Section 1
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Wang Lawn are the first team to advance to the big dance with a comprehensive victory over Corowa Blue on Saturday.
Corowa Blue had been the form team all year, but Wang Lawn love the big stage and always seem to find something extra around finals time.
Lawn began the day in the perfect way when their women breezed through their opening 2 sets 8-3 and had 2 points on the board before the men had completed 1 set which Corowa held on to win in a tight tie break set.
Lawn added another women’s set while the changeover men’s set saw Lawn grab another and ultimately the match ascendancy, but Corowa were back in the match with a glimmer of hope after
the Fillponi boys (Peter and Greg) brushed aside their Lawn opponents as they turned back the clock to produce a faultless display of tennis.
With only the mixed sets to play, Lawn held a commanding lead and when Andrew Pyta and Janelle Hartwig walked off 8-2 victors the result was beyond doubt and with the next 2 sets split Lawn won 6-3.
The Fillponi boys, Darrell Spencer and Helen Fuge always believed they had a chance even though as the day progressed the possibility of a win was diminishing for Corowa.
Lawn had none better than Janelle Hartwig and Carolyn Shaw who each won 3 sets and with the finishing touches coming from Wendy Hogan and cagey Ken Parker Lawn never looked likely to relinquish the early lead.
Wang Hardcourt have done a “Steve Bradbury” and claimed the points against Corowa Red and eliminated them from the finals race.
Corowa Red were impressive early and had Wang Hardcourt on the ropes and just couldn’t lay the knockout punch to put the match to bed and this was to prove crucial in the end result.
Corowa Red were 4 sets to 1 up and held a handy game advantage but Matt Lucas and Scott Solimo stemmed the tide and turned the match around when they won 8-2.
Corowa were now a little shaky but confident they would hold on as Hardcourt needed to win all 3 mixed sets to at least force a super tie break or they thought.
Hardcourt won the first 2 mixed sets 8-6 which then set the scene for a tense and closely contested final set, by this stage the match had swung in favour of Hardcourt who still needed to win the set and Corowa needed 6 games to force a super tie break.
Hardcourts experienced duo Mario Pane and Di Lucas used their vast years of tennis knowledge to carry the hopes of the Hardcourt team as they methodically dismantled their Corowa opponents’ game to complete a rags to riches come from behind team victory with an 8-3 win.
Hardcourts Matt Lucas was outstanding all day as he was the one in the team to stand up early and he managed to drag his team from the brink of defeat with his 3 sets.
Corowa were disappointed as victory was within touching distance which was set up early by Marianne Spencer, Sheree Coghill and Zali Spencer.
Section 2
Wahgunyah Red as predicted moved on to the next stage with a win over Myrrhee, which was an entertaining and tightly contested match throughout.
Myrrhee sent early shivers down the spine of the previously undefeated Wahgunyah team, as Myrrhee were close to starting the day with 3 sets (losing 2 tie breaks and an 8-6) as this could have been the start of a boil over.
You could see the Wahgunyah nerve endings tingling as each set progress and the matches continued to be close, but it was Wahgunyah that steadied in the crisis and held their nerve to take the first 3 sets.
Once the early fears and nerves were put to the side Wahgunyah regained their composure and began to take control of the game and after the initial Myrrhee onslaught, Wahgunyah never looked threatened again.
The battle between Wahgunyah’s Travis “Ronald” McDonald and Myrrhee’s Dylan “VB” Van Berlo was worth the price of the entrance fee as these to goliaths traded blows all day with precision and power in the relentless pursuit of victory, it was a pleasure to watch.
Phil Corker, Cathy Van Berlo and Robyn Oliver were instrumental early in sending Wahgunyah a message that they wouldn’t a pushover.
Wahgunyah’s performance throughout the year has been based on a team ethos and Saturday was no different.
Wang Hardcourt have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after they were overrun by Everton Blue in the elimination final on Saturday.
Hardcourt’s women held a healthy advantage over their counterparts while the Everton men held sway over their Hardcourt opponents which set up and entertaining finish to the match.
Hardcourt held a healthy 9 game lead heading into the mixed sets but when Everton struck early taking the first 2 mixed sets Hardcourt had their backs to the wall, it was then left to Nicole “Captain Couragous” Brimblecombe and Curtis Hines to salvage the day for Hardcourt which they did with authority winning 8-3.
Hardcourt’s last set win forced a super tiebreak, which was always going to be tight as the 2 combatants had just played a tie break in their mixed match.
The tie break ebbed and flowed with both teams at times seeming to be in control but in the end, it was the experience and calmness in the moment that managed to get Everton the edge and ultimately the victory 12-10.
Noel Kneebone, Alan Wood and Graeme Gibb were outstanding for Everton but the standout for the match was Nicole Brimbecombe who singlehandedly carried the hopes of the Hardcourt team on her shoulders as she won 3 sets (losing only 4 games for the day) and with Marika Van Stelkenberg ad Tomo Moriya adding support Hardcourt were always in with a chance.
Section 3
Wahgunyah United (Brad Schmidt, Dave Harris, Rob Hill, Matt Davis) progressed to the Preliminary Final with a victory over Wooragee (Lia Ladbrooke, Skip Peiper, Mark Knoth, William Flahive). Wooragee started well winning 1 set and narrowly losing another 8-6 to give themselves hope and outside chance of victory.
Wahgunyah United then turned the screws and snuffed out any chance Wooragee had of causing an upset.
Wooragee can put the racquets away for the season in the knowledge that they can compete with the best in the comp and with another 6 months maturity they will face the next season with renewed hope.
Wahgunyah Blue (Jake Saville, Tye Calow, Corey Hill, Mat Vogel) have once again proved to be Wahgunyah Red’s (Andrew Palmer, Brett Skinner, Peter Trebley, Kane Palmer) nemesis with a victory over them on Saturday.
The match was evenly poised with 1 set to go and as both teams traded sets in an even contest, Blue held a 1 set and 2 game lead as Tye and Mat walked on the court and within 4 games the match was out of Red’s reach as they waltzed to an 8-1 win.
Wahgunyah Red will need to regroup quickly as they face Wahgunyah United in the Preliminary final.
Preliminary Final Predictions.
Section 1 - Wang Hardcourt with home ground advantage to fall over line against Corowa Blue.
Section 2 - Difficult to pick the result. Will be determined by availability of Dylan. If unavailable, Everton to win.
Section 3 - Wahgunyah Red to pick the pieces up from Saturday’s lose and will over run Wahgunyah United.
Results
Section 1
Wang Lawn 6-63 def Corowa Blue 3-44, Wang Hardcourt 5-56 def Corowa Red 4-54.
Section 2
Wahgunyah Red 9-72 def Myrrhee 0-40, Everton Blue 5-47 def Wang Hardcourt 4-57 (Super Tie Break 12-10).
Section 3
Wahgunyah Blue 4-42 def Wahgunyah Red 2-33, Wahgunyah United 5-46 def Wooragee 1-27.
Under 15
Chiltern 4-35 def Corowa 3-28, Wahgunyah 7-42 def Beechworth 0-18.
Under 15 Grand Final at Rutherglen –March 7.
Wahgunyah Vs Chiltern.