Central Park secures spot
Central Park has secured a Central Wimmera Tennis Association grand final berth after defeating Horsham Lawn in the first pennant semi-final at the weekend.
Horsham Lawn’s chances at a premiership have not been slashed, however, and it will have a second chance against Kalkee after the long weekend break.
Kalkee convincingly defeated St Michaels by six sets on Saturday to continue in the finals series.
Kalkee’s Hayley Thomas and Jeff Friberg were consistent all day, winning three sets each.
The margins for each set ranged from seven to three games, which had Kalkee looking comfortable until the end.
Saint Angela Nitschke put up a fight and won two of her team’s three sets.
Central Park defeated Horsham Lawn by four sets and four games.
From both teams, every player suffered at least one loss and with two tiebreakers early in the day, it was clear it would be a hotly-contested final.
Central Park’s Adele Joseph and Willow Sainsbury were a challenge for each opponent they faced.
Horsham Lawn’s Cherie Wood was hard to beat and won two sets for the day.
Reece Harman and Justin Slade, Central Park, defeated Lachlan Punchard and Patrick Hall, Horsham Lawn, in a tiebreak.
Brendan Nitschke also won a tiebreak for Central Park, against Graeme Wood.
In A Special competition, Natimuk waltzed into the first grand final position after defeating Horsham Lawn Thompson by 12 sets.
Dylan Thompson and Brett Thompson won the only set for Horsham Lawn Thompson for the day.
Natmuk’s Ashley Webb and Ben Garwood dominated in their doubles game, while Tom Bourchier was strong in his doubles.
Kalkee kept its finals hopes alive with a win against Telangatuk East by four sets.
Kalkee’s Tyler Pidgeon and David Richardson worked hard in their doubles set to win by two games and finish the day undefeated.
Grant Schultz and Aiden Richardson, Kalkee, also won their doubles game to go three from three with a convincing 8-1 win.
There were closer games in the A Grade competition with Haven defeating Horsham Lawn Bardell 7-5, and Central Park defeating Horsham Lawn O’connor 7-5. Haven’s Lewis Gebert and Sarah Hateley, and Chloe Reinheimer and Breanne Mills proved strong with tiebreak wins.
Bruce Maher and Les Warrick, and Karrie Duxson and Emma Streeter, also won in tiebreaks for Horsham Lawn Bardell.
It could have been anyone’s day between Central Park and Horsham Lawn O’connor with a final four-game margin.
Central Park snuck over the line with solid performances from Emma Lutze and Rod Shurdington across their sets for the day.
Joel Boyd played well for Horsham Lawn O’connor, winning his three sets.
In B Special, minor premier Central Park went down by eight sets to St Michaels.
St Michaels’ Gavin Kelm hardly dropped a game, winning 8-4, 8-1 and 8-0 with his doubles partners.
Emily Clough and Yvonne Thomas won a set for Central Park in a tiebreak.
Natimuk convincingly defeated Laharum by six sets. Natimuk’s Archie Sudholz and Nikki Coutts played well to win their doubles 8-1. Sudholz also partnered well with Cody Maybery to win again 8-1.
Natimuk will now face Central Park in the preliminary final for the final spot in the grand final against St Michaels.