return issues, there would be no Pre-Season Trophy this year. However he said it might be possible to put something similar on post-season, but did not make any guarantees. Again he may be trying to avoid making Elksteine's mistakes, after tensions last year began with Second-Division sides being forced to play an extra round to qualify.

Some have compared the scenario to the aftermath of the Super League War which saw 22 teams playing in 1998, followed by significant measures over the following years to contract the number of teams through mergers and exclusions.

Tuffy would not comment on whether such a process would need to take place in coming years in the aftermath of the Rebound Table Tennis War. However speculation the Rebound Table Tennis War has only begun as been mounting since the mysterious return to Australia of Jimmy Spring, who remains in protective custody in Melbourne.

2011 ARTTSL Entrants
Adelaide
Brisbane
Canberra
Darwin
Geelong
Gold Coast
Greater Blacktown
Illawarra
Ipswich
Melbourne
Newcastle
North Melbourne
North New Zealand
North Queensland
Perth
Singapore
South New Zealand
Sunshine Coast
Sydney
Tasmania

Draw to be released soon.

Jimmy Spring "Alive", Arrested in Melbourne

Police claim to have arrested Rebound Table Tennis legend Jimmy Spring at Melbourne International Airport, after landing on a flight from Morocco.

Seen as the Godfather of Rebound Table Tennis, and mentor to late Rebound Table Tennis supremo Bernard Elksteine, Spring was believed to have died in a road crash in 1999.

"Jimmy Spring" moments before his arrest in Melbourne

A Police spokesman told the media this morning the arrest was made after a number of coincidental tip-offs indicated that Spring was alive, and would attempt to enter the country on an early flight this morning. A suspect was first identified at the checkout gates, but was followed and only arrested after he arrived at a suburban house in Melbourne's east.

Several reporters had received the same tip-off and were able to photograph the alleged Spring just moments before his arrest. He was take to Melbourne Central Police Station for questioning and remanded in custody.

Born in 1937 in Denver, Colorado, Spring immigrated to Australia with his parents at age 6. He grew up in Maroochydore and became a top Table Tennis player, competing for Australia in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics. Retiring in 1966, he was the first to formalise Rebound Table Tennis as a competitive form of table tennis in the early 1970's, having previously only been seen as a means of practicing the game for regular, full-table play. Spring believed the Rebound form of the game offered the potential for faster and more exciting competition.

Spring expanded Rebound Table Tennis as an amateur sport across the country, opening a string of Rebound Table Tennis Dojo's, where he trained players and oversaw amateur competition. The sport, however, never reached professional status in Australia under Spring.

Spring came under pressure in the mid-90's as his dojo's were linked to organised crime and drug trafficking, and he was reportedly under constant investigation.

Jimmy Spring in 1975

A key turning point for the sport came in 1995 when Spring met a down-and-out Bernard Elksteine on the streets of Brisbane. He immediately saw Elksteine's leadership skills, business acumen and knowledge and skills for the game as a successful former player, and put Elksteine in charge of his Ipswich Dojo.

After the reported death of Spring in 1999, Elksteine inherited Spring's entire Rebound Table Tennis empire. Seeing the wider potential for Rebound Table Tennis in the Australasian Region, Elksteine was able to use the funds generated from the Spring enterprise to expand his system nationally, and in so doing set up a junior player development program. He also cleaned up the sport's image, removing anyone who had apparent links to former allegations against Spring.

The program led to the game's popularity flourishing and establishment of large Dojos in many major centres across Austalia, New Zealand and later in Singapore in 2006. This led on the the establishment of the Australasian Rebound Table Tennis Super League in 2009.

The reported arrest adds fuel to speculation that Elksteine is also alive and well in Morocco, (having included several reported sightings) biding his time before re-claiming his place as Rebound Table Tennis Supremo in Australasia. It is now widely speculated that this has been part of a larger plan which commenced with Spring faking his death in 1999.

The mysterious, failed National HyperBall League initiative is still rumoured to have had links to Elksteine, and now possibly to Jimmy Spring as well, as the pair allegedly try to wrest back control of the sport "from the grave".

