The Glenlea women’s team have come from third place on the State League ladder to win the 2015 State League final against Memorial Drive Tennis Club in a thrilling match. Played in front of a strong crowd, Memorial Drive shot out of the blocks with wins to top singles players Melanie Clayton and Melissa Beadman. Clayton and Beadman both won in straight sets with their experience crucial against younger opponents.
Glenlea bounced back when Nikki Milner and Tayla Whitehouse both came through with straight sets victories to level the match on rubbers and sets but with Glenlea holding a crucial eight game lead heading into the doubles.
Both doubles matches were tense and entered into a third set. A top double Melanie Clayton and youngster Vanessa Cozamanis managed to edge out Elyse Edwards and Nikki Milner to give Memorial Drive a temporary edge on the scoreboard.
Glenlea’s pairing of Brooke Milner and Tayla Whitehouse came together to win a tight three setter over the experienced combination of Michelle Leyden and Melissa Beadman, which gave Glenlea the victory by one game after rubbers and sets were level.
In the men’s final Broadview and Collingrove fought out a high quality tie filled with pressure moments. Collingrove Captain Matt Teivans got his team off to a strong start with a straight sets win over Broadview’s Corey Decandia. In the second singles match, Broadview number one Sam Longhurst levelled the match at one rubber all when he overcame Sean Page in a quality encounter.
Broadview young gun Kurtis Wilson was very solid in his straight sets win over Jack Alberton to give Broadview a two rubbers to one lead.
In the match of the day, Broadview Veteran Martin Richards and Collingrove young gun Oliver Douglas fought out one of the great State League matches in front of a passionate and vocal crowd of supporters. Richards was too strong in the first set taking it out 6-4 before Douglas rallied in the second to level the match at one set all.
Going into the third, Richards appeared to have lost momentum however his experience shone through as he ran away to a 5-1 lead. Douglas looked to have lost his opportunity to level the match until he rallied hard to fight back and stave off a match point and level the match at five games all. With the crowd at fever pitch, Richards broke Douglas at five all and served for the match at 6-5. After a number of tight rallies with both players giving everything Richards managed to serve out the match 7-5 and give Broadview a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the doubles.
The second doubles of Tim Critchton and Corey Decandia looked to be too solid from the start against Jack Alberton and Simon Bates. Bates and Alberton had their chances in the second set, however Critchton and Alberton broke serve at 4-3 and went on to serve out the match and give Broadview the 2015/16 State League title.
The Tennis SA State and Metro League Presentation Dinner will be held on Friday 15 April, at the Coopers Alehouse.
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