Sport
8 September, 2023
Clean sweep for Rowbottom's
The Orford & District Table Tennis Association gathered at the Warrnambool Football Bistro to enjoy the final gathering of players and families for the year.
The bye was eliminated this year with the recruitment of the Pt Fairy team, who showed that they were not to be taken lightly when they finished the season in fourth place.
Interesting happening of the year involved elbows, yes, they came in three, certainly didn’t bring any laughter either. Orford’s Russell Hussey started it when he hurt his in the cow yard, needing surgery, Warriors Neil Ford followed hurting his, but didn’t slow his play down, while Jensen Rowbottom Myndarra had a reminder from Dad to MOVE when playing doubles, blood was spilt but Jensen had the last say, he put a dint in dad’s bat!
It was noted that David Rowbottom (50) as President and Andrew McGrath (48) as Secretary/Treasurer have a combined total of 98 years leading the association (that’s longer than some marriages!)
Over the years they have weathered many ups/downs but have always had the strong support of the committee members and players.
Thank you presentations were made to both and to Nightowl, thanks to committeeman Ian Wortley with his family support. A Grade Premiers and Champions Warrnambool Vikings This team shows the international spread that table tennis encompasses.
Lead by Dominic Angarano who is Italian descent, Rehan Iqbal- Pakistan, Tess Le of Vietnamese heritage and the French connection of Gilles Gunderrmenn. Good thing they can communicate in English and make a very formable team.
Runners-up were Warrnambool Warriors who played some exceptional table tennis grandfinal night but couldn’t just get those five game rubbers to go their way. Peter Owen and Neil Ford also were in the top aggregate places for the year, they were joined by new recruit Marshall Worthington.
B Grade The Myndarra youngsters lead by Aaron Rowbottom tasted their first grandfinal win. Nightowl feels that the youngsters will in ensuring years feature more in the finals. Nick Bartlett, Ally and Jensen Rowbottom have many years play in front of them. Runners-up were Tarrone. Andrew McGrath, David Warhurst, Steven Young and Peter Johnson have the distinction of being both wooden spooners at the end of the pennant season and then winning their way to the B Grade grandfinal!
Aggregate Winner Aaron Rowbottom won this years aggregate by two rubbers from Dominic Angarano, he played one less night than Dom who won last year aggregate.
Players in the top four teams feature strongly in the best performers for the year showing their team strength. Tarrone’s David Warhurst is never out of the top performers even when his team is out of the top four.
Aggregate results were as follows: Aaron Rowbottom (Myndarra) 38 rubbers, 13 nights played; Dominic Angarano (Vikings) 36, 14; Val Wortley (Attunga) 34, 14; Rehan Iqbal (Vikings) 33, 12; Peter Owen (Warriors) 32, 13; David Warhurst (Tarrone) 28, 12; Neil Ford (Warriors) 25, 13; Ian Wortley (Attunga) 23, 12; Ray Young (Port Fairy) 23, 14; Tess Le (Vikings) 22, 8; Kelly Wortley (Attunga) 22, 10.
Most Improved Myndarra’s Ally Rowbottom was this year’s most improved players. She won 13 rubbers from 11 nights played, gaining 9 more rubbers than last year when she played the same number of nights. Ally’s improvement was one of the reasons Myndarra won this year’s B Grade.
Best 1st Year Player Jensen Rowbottom Myndarra, has wanted to join his father and sister for a long time, but needed to gain experience before joining an adult competition. He played 11 nights winning a rubber in his first year. He has a fierce determination and concentration when playing, then he is a third-generation table tennis player as is his sister Ally.
