Cole holds off Bernardi to take men's decider

ADAM Cole has won the Collie Lawn Tennis Club’s men’s singles title.

In the championship final last weekend Cole won a fantastic final against Paul Bernardi.

Both players exhibited fantastic skills, with long rallies and some impressive winners coming from both sides of the net.

In a straight sets win that belies how close the games were, Cole took out the championship 6-4, 6-4.

Other championship events played during March included the women's doubles in which the newly formed team of Chrischelle Davis and Sara Cole beat Karen McGuckin and Whitney Marley, 6-2, 6-3.

Following a short break, Davis and Cole returned to the court, this time on opposite sides of the net for the mixed doubles.

Davis teamed up with long-time doubles partner Paul Bernardi, while Cole teamed up for the first time with her brother, Adam.

The match was hard fought, with many long games going to multiple deuces, and teams trading breaks in serve. After two and a half hours, and three close sets, team Cole managed to take the win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

The men's doubles final featured newly formed pairs. Paul Bernardi and Adam Cole took the win over Kevin Davis and Jason Earnshaw, 6-1, 6-1.

Football

COLLIE Eagles will take on South Bunbury in Collie’s first game of the 2023 South West Football League season this Saturday.

The game will be played under the newly erected lights at the Collie Recreation Ground.

Eagles club president Matt Blackford said Saturday is a big day for the club and a social event, including the players’ auction, is planned in the clubrooms after the games.

Blackford said all grades are expected to be competitive this season.

“The competition is really good this year," he said.

"There’s been a lot of different players across the teams and our players have turned a leaf in their training. Their attitude has changed, whether it's on the field or off the field, and it reflects in their training habits.