Police indicated today that they wished to speak to Spring about his disappearance and his possible former links to drugs and organised crime. No charges have been laid against the alleged Jimmy Spring at this stage. A medical assessment will be undertaken on the 73-year-old late this afternoon.

.

Several "Elksteine Sightings" in Morocco

Several people have come forward claiming to have sighted late ARTTSL supermo Bernard Elksteine, who officially died of a heart attack in 2010, alive and well in Morocco.

One source has even provided a photo of Elksteine jogging in the suburbs of Moroccan capital Rabat, which they claim was taken last Thursday.

Police and ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy have both laughed the claims off as absurd, and while acknowledging the photo appears to be one of Elksteine, they claim it could have easily been taken before his death as it is not date-stamped.

However many are seizing on the photo as proof Elksteine is alive, pointing out that Elksteine was never known to jog in his life, but that it's possible he in fact had a mild heart attack and used the opportunity to fake his own death and escape into excile, at which point he had decided it was also time to lose some weight to avoid a repeat heart attack.

Rumours suggest that having felt he'd lost control of the ARTTSL juggernaught, Elksteine decided to fake his own death to re-group and later return with a different identity to steal his beloved Rebound Table Tennis system back. Some have even suggested that the mysterious, failed National HyperBall League was his first such attempt.

More as it comes to hand...

One Big Load of HYPErbull?

Rebel League Management Vanishes Overnight

The Rebound Table Tennis War appears to have ended before it really began, with National HyperBall League (NHBL) management disappearing overnight from their Collins St, Melbourne headquarters.

No notice or warning was given to any of the teams who were scheduled to take part in the 2010 NHBL season, which had continued to be officially scheduled to take place "Later this year", however at this stage in the year this was raising some serious doubts as NHBL management continued to apparently stall, and occasionally sent out glib and sometimes confusing press releases.

A brief statement on the NHBL website (hyperball-league.blogspot.com) simply indicates "We regret to inform our fans that the 2010 HyperBall League Championship will not go ahead", and goes on to cite "several irresolvable logistical and hyperlotastical (sic) issues", but does not go into any further detail.

Teams left in the lurch include all ARTTSL Second-Division sides - North NSW (was Tweed Heads), Darwin, Tasmania, Greater Blacktown, North Queensland, North Melbourne, Ipswich, Adelaide, Geelong. These teams defected to NHBL in July on the promise of inclusion in a First-Division competition and a better share of takings. These promises now appear to have proven to be unsustainable. Their negotiations have failed.

Meanwhile it seems almost certain that the Goulburn club established by NHBL will fold, having never played a ball in any Rebound Table Tennis competition. The local Council have indicated they may consider suing NHBL management for costs they've put into the fledgeling team, which had been struggling due to no funding support from NHBL and had even been practicing with "rolled up pieces of tin foil" for balls. However so little is known of NHBL management it may be difficult even to track them down.

Fans of several defecting clubs are said to be keeping vigil outside the deserted NHBL office, with placards saying things like "WHAT A LOAD OF HYPErbull" and "GIVE ME MY TEAM BACK YOU BASTARDS!"

ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy, who has been apparently leaning towards a compromise, was uncharacteristically stony-faced when met by a media throng this morning outside his Gold Coast holiday home. He simply gave the traditional "V for Victory" sign, in an apparent reference to having won the Rebound Table Tennis War, which could presumably now go down in history as a "War of Nerves".

NHBL clubs now face an apparent certainty of not playing any competition in 2010, and uncertainty as to their futures in 2011. With the NHBL challenge off the table, Tuffy is nolonger in a position to need to negotiate. Any deal could presumably now only be based on goodwill, or the good of the game. However there are also questions of the sustainability of allowing clubs to return, which would lead to an ARTTSL roster of up to 20 teams. A recent independent study commissioned by ARTTSL indicated that 12 to 16 teams was the most economically viable target range for professional Rebound Table Tennis in the Australasian region.

The situation is particularly nasty for the new North NSW club, the renamed Tweed Heads portion of the former Gold Coast-Tweed franchise, which split in July to join HyperBall. Gold Coast franchise management have not returned our calls or emails regarding whether they would consider a re-merger with the rebel Tweed Headians.

