SIZZLING VICT ORY ON THE BEA CH
TOWNSVILLE has claimed an impressive double in the Queensland Beach Volleyball Series after winning both the men’s and women’s finals at last weekend’s event in Cairns.
The state’s top beach volleyball talents scorched the sands of the Cairns Esplanade for the second round of the series and the only one to be held in North Queensland.
Townsville duo Rebecca Matheson and Natasha Chaplin overcame top Brisbane pair Danielle King and Vanessa Green to win the women’s final in straight sets.
Matheson and Chaplin faced a tight battle to win the opening set 21- 19 before they took control in the second, winning 21- 12 to clinch the overall crown.
Townsville’s Christian Matheson then teamed up with Kiahl Morley from the Sunshine Coast to win the men’s final in a hard- fought three- setter against Brisbane’s Aaron Poole and Alex Kusters.
Matheson and Morley were too strong as they took out the opening set 21- 17, but the Brisbane pair hit back to win the second 21- 16 before the Townsville team prevailed 15- 12 in the decider.
“It was a massive success to be able to beat those top state teams and give them a bit of a shake- up,” team spokesman Michael Matheson said.
“Travelling is a real impairment and they may only get to a few other tournaments, but it’s just good for the local sport to show that we’re competitive with those big southerners.”