Section 1
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Wang Lawn showed Corowa Blue a clean pair of heels in their match and were never threatened at any stage. Corowa were always with their backs against the wall as the powerful Lawn combination flexed their muscles and completely dominated Corowa Blue from the outset.
Corowa were buoyed by the first set result which saw Marianne Spencer and Helen Curtis fight back from a 4-7 deficit to force a tie break which they ultimately lost, unfortunately this was the only highlight of what proved to be a dismal day.
Lawn totally outplayed Corowa with precise and powerful tennis but will need to find another cog in the Preliminary Final if they are to trouble the Wang Hardcourt team. Corowa had good performers in Marianne, Helen Curtis, Alistair Clay and Craig Spencer, while Lawn’s was a team performance spread evenly across the team.
In the 2nd Semi it was the tale of two different Corowa sides, Corowa Red outclassed Wang Hardcourt and set up their win early by winning the first four sets and then when they added the next two the match was done and dusted as a spectacle and the result almost a forgone conclusion. Hardcourt then rallied belatedly and added some respectability to the scoreline by winning the next five sets but it was all to no avail as Corowa Red had done the damage earlier. Corowa Red now sit back and await the victor of the Lawn - Hardcourt match. Scott Francis and Sheree Coghill won three sets each for Corowa while Helen Fuge, Claire Davidson and Kim Broughton assisted in setting up the victory early. Hardcourt’s Scott Solimo, Matt Lucas and Chris Lucas flew the flag for Hardcourts winning two sets each while Di Lucas and Lynne Shepherd battled against the odds.
Section 2
Boorhaman have caused a mini boil over by defeating Wang Hardcourts and advance to the Preliminary final with an emphatic victory. Boorhaman have been waiting for the youth policy to have some effect and on Saturday it was paid in spades for the wait, Boorhaman will now need to forget this week and focus on the Preliminary final as Myrrhee will be out to atone for their lacklustre performance against Everton. Boorhaman never relinquished the lead as has happened in the past, Boorhaman have had a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of success but this week they showed a resolve that hasn’t been present in the past and went away to record a comfortable win. Although it was a team effort from Boorhaman Zave Talbot, Ian Maiden, Hayley Thomson and Merryn Byrne all won three sets to be their best.
Hardcourt had winners in Curtis and Marianna Hines each winning two sets to set the standard for the rest of the Hardcourt team. Myrrhee have once again fallen victim to their own hype and an Everton team that were focused on the end result. Myrrhee have been the best team all year but underestimate finals specialist Everton at your own peril, this week it wasn’t the experienced players but the youth of the team that stood up when the pressure was applied by Myrrhee. At the start of the mixed sets were level at four-all while Everton held an eight-game advantage. When Everton’s Leanne Wood went down with injury early in her set (which they had to forfeit) Myrrhee’s chances of pulling of a miraculous victory were improving. When the next two sets were completed Myrrhee had somehow gain a 6-5 set lead although
Everton were still in front on games (five). It was left to the youth of Everton Sam Bennett and Jo Lucas to play the experienced pair of Peter Allen and Robyn Oliver. The match ebbed and flowed and the only people who didn’t show any nerves were the players as both pairs went for their shots, in the end the Everton pair prevailed 8-5 to ensure a super tie break wasn’t played. It was the youth of Eleisha Kneebone, Jo Lucas, Steve Cole and Sam Bennett that did the damage for Everton. Myrrhee had Dylan Van Berlo, Melissa Pinn, Di Griffin and Peter Allen ensuring Myrrhee had a chance in the finish.
Section 3
Wahgunyah United (Glenn Bobbin, Brodie Molnar, Fiona Rose and Dylan Hewitt) put an end to the season of Wahgunyah South (Jake Saville, Brad Schmidt, Corey Hill and Priscilla Hill). The match was evenly poised after three sets but United found another gear ran away with a comfortable victory. United advance to the Preliminary final in a match that could decide the flag favouritism according to the mail. Dylan Hewitt and Fiona Rose were best for United while Jake Saville and Priscilla Hill were South’s best. Wahgunyah Red (Jake Goddard, Shaun Moore, Wayne Johnstone and Peter Treberly) advanced to the Grand Final with a comprehensive victory over Wahgunyah Blue (Adam Corcoran, Mareeta Corcoran, Sonia Palmer and Kane Palmer). The Red victory was set up courtesy of Wayne and Peter’s first set after that Blue were always playing catch up tennis. Blue need to regroup for the Preliminary final and forget this week, instead concentrate on the following week. Peter and Wayne were Red’s best while Blue were best served by Adam and Sonia.
Predictions
Section 1 – The Hardcourt vs Lawn matches are always close with Hardcourt holding the edge lately but don’t under estimate the finals specialists Lawn. It will go to the wire and with the Lucas clan on fire this will tip the scales in Hardcourt’s favour.
Section 2 – Myrrhee will bounce back and atone for their defeat on Saturday, ensuring they have another chance to cast the monkey off their backs in the Grand Final. Although momentum is a wonderful thing it won’t be enough to get Boorhaman across the line.
Section 3 – The Wahgunyah Blue vs Wahgunyah United is a toss of the coin and the winner will be decided at the selection table, based on this United to win by four games.
Results
Section 1: 1st Semi Final Wang Lawn 8-64 def Corowa Blue 0-29, 2nd Semi Final Corowa Red 7-83 def Wang hardcourt 5-75.
Section 2: 1st Semi Final Boorhaman 9-87 def Wang Hardcourts 3-57, 2nd Semi Final Everton 6-79 def Myrrhee 6-71.
Section 3: 1st Semi Final Wahgunyah United 5-45 def Wahgunyah Sth 1-34, 2nd Semi Final Wahgunyah Red 3-42 def Wahgunyah Blue 3-33.
Under 15: 1st Semi Final Corowa def Wooragee Forfeit, 2nd Semi Final Wahgunyah 7-42 def Chiltern 0-6.
Grand Final next week at Rutherglen – Wahgunyah vs Corowa.