State League Thriller
By Court Talk
Local tennis historians were left to scramble through the record books to see if there had been a closer Brikmakers Men’s State League final in its 114-year history.
In a fitting finale defending champions Cottesloe hosted Hensman Park for the right to be crowned West Australia’s Premier club tennis team.
In front on a near capacity crowd at the picturesque beachside club Cottesloe’s number two, Brett Patten, serve and volley game proved to much for Hensman Park’s hard hitting James Stuttard winning in straight sets.
Hensman’s Spanish import Carlos Herrero Tambo caused the upset of the day defeating Brad Dyer 7-6 6-3 in a match Cottesloe had expected to win.
Former teammates Myles Armstrong and Strahinja Bobusic entertained the crowd, in the clash of number ones, with powerful shot making and long baseline rallies, but it was Hensman Park’s Armstrong who continued his standout season defeating Bobusic 6-2 6-3.
Cottesloe’s enigmatic Christian Prendiville was hot and cold in his match against Ryan Offer but managed to hold his nerve long enough to win in straight sets to level the final at 2 rubbers all after the singles were completed.
Armstrong and Stuttard gave Hensman the edge defeating Bobusic and Dyer in a reversal of results from their round 13 clash, displaying almost perfect tennis to close the match out 6-2 6-2.
Hensman held a 3 rubbers to 2 lead heading into the last tie with final pairing of Offer and Herrero Tambo requiring a further 6 games to secure the championship for their South Perth club.
With sunset closing in, Cottesloes duo of Prendiville and Patten raced to a 6-1 5-3 lead leaving the Hensman Park team with the opportunity to serve for an unbeatable lead in the grand final.
Pandemonium and unbridled joy erupted from supporters and teammates as Cottesloe broke their opponents serve to win the set 6-3 securing the 2013 Brikmakers State League championship by one game.
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