More as it comes to hand on this breaking story.

Mass Table Collapse in Delhi; Aussie Team Withdraws from Games

The Australian Rebound Table Tennis Squad have formally withdrawn from the Games after what is being described as a "mass, domino-style table collapse" in the new Rebound Table Tennis Stadium.

The team were near the end of their allotted one-hour session, in which teams were permitted to practice on the ten new competition-grade tables to become accustomed to them, when the collapse took place.

Perth player Ian McGovern, clearly still shaken from the incident, spoke to ARTTSL News outside the stadium shortly afterwards.

"It just came out of nowhere mate. One minute we were all practicing on different tables, next thing someone's maybe bumped a table up the end, maybe just nudged it you know nothing serious, nothing like what would happen in a big match, and down it goes. Ka-whump, and it hit the next one, and down it went too, then next thing, we're all like, shocked, looking at each other, then someone yelled 'RUN!', I can't remember who, but they were right 'cause next thing we're all literally running for our lives as the whole lot starts coming down, one after the other - whump whump whump, y'know. It sounded like a freight train. It's lucky noone was hurt. I mean I lost my best bat, the one I scored the winning point in the Pre-Season Trophy with actually, it got kind of pancaked in the table I was on as the backboard fell forward, but I'm more glad I got my hand out mate or I'd be suing the pants off 'em".

Asked if he was disappointed to be going home, a suddenly angry McGovern replied "Yeah. Yeah for sure. It's my first time representing the country. I was surprised to be picked in the first place and I was all revved up and ready to go. I'm gutted, truly. I guess I'll just have to wait for London 2012.... that's a long way off. Bloody hell, what a mess. I mean we knew they built them quick but you'd think they'd take precautions. What the hell did they use, toothpicks?!"

Given the seriousness of the collapse, it's likely the Australian withdrawal is just a formality as it seems unlikely authorities could arrange to re-build in time, and even if they did, it's unlikely anyone would trust that this wouldn't happen again. It appears Rebound Table Tennis will not be part of the 2010 Games.

The team is reportedly already en-route back to ARTTSL's Maroochydore headquarters, where they are expected to be briefed by officials before being released to return home.

The Australian team selection process was mired in controversy after ARTTSL went through with its threat to exclude players contracted to the rival National HyperBall League, shortly before the death of Bernard Elksteine.

3 Hyperball Clubs on Skid Row; Tuffy Extends "Olive Branch"

Rumours are swirling among the Rebound Table Tennis world that at least three HyperBall clubs are on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, being unable to meet their administrative payments.

Several unidentified sources indicate that the difficulties are due to the ongoing delay in the commencement of the 2010 National HyperBall League season, which is still slated to take place "some time later in 2010".

The only identified source is Goulburn Mayor Carol Jones, who, in a stunning statement outside the Big Merino yesterday, slammed HyperBall management for the ongoing delays.

"They rolled into town a few months ago promising big things. Naturally being a small and excitable city we were swept up in the hoo-hah and we put our money where their mouths were. But now it's been months, the honeymoon is over, and while they swan around in their head office down in Melbourne, we've got a small administrative office in Auburn Street going slowly broke as the funds run out. We don't even have enough money for new balls, our players are practicing with rolled up pieces of tin foil for heaven's sake. We'll have to start laying off staff soon. It's not good enough. We need games, we need gate takings. We need action. Nobody is moving forward on this issue".

Meanwhile new ARTTSL President Wilkington Tuffy has moved quickly, releasing a statement aimed at both HyperBall Management and their clubs, indicating that ARTTSL is willing to let by-gones be by-gones and negotiate a return to the fold for rebel clubs, or even a complete re-unification of the game, albeit under ARTTSL's own terms. This rhetoric is very different to that of late former President Bernard Elksteine, who declared that defecting clubs would not be allowed back to ARTTSL under any circumstances, and later died.

HyperBall management have released a short statement denying that any clubs were in trouble, and reiterating that their 2010 season will take place "some time later in 2010". Well, it's September, and we wait.

We wait....

Elksteine Funeral Thursday

The funeral for late ARTTSL President Bernard Elksteine has been booked for 1pm this Thursday, after the Coroner released the body, having found no evidence of foul play.

