St Michaels claim glory
Wimmera tennis grand finals last Saturday brought the Central Wimmera Tennis Association 2021-22 season to a thrilling close.
St Michaels has won the pennant premiership title for the second season running.
St Michaels defeated Drung South Purple 7-80 to 5-60 on a lawn surface grand-final showdown at Horsham Lawn Tennis Club.
They overcame a Drung South Purple side that stormed home through the back end of the season to mount a serious premiership challenge.
The win wrapped up St Michaels’ powerful 2021-22 season performance.
It finished second on the homeand-away ladder, behind Horsham Lawn; and overcame the ever-present Kalkee in the semi-final round.
While St Michaels entered last Saturday’s match perhaps the favourite to take out the silverware, much was pinned to performances of individual players on the day.
In other division grand-final matches: Horsham Lawn Thompson won the A Special grand final beating Natimuk 9-79 to 5-74; 2022 centenary club Haven beat Horsham Lawn Bardell in the A Grade grand final 7-78 to 5-72; and Laharum overcame St Michaels in the B Special grand final 10-91 to 2-58.
Association president Jeremy Quast said Drung South Purple put up an amazing effort, but St Michaels was just too strong.
“Drung South Purple had a number of players who stepped up into A Grade for their first full year, which was an incredible effort all season. Look out in years to come because they will only get stronger and stronger,” he said.
“Congratulations to St Michaels though. While it was an easy win on games, a set here or there would have seen things change quite substantially. But they were such a strong outfit all year and should be strong again next year. Teams will have to work out how to get the better of them soon.”
He said an A Special grand-final rematch between Natimuk and Horsham Lawn Thompson was ‘great’ to watch and Laharum deserved its B Special title after a dominant display all year.