Premiership title awaits

BY ABBY WALTER

Central Park and Kalkee will meet for the final time in the Central Wimmera Tennis Association 2022-23 pennant season to vie for premiership honours.

Kalkee defeated Horsham Lawn on Saturday by two sets to confirm its position in the grand final this weekend.

Across the two teams, there were five consistent, stand-out players for the day.

James Sayle, Jeff Friberg and Steve Schultz played well for Kalkee, winning three sets apiece.

Tahlia Thompson and Cherie Wood were in top form again for Horsham Lawn, although it was not enough to combat Kalkee’s strength.

Grand final teams, when meeting in previous rounds, have both come home with a win.

Central Park won early in the season 9-3 and Kalkee followed that with a 9-3 win the next time they met.

Kalkee’s Hayley Thomas and Melissa Beddison will need to build on their preliminary final performance to help push their team to a win.

Central Park’s Reece Harman and Willow Sainsbury will be ones to watch as they work to lead their team to a premiership.

A Special

Minor premiers Natimuk has its eyes on an A Special premiership as it is challenged by Horsham Lawn Thompson on Saturday.

Horsham Lawn Thompson defeated Kalkee by two sets in the preliminary final, after solid performances by Maree Thompson and Shane McGrath.

Natimuk’s Ashley Webb, Ben Garwood and Tom Bourchier have had a strong season and will be difficult to beat.

Natimuk and Horsham Lawn Thompson met on one occasion during the home-and-away season, when Natimuk won by six sets, and again in the semi-final, with Natimuk winning by 12 sets.

Natimuk will be confident heading into Saturday’s grand final clash.

A Grade

Five games propelled Central Park over the line to play Haven in this week’s A Grade grand final. Coming up against Horsham Lawn Bardell, Central Park worked hard to win the preliminary final.

Central Park’s Rod Shurdington will look to win all three of his sets, while Haven’s Lewis Gebert and Sarah Hateley will aim for a strong repeat of their semi-final performance.

While Haven has won each time the teams met this season, on the final occasion in the home-andaway season it was six sets all, with the winner decided by games.

B Special

In B Special competition, Central Park will face St Michaels for premiership glory.

Yvonne Thomas, Rebecca Clough and Fiona Jones played well in the preliminary final against Natimuk. St Michaels’ Gavin Kelm will be a difficult opponent this week. Senior grand finals will be played at Haven on Saturday.

Results

Match Play Section 6: Haven 5-21 d Natimuk 1-10.

Grand finals

Seniors

Pennant: Central Park v Kalkee.

A Special: Natimuk v Horsham Lawn Thompson.

A Grade: Haven v Central Park.

B Special: St Michaels v Central Park. Juniors

Open: Natimuk Yellow v Central Park.

Section 1 Boys: Natimuk v Central Park.

Section 1 Girls: Horsham Lawn v Haven Purple.

Section 2 Boys: Central Park v Horsham Lawn White.

Section 2 Girls: Central Park v Haven.

Section 3 Boys: Horsham Lawn Green v Haven.

Section 3 Girls: Horsham Lawn Gold v Horsham Lawn White.

Section 4 Boys: Haven v Horsham Lawn Red.

Section 4 Girls: Horsham Lawn Gold v Horsham Lawn White.

Match Play Section 5: Horsham Lawn Red v Horsham Lawn White.

Match Play Section 6: Horsham Lawn Blue v Haven.