LIKE Collingwood’s close shave victory over North Melbourne last weekend, there were many close shave victories in the tight contest between the 24 players who toughed it out at the Oxley social table tennis competition last Monday.

In the first of many contests for the night, Neil Spurgeon hit the floor running when he and Phoebe Morgan joined forces to take on ‘sharpshooter’ Sharlene Gervasoni and William Bonwick.

In the star-studded contest, that showcased every shot in the book, laced with a bit of luck, each player complemented his/her partner’s well delivered placements as they fought for the upper hand.

After the lead going point for point from go to whoa, it was Phoebe and Neil who won by a whisker.

Though outside temperatures were in the single digits, Paul Lawrence, dressed down to his shorts, partnered the rugged-up Don Heath, in hot pursuit of opponents Richard Morgan and Cheryl Coad.

With neither pair offering up any ‘softies’, spectators grew ‘hot under their collars’ as they sweated out the spectacle of the never-say-die battle.

And not surprisingly, another razor-sharp contest was won in a tiebreaker.

When ‘up and coming’ Millie Bosley partnered her dad Adam, opponents June Uebergang and Graham Stephens knew they had a big job ahead of them.

With Millie’s high bouncing serves, backed up by Adam’s straight down the line precision, June and Graham were under constant pressure to decide when and where to deliver the killer shots.

An early lead by Millie and Adam was gradually pegged back as June and Graham pulled their act together, capitalising on ‘age and experience’ to set up the tie breaker, which resulted in one pair winning by the skin of their teeth.

A ‘ding dong’ performance between Manni Poulos partnered by ‘new boy on the block’ Ken Parker, and opponents Debbie Brunken and Gary Coad, had spectators on the edge of their seats from the first lightning-paced serve in a test of everyone’s minds and bodies.

No ‘ifs, couldas or shouldas’ were on anyone’s minds as they threw themselves into the contest with reckless abandon.

Holding a slight lead late in the game, it was Manni and Ken’s game to win, but with a desperate injection of power and glory, Debbie and Gary pinched it from under their noses.

A ‘rip-roarer’ game was on show from the first point when Janet Heath and Neil Brock lined up against ‘competition debutante’ Maree Parker and Katies Woodberry.

While Kanet spread herself over the table, and with Neil wearing his ‘racing plates’ thin, they took the game up to, but not away from the all-round accurate stroke making by Maree and ‘desperado’ Katie.

But all good things must come to an end, and it was Maree and Katie who celebrated a narrow victory.

A tough encountered was on show when the bare-footed ‘blast for the past’ Ben Bonwick, and his ‘go get ‘em’ partner Mich Gervasoni, took on ‘fly by night’ Kate Cole and the ‘bold bounder’ Clive Brooker.

Power personified was mixed with deftness of touch in the entertaining game of cat and mouse until the final point.

Big smiles and hearty handshakes indicated a close shave win by both pairs.

The last ‘game’ of the evening was held around the supper table, where everyone enjoyed a cuppa, a chomp and a chat.

Adults and secondary school students of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the group which meets at the Oxley hall every Monday night beginning at 7pm – BYO bat, $2 entry, and a small plate to share.