THE Portland Table Tennis Association has seen a surge in membership over the past few months, with  two inclusions into their ranks being brothers Bryce and Devin Koenig.

According to Bryce, their decision to get involved with the club started due to an ongoing sibling rivalry in their private games.

“The only times we really played table tennis was when we were on family holidays… still we got to the point where we thought we were decent players,” he said,

“We saw (the club) was having a come and try day, so we figured we’d come down and have a go… we discovered the people we were playing against were really good and we weren’t.

“That was probably what got us to sign up, an endeavour to get better at it and hone our skills.

“It’s been one of the most enjoyable introductions to a sport that you could ask for… it’s a great club.”

Devin said he recalls playing most of his table tennis with Bryce at the Narrawong Caravan Park.

“It always got super competitive down there, we’d bring along cousins and friends and just have a good time,” he said.

“We got tagged in a post on Facebook and figured it was time to take it to the next level and give it a go.”

The brothers said they certainly found that the step up in competition had added a new layer of competitiveness to the games, especially as they remain on opposing teams.

“Initially when we started we were expecting to be on the same team, but it’s honestly been a lot more fun going against one another,” Bryce said.

“Our informal games we’d just play in sandals and thongs… it’s a lot more serious when you come here to play that’s for sure.

“There’s that added element of wanting to improve and get better against your opposition that you don’t get when it’s just for a bit of fun.”

In spite of the competitive nature of the games, both brothers commended the “welcoming atmosphere” at the club.

“While you’re on the table they’re your opponents and you want nothing more than to beat them, but once it’s all over you’re mates and that’s how it should be,” Bryce said.

“The fact that they were so keen for new members in hosting those four come and try nights… to me that says something about what the club is all about.

“They’ve done a really good job of pairing people up with players of a similar standard… we weren’t just rocking up every week and getting smashed and I think that helps people to come back,” Devin said.

Round 14 results

6 Amigos (G. Schroeder, K. Meaghan, D. Koenig, D. Belden, Noah Liersch, Z. Reeves) defeated Hit & Miss (D. Polkinghorn, J. Mitchell. G. Brewster, T. Burgess, J. MacLeod, J. Hobbs) 11 to 8.

Vintage goods (A. Reeves, A. Hockley, J. Hurt, P. Hayman, T. MacLeod, R. Van Twuyver) defeated Spectrum (B. McMahon, K. Rogers, E. Reeves, B. Tozer, Kirby MacLeod, H. Bradbury) 10 to 9.