However many, including ARTTSL officials and Elksteine family members, have questioned the results of the autopsy and continue to believe foul play was involved.

Widow Paticia Elksteine says she has "unanswered questions" after key details she revealed to the police, including their side gate being found wide open after the discovery of the body in Elksteine's office at the back of the home, have not been addressed in the final report on the investigation.

"I don't know where to go to from here right now" said Mrs Elksteine outside the couple's Maroochydore home, "but we've decided to go ahead with the funeral. I need to lay my husband to rest, but I will continue to pursue this. I just don't believe Bernie died of a heart attack. I'll keep fighting this in the courts".

The service will take place at 1pm on Thursday at St Brians Cathedral, Maroochydore. Nineties shock jock mistress Esmerelda Chocolatine will perform a specially-written number, "You're Still My Big Orange Ball", at the service.

Other celebrity guests expected are Illawarra's Number 1 fan Wendell Sailer, and South and North New Zealand Mascots The Big Pippee and the Big Peter Jackson, who have called an unexpected truce in their ongoing war of words as a sign of respect for Elksteine.

In other news, former ARTTSL Treasurer Wilkington Tuffy has been confirmed as the new ARTTSL President, and will formally take over the reigns from the Board as of next week. Tuffy has promised to help in whatever way he can in efforts to discover the "truth" behind Elksteine's death.

Tuffy is widely expected to take a more stabilising and less reformist approach to management, and has even been tipped to be willing to consider negotiating with Hyperball Management to bring an end to the Rebound Table Tennis war, with some sort of compromise deal to unite the two organisations. However Tuffy would likely have a tough job convincing many senior officials to join him in negotiations, many see the Rebound Table Tennis War as one solely of attrition in which one or the other organisation will fall in the end.

Bernard Elksteine Found Dead in Maroochydore Home

ARTTSL President Bernard Elksteine has been found dead in his Maroochydore home.

Early reports indicate that Elksteine's wife, Patricia, found the 45-year-old Rebound Table Tennis supremo slumped over his desk in his study at the back of the couple's Maroochydore home about 12:30pm today while bringing him his lunch, a bacon and peanut butter sandwich.

Paramedics were called to the house, but Elksteine was pronounced dead immediately.

The death comes just hours after the announcement that all Second-Division clubs, and the Tweed Heads portion of ARTTSL runners up Gold Coast-Tweed, had defected to HyperBall.

A spokesman from Queensland Health spoke briefly to the media, stating that while an autopsy would be performed, the most likely cause of death from initial observations of the body was a heart attack, and that murder or suicide seemed unlikely at this stage. He said it was apparent Elksteine had been dead in his study for up to two hours before being discovered.

However the timing of the death is already sparking a media frenzy with speculation that Elksteine may have been murdered by one of many enemies he is believed to have had in the Rebound Table Tennis world. Elksteine had been reported to have received threats, and indeed a number of subtly threatening comments have been posted on this very blog from time to time.
A neighbour, who identified herself only as "Mrs C", spoke to the media. "They were a lovely couple. He was nothing like they made him out to be on TV. He was very down to Earth. Sometimes he'd mow my lawn for me. But he didn't eat very well and could have stood to lose a little weight. Almost every day I'd see him arrive home through my front window carrying some sort of take away food for dinner. Still, I'm just devastated".

Elksteine was known for his high living, particularly in regard to food and alcohol, often visiting steakhouses and chickenhouses on his wide travels as ARTTSL Director. As recently as last night he was known to be dining while having his hair done at Kingswood Chicken Man and Hair, in Sydney's west, when the news of the defections broke.

While Elksteine often feigned disinterest in the HyperBall breakaway issue, many suspected this was a front and were actually concerned for his health and well-being, his wife Patricia being amoung those to voice concerns. A long-time friend recently spoke out in the media about Elksteine's deep-seated fear of losing control of the empire he'd built up over 15 years, saying this was taking a toll and driving his eating and drinking habits.

