GRAND FINALS BUT THE SCORES NEVER TELL THE FULL STORY

Great determination shown in this grand final match captured by photographer, Desley Payne. Here we see Judy Chin in her match-up with Martyn Clarke

Grand Finals were held last Tuesday night (March 26) in Div 1 and Div 2. In Div 1, a quick look at the scores and it would appear that Boodies (Mark Bagshawe and Michael Wilson) suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Potoroos (Adam Wood and Gerrit Fialla) with the return 2 singles matches not even being needed to be played.

But reality is quite a different story. The first match was entertaining with the attacking prowess of both Michael Wilson and Gerrit Fialla making for some great rallies. Michael was looking strong when he up 2-1 but Gerrit took it to the wire when he won the 4th game. The 5th game was going point for point when Michael edged to a 10-8 lead. But the final score of 13-11 to Gerrit tells us nothing of the 3 match points that could have given the first points to Michael but for a centimetre or two.

In the second match I saw an Adam Wood I have not seen before. His very deceptive serves which usually give him 3 or 4 free points per game were not troubling Mark. His lightning fast attacking flicks were being returned with monotonous ease by Mark and sometimes with interest. So he was forced to play Mark’s defensive game. The rallies were long and the mistakes were few. Adam prevailed in the first 2 very close games 12-10 and 11-8. When Mark took the next game with ease 11-4, it looked like the tide might have turned but Adam showed another strength in his game with absolute concentration and determination to take the 4th game 11-8 and the win.

And it still did not look all over for the Boodies when after losing the first game 9-11 in the doubles, they came back strongly to win the second 11-4. But once again they could not keep the momentum on their side.

Well done to the premiers, Adam and Gerrit, but one has to have a little feeling for Mark and Michael who were the minor premiers and virtually unbeatable for the first ¾ of the season. This was the second season in a row that Mark has been minor premier (his partner last time was Dan Ettel) but fell at the last hurdle. But, though very determined, Mark is always a perfect gentleman on the court and he won’t be deterred in the least.

In the Div 2 final, the minor premiers,Sharks, finally got back to their original winning combination of Martyn Clarke, Stephen Parke and John Dale after many weeks of fielding subs. And it looked like the win was just a formality when they zoomed to a 4-1 lead needing only 2 wins from the last 6 matches. Incidentally Martyn Clarke largely accounted for 3 of these wins with 2 singles and a doubles.

But the Narwhals (John Ettel, Judy Chin and Ian Thomas) were never going to lie down and it was largely due to crafty and determined play by Judy and Ian which saw them win 5 matches in a row to steal the win. Ian Thomas especially deserved the win after a great season.