ADTA 2012/13 premiers Crowlands: (back) Steve Jardine, Hayden Price, Keith Boatman, Paul Vance; (front) Tiffany Boatman, Claire Hodgetts, Kate Vance (captain), Mary-Lou Boatman.
ADTA - Crowlands capped off a brilliant season in the Ararat and District Tennis Association by tasting premiership glory on Saturday.
In what was expected to be a close battle between Crowlands and opponents Buangor, the two teams did not disappoint spectators.
Six games was all that separated the strong outfits, bringing the Landsborough courts alight with some brilliant tennis.
The men played some absolute cracking sets, however it was Buangor which held the edge, failing to drop a set and lead by 15 games.
Experienced duo Marcus Matthews and Mr Buangor himself, Ian Maconachie, were ferocious in their attack.
This Buangor advantage however was completely whipped away in the ladies' section, thanks to a victory-keen Crowlands' crew.
Captain Kate Vance and young gun Tiffany Boatman couldn't put a foot wrong as they handed their team the lead by nine games as the match entered the mixed sets.
Vance then teamed up with husband Paul to play a marathon tie-breaking set against top pair Josh Matthews and Ann-Maree Driscoll, which extended the Crowlands' lead once more.
Another married duo in Ian and Sue Maconachie pegged the lead back to eight, before the Marcus Mathews and Laura Maconachie combination reeled it to within just three games.
With the pressure mounting on Crowlands, local hero Steve Jardine partnered Tiffany Boatman and had the crowd roaring as the pair dug deep and claimed the set well after 7pm. Boatman was rewarded for her efforts by winning the best on court medal on the day.
For Buangor it can hold its head high for what was a sensational season.
Presentations followed with Ararat’s Sam Gason and Landsborough’s Claire Monaghan claiming the most valuable player awards in the men’s and ladies’ divisions.
Results
Crowlands 86-6 def Buangor 80-4
Men, Crowlands 21-0 lost to Buangor 36-2: P Vance, K Boatman lost to J Mathews, M Mathews 5-9; H Price, S Jardine lost to I Maconachie, M Adams 8-9; P Vance, H Price lost to J Mathews, I Maconachie 5-9; K Boatman, S Jardine lost to M Mathews, M Adams 3-9.
Ladies, Crowlands 36-2 def Buangor 12-0: K Vance, C Hodgetts def A Driscol, S Maconachie 9-6; T Boatman, M Boatman def L Maconachie, E Hinchliffe 9-1; K Vance, T Boatman def A Driscoll, L Maconachie 9-1; C Hodgetts, M Boatman def S Maconachie, E Hinchliffe 9-4.
Mixed, Crowlands 29-0 lost to Buangor 32-1: P Vance, K Vance def J Mathews, A Driscoll 9-8; K Boatman, C Hodgetts lost to I Maconachie, S Maconachie 7-9; H Price, M Boatman lost to M Mathews, L Maconachie 4-9; S Jardine, T Boatman def M Adams, E Hinchliffe 9-6.