Liam Phillips
WITH finals tennis finally here, Nuriootpa and Xavier Saints clashed with a berth in the grand final on the line, and for one of the few times this season, the Saints’ women were outplayed.
Coming into the match facing one of Barossa and Gawler Combined’s best units, Nuri’s ladies were up for the fight, taking six of eight possible sets, highlighted by Kylie Falkenberg’s 6-1 singles, 6-0 reverse doubles with Renee Davis, and 9-4 doubles with Breanna Fay.
Fay also won all three of her sets in a performance that will fill the table-toppers with confidence if the two sides meet again in the season decider.
The men’s side was split clean down the middle, taking four sets apiece, which makes Alexander Reincke’s 3-0 clean sweep even more impressive for Nuriootpa.
Michael Oermann and Samuel Walton won men’s singles sets for Xavier, but it wasn’t enough as the Saints went down six sets to 10.
In the elimination final South Lyndoch refused to roll over for Kapunda, but the winless side remained that way, going down 4-12, despite a number of close sets.
Tom Christley, Tabatha Mackenzie and Sarah Johnson all went undefeated for Kapunda, who will play Xavier this weekend for a spot in the grand final against Nuriootpa.
In division two, Xavier is headed through to the grand final after a competitive 10 sets to six win against Willaston, despite Brett Fitzpatrick going undefeated in the losing effort.
In division three, Trinity Old Scholars was upset by Two Wells Red 10 sets to six, and will play Lyndoch next week in the preliminary final after it knocked out Xavier Saints from the running.
Results:
Division one: Kapunda 12-95 d South Lyndoch 4-61; Nuriootpa 10-95 d Xavier Saints 6-72.
Division two: Tod St 7-71 d Lyndoch 9-66; Xavier Saints 10-78 d Willaston 6-64.
Division three: Lyndoch 9-71 d Xavier Saints 7-64; Trinity Old Scholars 6-71 | Two Wells Red 10-76.