COHUNA claimed its first Northern District Lawn Tennis Association Division One title in five seasons on Saturday, with the team’s men’s and mixed doubles combinations leading the club to an 11-game win against Koondrook.
Going into the grand final, held at Barham, as favourites after finishing the season on top of the ladder, Cohuna’s men opened up an 11-game lead after winning five of its six matches.
Koondrook’s women kept the border side in contention, reducing Cohuna’s lead to six games after both teams split the matches.
With the tie still alive going into the mixed doubles, Koondrook needed to win at least three of the four matches to have any chance of winning their first top-flight title since 2013-14.
However, the clubs shared the sets, with Cohuna prevailing 81 games to 71.
Jason Hensley dominated for the eventual premiers, winning all four matches he featured in, with premiership team members Darren Gately, Greg Rodwell and Mary Rodwell claiming three of their four matches.
Fellow team members Holly Barker, Shirlene Barker, Taitum Boyd and Harrison Cleave all recorded at least one win.
• KERANG GREENS went one better than last season, defeating Gunbower Blue to win the Division Two Red title by four games.
Both teams shared the men’s doubles matches, with the eventual premiers opening up a four-game lead by the end of the final group of round-robin ties.
Despite losing the opening two ties, Gunbower Blue’s women dominated their sections, with the competition’s southernmost side holding a one-game lead with the mixed doubles to play after winning three of the final four matches.
However, Kerang Greens’ mixed doubles combinations were too strong, winning three of the four matches to claim a 77-game to 73-game win.
Ben Taylor led the way for the premiers, winning all four of his matches, with Pam Adams claiming three victories.
Tom Dehne was the best player for Gunbower Blue, winning three matches.
• WAKOOL produced the upset of the day, defeating Division Two Yellow minor premiers, Koondrook by three games.
The association’s northernmost side men’s combinations dominated proceedings, with David Landini, Matthew Landini, Campbell Robinson and Jack Shannon winning all three of their early matches to open up a 30-game lead.
Koondrook’s women helped the border side get back into the game, winning five of the six matches on offer to reduce the deficit to nine games with the four mixed doubles matches remaining. Holly Guerra led the revival, winning all three of her matches.
Both sides shared the mixed doubles matches, with David Landini and Campbell Robinson able to add a fourth win to their personal tally.
Although Koondrook claimed the section thanks to games won, the deficit was too large, with Wakool winning 68 games to 65.
* KERANG dominated the Junior Division One final, producing a 32-game win against Leitchville.
The eventual premiers won all four of their singles matches and four doubles ties in the 48-game to 16-game victory.
* BARHAM BLUE ensured the grand final host club would finish the season with a premiership, with the team defeating Koondrook by 24 games in the Junior Division Two decider.
The minor premiers won three of the four singles ties, before sweeping the doubles encounters in the 47-game to 23-game victory.
