While the Clare Table Tennis Association makes every effort to mix up the teams each year and yet provide even competition, being called a Galah is a good thing, as this team has played in 5 of the last 7 Grand-finals, winning 3 and losing 2.

The first round of doubles again proved too crucial Thursday night, but this time Galahs were able to do to Hawks what they had done to everyone else this finals series and take all three, to set up their night. Hawks combination of PeteWaters & Kev Fox had a great tussle with Ben Johnson & Andrew Jaeschke but fell short 15-13 in the fifth. Galahs combination of Di Brackstone & Luke Day came from two sets to love down to win 12-10 in the fifth, over Dave Eckerman & Krystal Lines.

In the singles Andrew Cornwell survived a scare by Pete Waters the match going the full seven, Andrew clawing out a crucial lead in the third 17-15. If Pete had grabbed this one who knows what might have happened. Perhaps even a Hawk revival, but the Galahs were by now 4 matches to zip. The Hawks players took the next three matches to gain ground, before star Galah weapons, Andrew Jaeschke followed by Luke Day put Galahs up 6-3. For Hawks Rodney Burgess and Pete Waters were the only members to get wins in the second round of singles, defeating their opposite numbers in Ben Johnson and Kym Baum.

Ben had to pass a fitness test to make the side having missed the semi’s, and perhaps this became a factor when he lead Pete 3 sets to 1, only to have him take the match in 7. Similarly, Hawk Kev Fox lead “AJ” Jaeschke 3-1 to be narrowly over run 11-9 in each of the last 3 sets. When Luke Day was able to take his match against Krystal Lines in 4 tight sets12-10, 11-9, 14-12, 11-7, Galahs had secured the night and the team Championship, adding two of the final 3 doubles for a final score of Galahs 12/53 to Hawks 6/36. While this sounds clearcut, there were definitely turning points during the evening that could have swung the momentum to the Hawks, had Galahs not been as steady as they have been all season.