IN these unprecedented times, several summer sports have taken a hit and premierships have been awarded in unconventional manners.
The Mount Gambier and District Tennis Association is one organisation which has been affected by the current COVID-19 health crisis, with the season called short before finals.
As a result the ladder leaders at the end of the minor rounds were announced as the 2019-20 premiers.
That sees the top honours for the season go to Centrals in the Division 1 men’s competition and Reidy Park in the Division 1 women.
Both teams are deserving of the title, having finished top of their class in convincing fashion.
Centrals’ men did not lose a game in 2019-20, with 12 victories and three draws.
Finishing runner-up for the year is Glencoe Gold, which would be disappointed to miss out on a chance to defend its 2018-19 title.
However, finishing with 11 wins and two losses, it wrapped up the minor rounds 17 points behind Centrals.
The two teams were likely to meet in the grand final – had it been played – as they showed their dominance throughout the season.
Reidy Park finished up in third place with just six wins and eight losses, showing the gap between the top and bottom tiers in the final four.
The two clashes between Centrals and Glencoe Gold were played in round one and eight, where the former prevailed by two sets on both occasions, while their round 11 encounter was washed out.
In the Division 1 women’s competition, Reidy Park was the dominant side in 2019-20.
It finished the minor rounds with 10 wins, two losses and three draws for a total of 141 points – 30 clear of its nearest rival West Gambier.
West had seven wins for the season and one of those was against Reidy back in round five.
However, their other three meetings were won by Reidy, along with a washout in round 11.
Bottom-placed finisher Uniting Church was the only other team to beat Reidy during the home-and-away season in a round-seven upset.
The Division 2 and 3 results were far closer this season.
In fact, Mount Schank secured the Division 2 premiership by a single point, after it finished level on wins and losses with Glencoe Gold.
Both teams won 10 rounds and lost three, with two draws each, but Mount Schank won one extra set for the season which helped it across the line.
Completing the top four were West Gambier Red with nine wins, two losses and four draws, as well as Reidy Park Royal with 10 wins, four losses and a draw.
An entertaining finals campaign was likely to unfold between the four teams, but it was not to be and Mount Schank was handed the season honours.
Division 3 was also a tight competition, but Suttontown Tigers were the cream of the crop and secured the premiership by two wins.
The Tigers won 12 games for the season, with only one loss – to third-placed Centrals in round five – and a draw due to a washout.
Mil Lel Blue finished up in second place with 10 wins, edging out Centrals and Suttontown Hawks, who also won 10 games.
Wrapping up the senior competition the women’s and mixed doubles were called short before their final minor round.
However, as it stands Uniting Church sits on top of the women’s doubles ladder and was awarded the season honours.
Glencoe was the dominant side in the mixed doubles competition and finished three wins clear on top of the table to claim the premiership.
Lakes Junior Tennis was also affected by the season cancellation, with all ladder leaders awarded the premiership.
West Gambier was dominant once again in the junior grades and claimed five of the 11 premierships on offer.
All that remains for the 2019-20 season is the shield and individual medal presentations.
Mount Gambier and District Tennis Association president Matt Charlton said it is still uncertain how or when those presentations will take place.
MOUNT GAMBIER AND DISTRICT TENNIS ASSOCIATION PREMIERS
Division 1 – Men: Centrals; Women: Reidy Park; Division 2: Mount Schank; Division 3: Suttontown Tigers; Women’s doubles: Uniting Church; Mixed doubles: Glencoe.
LAKES JUNIOR TENNIS PREMIERS
A Grade – Boys: West Gambier; Girls: Reidy Park; B Grade – Boys: Glencoe; Girls: West Gambier; C Grade – Boys: West Gambier; Girls: West Gambier; D Grade – Boys: West Gambier; Girls: Mount Gambier; E Grade – Boys: Reidy Park; Girls: Glencoe; F Grade: Reidy Park.
