Sport
8 May, 2026
Success for new teams
THE opening week of the Orford and District Table Tennis Association season saw two of the new teams celebrate wins.
Both St Helens and Tower Hill won their games while Broadwater went down to St Helens – Warrnambool Warriors and Attunga were the other winners on the night.
Play returned to the Koroit Scouts Hall after an absence of years, the venue again resounding to the sound of table tennis balls hitting bats.
Results from week one:
Tower Hill defeated Orford 7.21-4.16.
Returning players Darren Smith and Gavin Rowbottom both won their three rubbers to set up Tower Hill’s first win as a team.
New player to the association, Mary Wealleans, rounds out the Tower Hill team.
Orford’s Russell Hussey had two long rubbers and lost to Darren Smith 7-11, 13-15, 5-11 and 11-5.
Glengleeson lost to Warrnambool Warriors 0.3-11.33.
A regulation win for the Warriors, with Neil Ford, Peter Owen and David Cranwell all winning their three rubbers.
After winning the first two games, Bill Lyson (Glengleeson) then lost to Neil Ford in five games – the longest rubber of the night – 6-11, 5-11, 10-12, 4-11 and 4-11.
Broadwater lost to St Helens 1.16-7.22.
St Helens’ Ally Rowbottom figured in both longest rubbers played, defeating Andrea Drendel 11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7 and 11-7.
Peter Drendel (Broadwater) had revenge against her, winning 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-7.
Aaron Rowbottom (St Helens) won his three rubbers, while Peter was best for Broadwater with two rubbers – St Helens won both doubles to consolidate the win.
Attunga defeated Koroit 7.23-4.16.
It may have been the first game of the season, but these two sides pushed each other with extended rubbers and games (the winner needing 14 points).
Attunga’s Kelly Wortley opened the night defeating Ray Young 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 and 12-10.
Attunga won the second doubles 3-11, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11 and 12-10.
Fergus Monsborough (Koroit) defeated Kelly 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12 and 12-10 to be the night three rubber winner.
Both Kelly and Val Wortley won two rubbers for Attunga.
Week two will see the Warrnambool Warriors face new side, Tower Hill.
It is anticipated that both Peter Owen and Neil Ford will be too strong for the Tower Hill combination, which are still finding their feet as a team.
The Rowbottom team is expected to continue its winning start when it faces Glengleeson.
In the round two match between Koroit and Broadwater, Koroit’s Fergus Monsborough should win his three rubbers but the Broadwater team may have the measure of his partners – which could result in a close scoreline.
It is anticipated the result will go to the team who wins the doubles.
Orford and Attunga will also meet in round two, with Attunga expected to add to its points tally.
Ladder:
Warrnambool Warriors 4, Attunga 4, St Helens 4, Tower Hill 4, Broadwater 0, Koroit 0, Orford 0 and Glengleeson 0.
