Tennis resumed after the Christmas break to a hot Northerly and searing temperatures but the hardy souls of the NERTA competition braved the elements to proceed and in most cases completed their matches.
The match between Hardcourt Pinkertons and Wahgunyah began brightly with both teams making the most of the early opportunities that were presented to them to ensure this match would go to the wire. The teams are evenly matched and it was the new kids on the block (Wahgunyah) that wanted to leave their mark on the Section 1 competition with a victory over the finals specialists (Hardcourt). Hardcourt gained the early ascendancy and made the most of their opportunities to take a handy lead into the mixed sets, but Wahgunyah sent a shiver through the Hardcourt outfit when they won the first mixed set 8-1 but in the end, it was the experience of the Hardcourt team that prevailed as they won the last 2 sets to record a comfortable 8 game victory. The Hardcourt women (Kylie Doig, Kerrie Henderson, Di Lucas) dominated their sets while the Wahgunyah men ( Travis "Old" McDonald, Jesse "Jack Pebble" Johnstone, Ethan "Mrs" Palmer) were unstoppable and ensured Wahgunyah were always within the grasp of an upset victory.
Section 2
Hardcourt Pulvirenti have stamped themselves are the team to beat in Section 2 after they dispatched Everton Red to the wilderness on Saturday. Hardcourt began the day enthusiastically and that youthful energy continued for the entire day, they took control of this match early and never looked threatened as the day heated up and their young legs kept running balls down and hitting balls back into play to ensure they won easily. Hardcourt Pulvirenti shouldn't get to fair ahead of themselves after this victory because come finals time Everton Red will be a different proposition with a number of stars set to return to the fold to make them a far stronger opponent. On Saturday Pulvirenti's best were Chris Lestino, Curtis Hines and Mia Mitchell while Everton's best were Jo Lucas, Julie Deretic and Patrick Oudin.
Myrrhee prevailed in their match with Boorhaman to record a well-deserved and well needed victory in the heat at Boorhaman. Myrrhee were comfortably ahead when play was halted due to the weather conditions, courtesy of an improved effort from all team members. Boorhaman struggled to match it with past heavyweights of the Section 2 competition in the heat and it was Myrrhee's coolness in a crisis that had them ahead when play was stopped. Phil Corker, Di Griffin and Robyn Oliver were good for Myrrhee while Shirley Fuller, Colleen Kinderis and Jack Keys
were best for Boorhaman.
Section 3
Wahgunyah Heat (Josh Reid, Katie Bergin, David Carroll, Sean Bergin) have given themselves an outside chance of making the Section 3 finals with a convincing victory over Wooragee (Mark Knoth, Dean Bensted, Annika Knoth, Eiylish McRostie). Deep Heat are new to the competition and are still finding their feet but their display of consistency and accuracy on Saturday will ensure that they put the pressure on the teams above them.
Wahgunyah United (Brad Schmidt, Brian Jones, Rob Hill, Clara Davis) have finally found the form that has taken them deep into the finals in the past with the dismantling of Wahgunyah Wranglers (Wayne Johnstone, Sonia Palmer, Lily Palmer, Ali Bartel). Wranglers were no match for United, as United moved ahead early in the contest and then ground Wranglers into the Golf Club courts.
RESULTS
Section 1
Hardcourt Pinkertons 5-50 def Wahgunyah 4-42, Everton Blue 7-48 def Corowa 3-24
Section 2
Myrrhee 6-36 def Boorhaman 4-26, Hardcourt Pulvirenti 6-55 def Everton Red 3-44
Section 3
Wahgunyah Deep Heat 6-48 def Wooragee 0-19, Wahgunyah Wahnation 6-48 def Boorhaman 0-0,
LADDERS
Section 1
Rutherglen 63, Wahgunyah 58, Hardcourt Pinkertons 55, Corowa 53, Everton Blue 50
Section 2
Hardcourt Pulvirenti 38, Boorhaman 32, Everton Red 28, Myrrhee 23
Section 3
Wahgunyah Wahnation 58, Boorhaman 37, Wahgunyah United 28, Wahgunyah Wranglers 26, Wahgunyah Deep Heat 21, Wooragee 19
Under 15
Wahgunyah 51, Corowa Hewitt 43, Rutherglen 18, Corowa Barty 16