The Stawell Friday Night tennis premiership was decided on a perfect autumn night with favourites Frewstal lifting aloft the premiership cup after defeating Farrrers Tyrepower by 19 games.
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The battle could not have started any better with the first match between Frewstal’s number one and two men Nathan Baker and Brian O’Shannessy and Tyrepower’s Howard Dunn and Ben Martin going to a tie-breaker.
After many rally’s and some excellent tennis strokes the Tyrepower team managed to win it nine games to eight and give them some belief that they could maybe beat the competition’s top side.
But alas, after this match Tyrepower only managed to win another 3 sets in the main doubles matches as Frewstal hit top gear and claimed seven sets to grab a comfortable lead with the mixed matches to play.
So with the four mixed doubles matches remaining Frewstal held a commanding 18 game lead and once the first mixed set went to Frewstal’s Nathan Baker and Jade Cross with a five game win against Howard Dunn and Kim Hutton there was no hope left for Farrers Tyrepower and the premiership was firmly in Frewstal’s grasp after the 8-3 result.
Jade Cross continued her stellar form during the season to guide her side to victory by winning her three sets while for Tyrepower Bridget Johnson battled it out to the finish as she fought out some high quality tennis shots to give her side three sets wins 8-1, 8-4 and 8-6.
Victorious Frewstal captain Baker said it was a great team effort that got the job done.
"There were no plans as such, I just wanted all the players to try their best and they did that,” he said.
"The win was a great result for the hard work we have put in this season.”
Cross was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the final after her strong performance across the board.
Baker said she was important early in the match.
"Jade Cross started strong, winning her first set 8-0 set,” he said.
"She is a well-rounded player on the court and is the number one ranked lady at the club.
“So it was good to see her play well in the final.”
The grand final was played in perfect conditions with very little wind to contend with for the players.
Baker said Farrer’s Tyrepower made it tough at times during the match.
"Farrer's were really tough competition in the final,” he said.
“They fought out the matches well.”
Baker said players will now take a break from tennis.
“Some of them will continue to play Wednesday night tennis,” he said.
“The rest of the players will take some time off and will return for the new season later this year.”