The Frances/Lucindale Eagles stamped their mark on the 2022-23 Southern Ports tennis season, crowned premiers after a convincing win over the Lucindale Koalas.
The Eagles took the lead early in the afternoon, winning four out of six mixed doubles sets.
Top pair – Mark Woods and Tyler Atkinson – had their work cut out for them against the mother-son duo of Leanne and Sam Graetz, but were able to triumph, 6-4.
In the second mixed doubles, Duncan Ogilvie and Casey Weaver dug deep to get a set on the board for the Koalas in a thrilling tiebreak.
The Eagles looked to extend their lead in singles, gaining sets quickly with wins to the top four men.
Tarrent Fudge and Ogilvie battled it out in the singles, with Fudge able to claim a 6-4 win.
Mon Van Dyke also continued her season’s winning streak with another 6-2 victory over Amelia Wood.
However, the Wombats were not going down without a fight.
Leanne Graetz, Casey Weaver and Leanne McCarthy all secured easy wins, while Jarryd Oliver and Alec Ross followed suit in the men’s.
The Eagles maintained a convincing lead heading into the doubles, requiring only two more sets to be crowned premiers.
The match of the day saw Kylie Ware and Leanne McCarthy chasing another set for the Koalas against Jane Fitzgerald and Odette Streefkerk.
In an entertaining contest the Koalas duo was able to take the set, 9-7.
However, it was too little too late, as the Eagles claimed victory in all three men’s doubles to take home the Higgins Shield, 15-125 to 9-103.
The Division 2 final was a closer affair, with Naracoorte taking home the Ratcliff Shield.
Naracoorte came out of blocks slow, with Kingston on top after winning four of the first six sets.
Kingston’s Bianca Cunneen and Matt Menz proved too strong, winning 6-1.
Victories also went to Lou Leidig/Alex Menz (6-1), Tim Parker/Theressa Mules (6-4) and James Lehmann/Ericka Watson (6-2).
Naracoorte showed some real grit, with Kelsie Moyle-Read and Max Malone coming back from two match points down to win in a tiebreaker, to keep their side in the hunt.
As the singles commenced, Kingston held a strong lead with their number one’s both getting the job done, bringing the overall sets won to 6-2.
However, the tide began to turn for Naracoorte, as Max Malone and Shaun Mules claimed the match of the day.
Malone saw off two more match points in the singles against Mules to win another tight tiebreaker.
Steve Biggins showed good form heading into the final, but could not get the job done against Lou Leidig (6-3).
Naracoorte’s women showed their strength, with wins to Kelsie Moyle-Read, Michele Moyle-Read, Jen Malone, Alix Mosey and Lucy Midwinter.
The second half of the day was a real see-saw, with both teams having chances at different times to capitalise and reach that all important 13 sets.
Ultimately Naracoorte achieved that goal, winning 14-124, to Kingston’s 10-122 games.
In Division 3, it was Beachport who claimed the Goldfinch and Drabsch Shield, 15 sets to 9 over Lucindale Wombats.
The day started with an evenly-matched mixed doubles, which finished at three sets each.
The top-ranked Chandler Smart and Eliza Handbury made light work of Noah Lang and Toddette Watson 6-1.
Adrian Maywald and Brittany Voss scraped together a 7-5 win over Jake Harris and Sally Bateman, while Bronwyn Longbottom and Mitchell Baker only managed to gain one game against the Lucy Corman and Tim Loveday.
Tom Handbury’s left-handed prowess and Alex Klug’s dominance at the net was not enough to get over Darcy Bateman and Maddie Redman, finishing 6-3.
Ben Lang and Nat Chambers conceded just one game to Sam Crocker and Micaela Lock, while Robbie Bateman and Em Watson went down 6-1 to Toby Longbottom and Vander Maywald.
The much-anticipated match of the day between Eliza Handbury and Toddette Watson saw many extended rallies and net volley exchanges.
Hanbury claimed the win 6-2, but Beachport did enough to claim the overall win and the premiership.
