The Grand Final of the Metro Mid-Week comp (now Adelaide Premier League) took place Wednesday night at the Memorial Drive Centre Courts.
First up was the premiership decider, with top of the table Henley South taking on Pembroke. This promised to be an intriguing battle with the Pembroke side bringing in a few spectators and the atmosphere was starting to build.
First up was a battle between two of the more consistent players in the comp, with young-gun Heath Johnston (Henley South) taking on the best back hand slice in the business, Pembroke’s Grant Pietsch. There was some good rallies happening, but on this occasion, Johnston proved why he is an up and coming state league player, getting it done in two sets.
Speaking of consistency, next up was the ever-reliable Sam von Einem (Henley South) taking on Pembroke’s Andy Fried. Fried made von Einem work for his points, but Henley South started to build here lead here with Sam getting the win in two.
In the third singles it was Henley South’s Rhys Johnston facing off against Tom Adams, who has arguably the best one-handed back-hand in the business. Adams was on fire early, and put on a clinic early with a good first set win, but from there Rhys Johnston showed some real fight and turned the tables right around, taking the rubber in the third set match tiebreaker.
I have always said Matt Tregoweth will be too good for most teams when playing at four, showcasing Henley South’s superb depth, and he was too good again on this occasion, taking the fourth singles against Ben Adams in two sets. That singles win sealed the match and premiership for Henley South, with the doubles all about pride.
In the top double Tom Adams and Pietsch started well and pushed Tregoweth and von Einem to the limit in the first set, with the Henley South pair winning the important points (4-3) with Henley South continuing their work taking the rubber in the second set (4-0).
The final doubles match up saw Rhys Johnston and Matt Robinson playing Matt Adams and Andy Fried. This was a very tight match with some quality tennis on display from both pairs. Henley South continued their momentum and taking the match in two sets, and with that the flag was theirs having gone through the season undefeated.
Both teams put on a great show in the final and throughout the season. No doubt both will be back for the kick off of the Adelaide Premier League in Term 1, and with the extra motivation of $1000 prizemoney for the winning team, don’t be surprised to see some big preseasons taking place.
In the play off for third it was Tennis SA taking on the young Prospect outfit. First up was the big-hitting Beckett Wolfe taking on the young ‘up-and-comer’ Alastair Umpherston. Umpherston was on fire early taking the first (4-1). Wolfe massive serve came to the fore in the second set with a (4-2) win, but Umpherston was too good in the big points at the pointy-end, taking the match tie-break set and getting Prospect off to a good start.
The veteran Craig Smith (TSA) was up against Huw Grano (Prospect) in the second single. The class of smith was hard to handle, and he was too good with a straight sets win.
Speaking of young guns, in the third single it was the ever-impressive Brodie Johns, against Prospect’s favourite Michael Noicos. Noicos was making Johns work hard most points, but the power hitting of Johns was there for all to see, getting it done in two sets and showing why he is a player to keep your eye on over the next few year.
In the doubles Wolfe and Johns teamed up against Umpherston and Underwood. It was a close match, but the incredible serving of Wolfe proved the difference with a two set win. The final rubber of the night was the closest, with Johns and Smith clashing with Underwood and Noicos. The two pairings traded blows, with a match-tiebreak set seeing the Tennis SA pairing get up by the barest of margins and securing the victory for Tennis SA.
That concludes a great season of the Metro Mid-Week comp. The league will now be developing further for Term 1 into the Adelaide Premier League. This will be a high standard competition for State League, Metro League, and Association Div 1 and 2 players invited to nominate for the division 1 competition, with $1000 prizemoney on offer for the winning team!
Information and nominations for the Term 1 Adelaide Premier League is now available here.
Report by Karl Button, Tennis SA Leagues Coordinator.
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