ONLY games could separate the top two sides in the Sunraysia District Tennis Association as Nichols Point Legends and Red Cliffs Rebels played out a thriller.
With scores tied at five sets apiece, Nichols Point’s early big wins were enough to see them advantaged with 67 games to 56, securing the victory in round 6 of the Division 1 competition.
Early on Legends’ Nathan Swaeney was too strong for Jack Ugal winning 8-3, while Leticia Ellis from the Rebels had a surprisingly comfortable win over Heather Olofsson 8-4. The Legends’ men however proved too strong for their opponents. Aaron Wilkie and Cambell McKenzie worked hard to get an 8-6 victory over Robbie Keens and Keiran Mayes, but the other doubles were one-sided affairs in the Pointers’ favour, 8-0 and 8-1.
Cathryn Dawes and Nat Thomas from Nichols Point hung on for an entertaining win over the mother and daughter combination of Lisa and Eliza Hill, 8-6.
The final two women’s doubles were taken narrowly by the Rebels, 8-7 and 8-5.
Nichols Point led by five sets to three coming in to the mixed doubles, but as in previous matches, the Rebels mixed doubles prowess was apparent.
Keens and Lisa Hill won 8-6 over Wilkie and Dawes, while Mayes and Eliza Hill got the chocolates against McKenzie and Thomas, 8-5.
That meant the sets were tied at five apiece, so the match came down to games. Unfortunately for Red Cliffs, some heavy losses earlier in the day saw the win go to Nichols Point, 67 games to 56.
In the other Division 1 contest Sacred Heart Guns were too strong for Sarnia Sloggers with an 8-2 sets victory.
The junior tennis competition has broken up for the school holidays but for those wanting to play, the junior singles championships are on Saturday at Aeros from 9am. There is no play for juniors or seniors on July 1.
Doubles championships for juniors and seniors will take place at Aeros on Saturday, July 8.
SDTA ROUND 6 results:
DIVISION 1
Nichols Point Legends 5(67) d Red Cliffs Rebels 5(56): Nathan Swaeney 24/4 (Nichols Point), Leticia Ellis 24/16 (Red Cliffs).
Sacred Heart Guns 8(62) d Sarnia Sloggers 2(49): Renee Affleck 24/10, Leanne Jordan 24/15, Kerrie Lynch 24/16.
DIVISION 2
St Andrews Spartans 5(53) d Alcheringa All Stars 4(36): Reece Kurrle 24/9, Tash Pedler 24/4, Julie Dunn 24/0 (St Andrews).
Sacred Heart Starters 5(62) d Wentworth Webels 4(55): Tim Noack 24/14, Gloria Sylvia 24/24/13 (Sacred Heart).
Red Cliffs Racqueteers 5(56) d Nichols Point Pointers 4(50): Rakii Woetai 24/14 (Nichols Point), Karen Sharp 24/7.
DIVISION 3
Nichols Point Diamonds 7(64) d Wentworth Wascals 2(45): Corina O’Callaghan 24/12, Jenny Green 24/14, Wendy Dickie 24/9 (Nichols Point)
Alcheringa Almighties 7(66) d Red Cliffs Ratbags 2(49): Mark Henderson 24/11, Mandy Phillips 24/13 (Alcheringa).
DIVISION 4
Nichols Point DI’s 8(69) d Alcheringa Alfrescoes 1(30): Sv Turaki 24/7, Tuma Kirirua-Gill 24/14, Antares Kirirua 24/8, Tauta Rangiuira24/5 (Nichols Point).
Kenny Park Magpies 9(72) d Sacred Heart Braves 0(31): Russell Walder 24/1, Stephen Bennett 24/7, Simon Stirrat 24/9, Kerry Weinert 24/13, Mandy Bone 24/6: Kristen Wade 24/16 (Kenny Park).
JUNIOR results round 5:
A GRADE
Mixed Team 18 d Sacred Heart 15
Sarnia Blue 23 d Sarnia Red 16
B1 GRADE
Sacred Heart Gold 34 d Red Cliffs 19
Sacred Heart Blue 36 d Sarnia 4
Wentworth 27 d Sacred Heart White 20
St Andrews 29 d Mixed Team 27
B2 GRADE
Sacred Heart 36 d Mixed Team 10
Sarnia 33 d Wentworth 17
C GRADE
St Andrews White 18 d Wentworth 4
Sarnia 14 d Sacred Heart 11
Red Cliffs 18 d St Andrews Blue 1
D GRADE
Red Cliffs Blue 12 d Sacred Heart 5
Wentworth Red 9 d Red Cliffs Red 6