BERNARD ELKSTEINE, 1965-2010

Bernard Elksteine was born in Ipswich, Queensland, in 1965 to German immigrant parents Elma and Elka. The young Bernard showed early promise in all sports that involved rebounding of some form. He was Australian Junior Squash and Trampoline champion simultaneously in 1982, at age 17, and two years later competed in the World Airhockey Campionships in Los Angeles, an event held in parallel with the Olympic Games. Elksteine was said to be keen to qualify to compete for Australia in squash at the 1988 Olympics, but unable to cope with coming second in the World Airhockey Championships, Elksteine soon after sank into a period of depression and ultimately never reached his potential in rebound sports.

Elksteine's life is said to have turned around when, in 1995 at age 30, while living on the streets in Brisbane, he met Rebound Table Tennis legend Jimmy Spring, who employed him at his Rebound Table Tennis Dojo in Ipswich. It was here that Elksteine developed his management skills, and by 1998 his rebound was complete, as he was all but running the dojo. After the childless Spring's tragic death in a road accident in 1999, Elksteine inherited the Spring Rebound Table Tennis Dojo.

Seeing the wider potential for Rebound Table Tennis in the Australasian Region, Elksteine was able to use the funds generated from the Spring enterprise to expand his system nationally, and in so doing set up a junior player development program.

The program led to the game's popularity flourishing and establishment of large dojos in many major centres across Austalia, New Zealand and later in Singapore in 2006.

The growth culmunated in the establishment of the Austalasian Rebound Table Tennis Super League in 2009, with investors throwing their money behind ARTTSL with Elksteine as President. This set Elksteine up as the unquestionable Rebound Table Tennis Supremo in the Australasian region. As all clubs are franchises owned by ARTTSL, they were ultimately controlled by Elksteine and had little say in their own affairs when it came to major decisions. Elksteine used this power to create, disband, merge and relegate clubs at will.

Elksteine was often criticised for his management style, which was described as "officious and autocratic". The fast expansion of the game under Elksteine's relentless drive and work ethic, particularly the establishment of a Second-Division competition, became largely unpopular with many involved in the game, and is seen as having ultimately sparked the Hyperball breakaway, with many keen to wrest control of the sport from Elksteine.

There was a litany of other points of tension, including the way revenues were distributed among clubs, and how draws were established, such as this year's Pre-Season Trophy in which Second-Division clubs had to play an extra game to qualify.

The future of ARTTSL now rests with the Board, who will meet in coming days to decide how to fill the substantial Elksteine void.

Tweed Heads + Second-Division Teams Defect!

All ARTTSL Second-Division sides, plus Tweed Heads, have formally defected to HyperBall and plan to play in their season later this year.

The Tweed Heads entry will be based in Tweed Heads but play under the name North NSW.

ARTTSL President Bernard Elksteine has confirmed from Kingswood Chicken Man (where he was getting a haircut) that the matter is the subject of legal action just as soon as he finished his 3 chicken and chips and style cut, "And a beer across the road at the Kingo". The characteristic response is again likely an attempt to play down the HyperBall threat, but many believe he will soon be choking on his chicken rump as the HyperBall juggernaut gathers momentum.

It is now seen as unlikely that ARTTSL's Second-Division championship will preceed and that bottom three teams from this year's First Division Premiership, Perth, Melboune and Illawarra, are safe in First Division for next year's season, at least for now. However Elksteine hasn't ruled out forming new teams, although this is seen as unlikely being very difficult to administer.

More to come.

Newcastle Win Grand Final, Gold Coast-Tweed in Tatters

Newcastle are the 2010 ARTTSL Premiers, defeating Gold Coast-Tweed in the Grand Final in Newcastle.

The win caps off a metioric rise for Newcastle, having won Second Division in their first season last year, progressing to First Division and again winning on their first attempt.

By contrast, the Gold Coast-Tweed syndicate is in tatters, with the Tweed Heads Rebound Table Tennis Federation sensationally withdrawing from the joint venture with Gold Coast United hours after the match. No further meaning has been given to the withdrawal but there is strong speculation Tweed Heads may be considering entering its own team in Hyperball this year, a move that would likely result in legal action from ARTTSL as the club was contractually bound to only play in ARTTSL this year.

