Sport
10 March, 2023
Central Park into grand final
CENTRAL Park is the first team into Central Wimmera Tennis Association’s pennant grand final after claiming a strong victory over Horsham Lawn on Saturday. On their home courts, Central Park made their way into the season finale after a hard...
CENTRAL Park is the first team into Central Wimmera Tennis Association’s pennant grand final after claiming a strong victory over Horsham Lawn on Saturday.
On their home courts, Central Park made their way into the season finale after a hard fought win, while Kalkee has lived to fight another day after claiming victory in their knockout semi-final against St Michaels.
Two vital tie-break victories within the first four sets of the day proved vital for Central Park who held an upper hand over its dogged opponent to the final match of the day.
An opening doubles 8-7 win to Reece Harman and Justin Slade over Lachie Punchard and Patrick Hall was followed by a thrilling 8-7 victory to Brendan Nitschke over Graeme Wood in the first mens singles rubber.
The two wins proved vital to the final outcome as Central Park won the day eight sets, 80 games to four sets, 76 games.
The four-game final margin was testament to the tense battles of the day as Central Park skipped clear early but not put their opponent completely away until the final round of singles matches.
Leading three sets to one which included the two tie-breakers, Central Park then added three of the next four sets before Horsham Lawn kept their noses in the contest winning both the third round of doubles matches.
Tahlia Thompson and Cherie Wood claimed Lawn’s first win and when Punchard and Graeme Wood won 8-3, Central Park led three sets to two but trailed on games 32-34 before a vital run put the Parkers back in charge.
Willow Sainsbury and Adele Joseph claimed a vital 8-4 win in their doubles clash and when Slade and Sue Walter claimed singles victories 8-6 and 8-5 respectively, Central Park had skipped clear to lead six sets to two, 56 games to 49.
A mini fightback from Horsham Lawn kept the contest in the balance when Hall and Graeme Wood and Cherie Wood and Gemma Walker both claimed 8-4 doubles wins to close the sets margin to 6-4 and took a one game lead into the final round of singles.
But Central Park was able to shut the gate on any last challenges when Harman proved too strong for Punchard 8-5 and when Sainsbury won a tense 8-6 battle over Thompson, Central Park had booked its place in the grand final.
Horsham Lawn’s preliminary final opponent will be Kalkee after they proved too strong for St Michaels on their home courts at Kalkee.
The home team dominated the contest from the outset, winning six of the first seven sets before going on to win the match nine sets, 79 games to three sets, 54 games.
Splitting the opening round of singles one each, Kalkee then went on a five-set winning run to put themselves in a strong position to advance to the next round of finals.
Jeff Friberg and Jimmy Sayle opened in style with an 8-2 win over Ian Nitschke and Peter Hayes before Kassie Peachey and Ang Nitschke replied for St Michaels with an 8-1 win over Mel Beddison and Emily Polack.
But when Kalkee claimed the next five sets, the home team led six sets to one, 52 games to 27.
St Michaels fought back when Ang Nitschke claimed a singles win over Polack 8-3 and Hayes and Nick Robertson won 8-3 over Sayle and Jordan Friberg.
But the home side nailed its win in the next doubles clash when Polack and Hayley Thomas teamed for an 8-3 win to give their side an unassailable lead seven sets to three.
With wins in the remaining three sets, Kalkee stormed into the preliminary final winning the final three sets, 8-3, 8-5 and 8-3 and extended its winning margin.
A Special minor premier Natimuk has stormed into the grand final after a dominant display over Horsham Lawn Thompson.
Natimuk dropped the opening set of the day before claiming the next 13 sets to claim the day 13 sets, 109 games to one set, 46.
In the other semi-final, Kalkee accounted for Telangatuk East nine sets, 92 games to five sets, 73 games.
The teams split the first two sets before Kalkee won the next four sets including the opening two singles matches 8-6 and 8-7.
A Grade minor premier Haven made their way to the grand final after a tense battle with Horsham Lawn Bardell.
Both semi-finals were tight contest with Haven overcoming Horsham Lawn Bardell seven sets to five, while Central Park produced the same scoreline to eliminate Horsham Lawn O’Connor.
In B Special, St Michaels caused an upset when they defeated minor premier Central Park with a powerful 10-2 win and made their way into the grand final.
In the first semi-final, Natimuk eliminated Laharum winning nine sets to three.
No tennis will be played over the long weekend with the preliminary finals to be played on March 18.
RESULTS
Pennant:Second semi-final, Central Park 8 - 80 def Horsham Lawn 4 – 76; first zsemi-final, Kalkee 9 - 79 def St. Michael's 3 – 54.
A Special:Second semi-final, Natimuk 13 - 109 def Horsham Lawn Thompson 1 – 46; first semi-final, Kalkee 9 - 92 def Telangatuk East 5 – 73.
A Grade:Second semi-final, Haven 7 - 86 def Horsham Lawn Bardell 5 – 77; first semi-final, Central Park 7 - 71 def Horsham Lawn O'Connor 5 – 67.
B Special:Second semi-final, Central Park 2 - 48 def by St. Michael's 10 – 92; first semi-final, Natimuk 9 - 88 def Laharum 3 – 57.
Semi-finals 4/3/2023
Open: Second semi-final, Natimuk Blue 1 - 24 def by Natimuk Yellow 5 – 32; first semi-final, Homers 1 - 21 def by Central Park 5 – 31.
Section 1 Boys: Second semi-final, Central Park forfeited to Natimuk; first semi-final, Haven 3 - 24 def by Quantong 3 – 29.
Section 1 Girls: Second semi-final, Horsham Lawn 6 - 36 def Haven Red 0 – 15; first semi-final, Homers 3 - 25 def by Haven Purple 3 – 26.
Section 2 Boys: Second semi-final, Central Park 6 - 36 def Homers Red 0 – 14; first semi-final, Horsham Lawn White 3 - 28 def Homers White 3 – 26.
Section 2 Girls: Second semi-final, Central Park 5 - 35 def Horsham Lawn White 1 – 16; first semi-final, Haven 5 - 33 def Horsham Lawn Gold 1 – 16.
Section 3 Boys: Second semi-final, Horsham Lawn Green 3 - 32 def Horsham Lawn White 3 – 27; first semi-final, Haven 3 - 27 def Horsham Lawn Gold 3 – 25.
Section 3 Girls: Second semi-final, Horsham Lawn Gold 4 – 28 def Horsham Lawn White 2 – 24; first semi-final, Horsham Lawn Green 5 – 35 def Haven 1 – 22.
Section 4 Boys: Second semi-final, Natimuk 2 - 24 def by Haven 4 – 27; first semi-final, Horsham Lawn Red 4 - 34 def Horsham Lawn White 2 – 2.
Section 4 Girls: Second semi-final, Horsham Lawn Gold 4 - 33 def Horsham Lawn White 2 – 24; first semi-final, Haven Orange 4 - 30 def Horsham Lawn Green 2 – 20.
Match Play Section 5: Second semi-final, Horsham Lawn Red 4 - 21 def Horsham Lawn White 2 – 14; first semi-final, Horsham Lawn Purple 6 - 24 def Horsham Lawn Green 0 – 11.
Match Play Section 6: Second semi-final, Natimuk 0 - 9 def by Horsham Lawn Blue 6 – 24; first semi-final, Homers 2 - 17 def by Haven 4 – 18.