Gavin beat his older brother in five epic sets, but he couldn’t stop his Pinnacle Packers team going down 6-5 to Fishers IGA.

Gavin scored only one point in the first set against his brother, a perennial winner in their encounters.

Wayne went out to a 6-2 lead in the second, and appeared set to record a straight-sets win.

But Gavin hauled himself back into the match with spectacular chopped defence from the deeps, and by moving in over the table to nullify Wayne’s heavily looped attack with topspin block shots, directed to backhand, with minimal pace and spin.

Wayne led 10-9, but Gavin held firm to close out the set 12-10. Order appeared to be restored when Wayne won the third 11-9, but in the fourth, Gavin tightened up his defence and whenever left-handed Wayne looped a backhand across the table, crashed a flat forehand drive straight down the table, catching him out of position.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Friday’s Sunraysia Daily 16/10/2009.