ADTA - It will be a Crowlands verse Buangor grand final in the Ararat and District Tennis Association after the two teams won their respective semi finals on Saturday.
Buangor, up against the reigning premiers in Ararat, played the match of the season to win in a two game heart breaker.
Excitement filled the Ararat courts, with even the crowd getting in on the action as most sets went the full distance.
Oakley Gason pulled out his best performance for the tennis year to help give the Ararat men a slender six game lead.
This lead was quickly reversed when the Ann-Maree Driscoll led Buangor took control, stealing the advantage by two games.
A ripping three mixed sets had all players on edge, with Ararat sitting two games ahead and just one set remaining. Enter Driscoll and partner Marcus Matthews.
The pair dug deep for Buangor and were able to keep their opponents at bay, claiming a 9-5 victory and booking a place in the grand final.
Ararat can hold its head up high for a terrific season, but it will be Buangor who get one last crack at the silverware.
Crowlands will be entering its fifth grand final in as many years after toppling neighbours Elmhurst by 22 games.
Elmhurst gave the minor premiers a huge scare by thumping its men, with the assistance of an in form Mal Boatman and Pat Hall helping the cause.
Crowlands hit back like every good team should, giving Elmhurst a taste of its own medicine in the ladies.
Kate Vance and Claire Hodgetts were superb, while Ashleigh and Tiffany Boatman could hardly put a foot wrong as they held a 16 game lead as they entered the mixed.
As much as Elmhurst tried to get within reach of stealing the win, Crowlands just kept on going and blew the margin out to a respectable end.
Crowlands and Buangor will now meet this Saturday at Landsborough.
Results
Ararat 37-3 lost to Buangor 89-7
Men, Ararat 32-2 def Buangor 26-0: O Gason, S Gason def J Matthews, M Matthews 9-7; R Hamilton, A Drosg lost to M Adams, I Maconachie 5-9; O Gason, R Hamilton def J Matthews, M Adams 9-6; S Gason, A Drosg def M Matthews, I Maconachie 9-4.
Ladies, Ararat 24-0 lost to Buangor 32-2: C Harricks, C Matthews lost to A Driscoll, M Hargreaves 1-9; J Ralph, L Haddow lost to L Maconachie, E Hinchliffe 7-9; C Harricks, J Ralph lost to A Driscoll, L Maconachie 7-9; C Matthews, L Haddow def M Hargreaves, E Hinchliffe 9-5.
Mixed, Ararat 31-1 drew with Buangor 31-1: O Gason, C Harricks def J Matthews, M Hargreaves 9-5; S Gason, C Matthews lost to M Matthews, A Driscoll 5-9; R Hamilton, J Ralph def I Maconachie, L Maconachie 9-8, A Drosg, L Haddow lost to M Adams, E Hinchliffe 8-9.
Crowlands 84-8 def Elmhurst 62-2
Men, Crowlands 20-0 lost to Elmhurst 36-2: P Vance, K Boatman lost to P Hall, L Murray 5-9; H Price, S Jardine lost to S Pevitt, M Boatman 2-9; P Vance, H Price lost to P Hall, S Pevitt 8-9; K Boatman, S Jardine lost to L Murray, M Boatman 5-9.
Ladies, Crowlands 36-2 def Elmhurst 5-0: K Vance, C Hodgetts def B Spicer, A Harrison 9-1; A Boatman, T Boatman def R Murray, S Shaw 9-2; K Vance, A Boatman def B Spicer, R Murray 9-1; C Hodgetts, T Boatman def A Harrison, S Shaw 9-1.
Mixed, Crowlands 28-2 def Elmhurst 21-0: P Vance, K Vance def P Hall, A Harrison 9-3; K Boatman, C Hodgetts def L Murray, B Spicer 9-4; H Price, A Boatman def S Pevitt, R Murray 9-5; S Jardine, T Boatman lost to M Boatman, S Shaw 1-9.