Focus: Kaila McLean hits out in the Sunraysia District Tennis Association grand final at the weekend. Picture: Clancy Shipsides
NAIL biting matches and close scores were the order of the day in the grand final matches of the 2012 Sunraysia District Tennis Association winter pennant season.
In Division 1, Alcheringa Avengers seven sets, 58 games, defeated Red Cliffs Roughies, three sets, 60 games.
At the end of the singles matches sets were even, when Alcheringa’s Zac Robinson defeated Jason Kalms 8-4.
But the tables were turned in the women’s singles when Kaila McLean defeated Kate Olofosson 8-0.
In the men’s doubles matches, the Alcheringa pairing of John Creamer and Geoff Schuller defeated Tyson McLean and Peter Arney, Creamer and Robinson defeated McLean and Kalms, but the Red Cliffs men saved themselves when Kalms and Arney scored over Schuller and Robinson.
In the women’s, Alcheringa’s Maritta Watson and Jess Tiller defeated April Crouch and Lisa Hill, Watson and Olofosson defeated Crouch and McLean in a hard fought tie break, before Red Cliffs exacted revenge when McLean and Hill defeated Tiller and Olofosson.
This left a do-or-die battle in the mixed doubles, with Red Cliffs needing to win both matches to tie on sets, but were unable to do so.
The Sacred Heart Guns and the Red Cliffs Rockets were the two teams to beat all season in Division 2, and the contest went down to the wire, Sacred Heart eventually winning 6 (70) to 4 (55).
Leanne Jordon was the player of the day, scoring 24/9, with Andrea Mastrippolito scoring 23/18 and Kerrie Lynch scoring 23/11.
In Division 3, Kenny Park 6 (64) defeated Red Cliffs 4 (54).
In a day of close games, Kerry Nulty of Red Cliffs scored 24/12 and Myles Wade of Kenny Park scored 24/13.
Red Cliffs were bridesmaids in the top three divisions, but loom as the club to beat in 2013.
The battle in Division 4 was neck and neck all day, Alcheringa 5 (66) defeating Nichols Point 5 (58).
Glenn Thomspon scored 24/10 and Jeremy Giddings scoring 24/8 to win.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday's Sunraysia Daily 20/09/2012.