No formal announcement has been made, however a popular theory among analysts is that the fall-out in the joint venture began as early as the Quarter Final loss to Newcastle, with Tweed Heads management dissatisfied with tactics and team selections, after a number of their former junior players were left out of the squad.

It has been suggested that Hyperball have remained quiet in recent week, awaiting the completion of the ARTTSL season, after which they will announce their championship roster which would include a team based in Tweed Heads, and possibly covering a significant portion of the NSW North Coast. This may gain them more support in NSW where many people refused to follow a team which, despite playing half their games in Tweed Heads, were formally a Queensland team based on the Gold Coast.

Some have further suggested Tweed Heads were having an each-way bet, waiting to see if the joint venture team won the Grand Final before deciding whether to remain with the ARTTSL venture or defect to Hyperball. However these sensational claims have not been substantiated and all of the above is speculation at this stage.

Back to the match itself, it was a freezing winter night in Newcastle which many Newcastle fans believed would prove difficult for the northern visitors. However it was Newcastle who started unsteadily with some weak serving and at time bizarre serving options, however the scoreline remained close to half time, with Gold Coast-Tweed leading 6-4 at the break.

In the second half Gold Coast-Tweed turned up the power, seemingly deciding the match was there to be taken, and at first this seemed to be putting pressure on Newcastle, however Newcastle steadied and managed to lead 8-7 as they took their last service set.

A crucial turning point occurred when resident dog Ralph got hold of the ball. It was retrieved but was covered in slobber, and, as per garage table tennis rules, which fully apply in ARTTSL, dog slobber is part of the game. The resultant change in trajectory may have been the final undoing of Gold Coast-Tweed, who finally slipped to an 11-8 loss, handing the 2010 Premiership to Newcastle.

So ends the 2010 ARTTSL Season. The Second Division season is scheduled to be played later this year, if there are sufficient Second-Division teams for it to take place. All eyes now turn to the sleeping giant of Hyperball and if and when any teams will defect.

One thing is for certain, the war for control of Rebound Table Tennis in the Australasian region has only just begun.

Asked for his thoughts on the looming war, ARTTSL President Bernard Elksteine replied, "Hey, we're in Newcastle. Don't hey have a Sizzler here?.... Great let's go!"

Confident words indeed from the President, but many think he will be choking on his $20 rump when Hyperball announce their full intentions for 2010.

GRAND FINAL RESULT:
Newcastle 11 d Gold Coast-Tweed 8 (at Newcastle)

Gold Coast-Tweed Book Grand Final Showdown with Newcastle

Minor Premiers Gold Coast-Tweed have redeemed their Quarter Final loss and booked a Grand Final showdown with Newcastle, breaking Sydney's 6-game winning streak in the Semi Final on the Gold Coast.

Both sides in fact came into the match having only lost once since Round 7. Both sides looked nervous as Gold Coast-Tweed served first and Sydney sent the ball skyward and out of the stadium. The game was scrappy early on as they battled to 5-5 at half time. It was unusual to watch as both these sides are normally very composed.

The second half saw the scrappiness continue as both sides made unforced errors as they progressed to 7-all. At this point Gold Coast-Tweed seemed to regain focus while Sydney continued to make errors. Gold Coast-Tweed moved to a 10-7 lead and finally won the match 11-8.

So after 71 matches and 1,324 points it comes down to arguably the two form sides who have traded the top two spots throughout the season. They have met twice on the Gold Coast and have won once each. It's a difficult one to pick, but Newcastle do tend to perform well at home, but Gold Coast-Tweed are a class side and will be hard to beat, however they will need to shake off the scrappy play they showed in overcoming Sydney.

ARTTSL President Bernard Elksteine has congratulated both teams on making the Grand Final, calling them the "cream of the crop" and stating these are the sorts of sides that deserve to be in ARTTSL's First Division, an apparent side-swipe at the Second-Divisions sides rumoured to be about to defect to the rival Hyperball League.

There is no further word of developments in Hyperball. There are fears however that they are preparing for a big announcement of team defections to take attention away from ARTTSL's Grand Final.

