The Echuca Table Tennis Association is into its third competition of the year, with this season mixing up the competition format.
Rather than a full association competition, featuring teams of three, this time players have been divided into A-, B- and C-grades and will be competing in pairs over a shortened seven-round campaign.
The association has also acquired new tables and barriers, filling the Moama Sporting Complex to the brim with action.
A- and B-grades were on a general bye last week and opened up their season on Wednesday, while C-grade competed in round two.
A-grade
Hello Kitty started their season with a hard-fought win over The Dukes.
The teams split the opening round of singles rubbers, with Stephen Hope’s five-game victory over Hank Doller keeping Hello Kitty level going into the doubles.
With fewer matches to be played in the new format, doubles are contested over the best-of-seven games, and all seven were required in this case, Hope and Jen Fang coming from 3-2 down to take the tie 4-3.
Div Mallya levelled the ledger with a singles win, but Fang prevailed in the final rubber to give her side the victory 3-2.
In the other A-grade fixture, Dragons began their campaign on a high against Peralandra.
After splitting the opening rubbers, the doubles was sure to prove critical, and it was Dragons who took it 4-1, Raymond Kissell and substitute Kyle Bartlett working well together to come out on top in several close games.
Needing both remaining singles to snatch the victory, Peralandra was only able to take one, Dragons earning overall victory 3-2
B-grade
In B-grade, Double P kicked off their season with a 4-1 win over DanDan.
Daniel Barry grabbed a late singles win for DanDan, but Phil Higgins and Pete Retallick stepped up in crucial moments to claim the other four rubbers.
In the other match, JD opened with a victory, taking down Tornado.
After an even set of singles rubbers, JD grabbed the crucial advantage in a closely fought doubles, highlighted by a see-sawing 16-14 game.
Jolene Doller and Daniel Mackrell were able to do enough in the remaining singles to walk away 3-2 winners.
C-grade
Flaming Monkeys defeated Cuddly Kittens 3-2, with Isaac Hope the standout for the Monkeys, winning both his singles rubbers.
Mad Dogs beat Dyl and Friends 3-2, Jesse Edwards and Ryan Simmons sharing the load by each scoring a singles win, while pairing up effectively in the doubles.
In the remaining match-up, Rockabilly picked up its first win of the season over Tigers of Old.
With the singles finishing level, Keith Price and Harvey Griffiths had the better of the doubles to secure the win 3-2.