Sport
SJTA | Gallery | Shepparton Lawn Blue edges out Kialla Park Old Students in a thriller
The weekend’s clash between Shepparton Lawn Blue and Kialla Park Old Students loomed large as one of the biggest games of the season and by golly did it live up to the occasion.
The top two A-grade sides in Shepparton Junior Tennis Association faced off on Saturday, with the match going down to the wire.
Shepparton Blue prevailed, but only just, topping KPOS in a tiebreaker.
With the two teams deadlocked with the same number of games won – 35 apiece – it was Blue that prevailed in the end after winning five rubbers to three.
Both sides were literally neck-and-neck as they traded almost identical results.
Blue and KPOS won two doubles rubbers each, but Blue had one extra victory in the singles that proved to be the difference on the day.
Shepp Blue hotshot Kade Madigan and KPOS ace Theo Kop shone as they went undefeated on the day, winning their singles and two doubles matches.
A win could have had KPOS leapfrog Blue into top spot on the ladder, but instead it is the latter that sits in first place heading into the last round of the home and away season this weekend.
Image 1 of 7
Follow through: Shepparton Lawn Blue's Kade Madigan. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 2 of 7
Focused: Shepparton Lawn Blue's Ella Hill watches the ball. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 3 of 7
Game face: Shepparton Lawn Blue's Ruby O'Callaghan. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 4 of 7
watching closely: Kialla Park-Old Students’ Jess Joseph gets ready to hit the ball. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 5 of 7
In the zone: Kialla Park-Old Students’ Yireh Tay. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 6 of 7
Perfect day: Kialla Park-Old Students’ Theo Kop won all three of his games on Saturday. Photo by Aydin PayneImage 7 of 7
Backhand: Kialla Park-Old Students Arjen Kop. Photo by Aydin PayneMooroopna Blue has moved up the ladder and into third after its tight win over Shepparton Lawn Green.
The two teams swapped positions on the ladder after Mooroopna prevailed 4-31 to 4-29.
Sam Carbone had three wins on the day for the Cats, while Baxter Plunkett also played well for the victors.
Meanwhile, Shepparton Lawn extended Mooroopna White’s winless streak after it topped the Cats 5-39 to 3-29.
Cody Montgomery was undefeated for Yellow, with his side keeping its finals hopes alive with one round left to play.
In B1, Kialla Park Old Students White continued its undefeated run as the team won its 11th straight game after beating Tatura 8-48 to 0-4.
Shepparton Lawn Blue moved into second spot after a thumping 8-48 to 0-18 win over Katandra West.
Mooroopna dropped to third place despite its 6-41 to 2-21 victory over Toolamba, with the latter dropping out of the top four following Kialla Park Old Students Blue’s 5-41 to 3-31 triumph over Shepparton Lawn Green.
In the B2-B3 competition, KPOS defeated Murchison 6-45 to 2-16, Shepparton Lawn Yellow prevailed over Nathalia 7-44 to 1-24, Shepparton Lawn Green was too good for Shepparton Lawn Blue 6-40 to 2-24 and Mooroopna bested Shepparton Lawn White 5-40 to 3-33.