SEMI FINAL RESULT:
Gold Coast-Tweed 11 d Sydney 8 (at Gold Coast)

GRAND FINAL:
Newcastle vs Gold Coast-Tweed (at Newcastle)

Newcastle Claim First Grand Final Spot, South New Zealand Out

Newcastle have turned the tables on Minor Premiers Gold Coast-Tweed in their Quarter Final on the Gold Coast, earning another week off and the Grand Final at home in Newcastle.

Both signs were showing nerves as it took 6 attempts to get the mandatory shots over the net to decide who would serve first. Finally Gold Coast-Tweed won first serve but slipped to 4-6 by half-way through the match. From there Gold Coast-Tweed looked shaky and uncertain as Newcastle settled and moved to a 9-6 lead. From 10-7 Gold Coast-Tweed managed to fight back to 10-9, but the matched ended with what was arguable the point of the season as both sides traded base-line smashes before Newcastle prevailing with an amazing shot to the edge of the table that Gold Coast-Tweed couldn't possibly reac, securing an 11-9 win.

Meanwhile in Christchurch, South New Zealand started the match on fire against a sloppy-looking Sydney hoping to continue their 5-match winning streak. South New Zealand appeared to have a tactic to smash Sydney off the table, howeve despite poor early form Sydney managed to hold on at 4-6 at half time. The match then turned in terms of style and Sydney went into power mode, at times missing the mark and sending the ball over the backboard and out of the stadium. The tactic eventually paid off though as South New Zealand lost focus, despite the urgings of their Mascot The Big Peter Jackson, and slipped to 7-10. Sydney secured the 11-7 win with a fortunate bounce off the net that left South New Zealand short-footed.

The result ends South New Zealand's season, a result they were disappointed with after keeping touch with the top teams for most of the season. Sydney will travel to the Gold Coast to play Gold Coast-Tweed for the second Grand Final spot against Newcastle.

Sydney continue a remarkable run, having won 6 matches in a row since Round 8, before which they were down on 9th and looking at risk of ending up in the relegation zone.

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS:
Newcastle 11 d Gold Coast-Tweed 9 (at Gold Coast)
Sydney 11 d South New Zealand 7 (at Christchurch)

SEMI FINAL:
Week off: Newcastle
Gold Coast-Tweed v Sydney (at Gold Coast)

South New Zealand and Sydney Through to Week 2

South New Zealand and Sydney have won their sudden death ARTTSL Preliminary Finals, beating Sunshine Coast and Singapore respectively, whose seasons are now over.

It was a case of deja-vu in Christchurch where South New Zealand and Sunshine Coast met for the second week in a row, having coincidentally played in round 11, with the Kiwi side prevailing there.

Sunshine Coast were keen to turn the tables this week. The match was played fast and bitter and South New Zealand gained an early 5-3 lead, before Sunshine Coast won 6 of the next seven points to take a seamingly match-winning 9-6 lead. However South New Zealand regained focus to win 5 straight points and the match 11-9.

South New Zealand mascot the Big Peter Jackson was ecstatic and surprised the crowd and players alike by doing some celebratory cartwheels.

"Mate, I've lost all this weight, I might as well make the most of it", Jackson said in the post-match press-conference. "I smell a Premiership again". The last time Jackson uttered those words on camera South New Zealand hit a slump for several weeks, so clearly Jackson is feeling very confident with their chances now.

Meanwhile across the pond, Sydney hosted Singapore in a match that demonstrated how ARTTSL has taken rebound table tennis to a new level. The match featured many long and fast points. Although both sides were on form, Singapore suffered a mix of bad luck and loose shots after long rallies to go down 11-2 in a disapointing end to their season.

Sydney will now travel to Christchurch to play South New Zealand in next week's second Quarter Final. The loser will be out, while the winner will progress to the Semi Final to face the loser of the first Quarter Final between Gold Coast-Tweed and Newcastle. The winner of the first Quarter Final will secure the first Grand Final spot and earn another week off.

PRELIMINARY FINAL RESULTS:
South New Zealand 11 d Sunshine Coast 9 (at Christchurch)
Sydney 11 d Singapore 2 (at Sydney)

QUARTER FINALS
Gold Coast-Tweed vs Newcastle (at Gold Coast)
South New Zealand vs Sydney (at Christchurch)

Round 11: Sydney, Singapore Claim Last 2 Finals Spots

Sydney and Singapore have claimed the last two spots in the ARTTSL Finals series after winning must-win final matches in Round 11.

The four sides still facing uncertainty were forced to wait intil the end of the round though. First up was confirmed wooden spooners Illawarra at home to Brisbane. Keen to avoid the bottom-three relegation zone, Brisbane thrashed Illawarra who tried bravely to put up a fight. Illawarra's final point summed up their season by leaving the last ball to go through, having thought it was going out, to lose by a dismal 11-2. The win lifted Brisbane to 8th and out of the relegation zone.

Next up Newcastle wanted a big win over Melbourne in Newcastle to have some hope of catching Gold Coast-Tweed for the Minor Premiership, and started well, racing to a 9-1 lead, only to lose focus and let Melbourne pull it back to finish going down 11-6.

Ultimately Newcastle's score was irrelevant as Gold Coast-Tweed thrashed Perth 11-6. The result clinched the Minor Premiership for Gold Coast-Tweed, and left Perth 10th and hence the bottom-three relegation zone with Melbourne and Illawarra. As to whether any sides are relegated depends on whether there is a second division as ARTTSL still awaits an further announcements from the mysterious Hyperball League.

South New Zealand and Sunshine Coast were both assured of making the finals, but the match in Christchurch was still crucial as the winner would secure 3rd spot and hence home finals in the first two weeks of the finals, contingent on winning each week. South New Zealand took a comforatble 7-3 lead and held it to the end to win 11-6. The result left Sushine Coast 6th on the ladder and hence now needing to win four away finals to win the Premiership, the first ironically being against South New Zealand again in week 1.

With Singapore, Canberra, North New Zealand and Sydney all on 10 points in equal 5th, both became sudden death with only the winners moving into the top 6 on 12 points.

Canberra appeared to have lost their mojo in the trip to Singapore, never troubling them and going down 11-2. The loss ended a disastrous end to the season which saw Canberra lose their last four games after looking in contention for the Minor Premiership earlier.

Sydney travelled to Auckland to challenge North New Zealand for the final spot. Despite being gee'd up their mascot the Big Pippie and a big home crowd, Auckland were sloppy and slipped to 7-3 early and finally went down weakly 11-7. The win moved Sydney up to 4th on for and against and secured a home final in week 1 against Singapore.

Round 11 Results:
Brisbane 11 d Illawarra 1 (at Wollongong)
South New Zealand 11 d Sunshine Coast 6 (at Christchurch)
Newcastle 11 d Melbourne 6 (at Newcastle)
Gold Coast-Tweed 11 d Perth 6 (at Perth)
Singapore 11 d Canberra 2 (at Singapore)
Sydney 11 d North New Zealand 7 (at Auckland)

Preliminary Finals:
Week off: Gold Coast-Tweed, Newcastle
P1: South New Zealand vs Sunshine Coast (at Christchurch)
P2: Sydney vs Singapore (at Sydney)

ARTTSL Team Staff Resign, First Hyperball Team Announced

Staff from a number of ARTTSL Second-Division clubs have formally resigned from their positions, presumably to take up positions in the same clubs when they formally defect to the National Hyperball League.

This being the reason for the resignations has not been confirmed, however the National Hyperball League website has announced the establishment of a new team in Goulburn, which presumably will be additional to any clubs defecting from ARTTSL.

The resignation and re-employment of staff is possibly one way to avoid any ramifications for individual staff over a defection as they would not have formally been an employee of the club at the time of the defection being enacted.

Currently most Second-Division sides are techincally only staffed by a CEO and a few cleaners. It is possible in most cases that CEO's will administer the defections entirely by their own hand.

Director Bernard Elksteine again reaffirmed that any ARTTSL club defecting to Hyperball will be permanently eliminated from all ARTTSL competitions.

"We will also look into serious, expensive and long-running legal action if necessary", Elksteine added.

More as it comes to hand.

Meanwhile First Division clubs continue with preparations from round 11 with most taking little notice of the storm which has engulfed the Second-Division clubs.