A contribution by Cameron Fenner.
The Hensman state league girls proved too strong in an intriguing contest that went down to the wire. Making the final after a controversial upset over minor premiers City Beach Tennis Club the Midland girls had nothing to lose against a perennially strong Hensman Park side and it showed in a first class finals match.
The first matches were shared in one sided affairs with Charleen Tiwari coming out firing putting Midland one up with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 win over Tara Dunhill in the number 4 position. The tie was soon levelled however with Hensman’s Sophie Allen-Fisher proving too strong for Midland’s Chelsea Church in the number 2 position 6-2, 6-2.
There was a minor rain delay as the number 1 and 3 matches got under way. However the weather didn’t slow down Midland’s Olivia Rimmer as she survived a late fight back from Hensman veteran Jade Flindell to clinch the number 3 match 6-2, 7-5.
In the number 1 match Midland’s Kristy Jones replaced Midland’s regular number one Maddison Inglis who was in Queensland for the National Clay Court Championsips. Jones got off to a slow start but fought back in the second set to trouble Hensman Number 1 Teiwa Casey with an array of angled shots mixed in with blistering down the line winners. Casey proved to strong in the end however winning the match 6-0, 6-4.
The match was poised on a knifes edge leading into the doubles and it was Hensman’s decision to bring in doubles specialist Megan Kauffman to replace Dunhill that proved pivotal. Kauffman teamed with Jade Flindell for the crucial doubles and fresh off the plane from the National Championships Kauffman got the Hensman team off to a flying start winning the first set 6-2. Midland’s team of Kristy Jones and Charleen Tiwari would not be denied however and stoically fought back to take the second set 7-5. That lead to super tie-break to decide the match and in front of a raucous Hensman home crowd Jones and Tiwari held their nerve to take the breaker 10 points to 8.
In the second doubles Midland youngsters Chelsea Church and Olivia Rimmer were doing battle against the experienced Hensman 1 and 2 pairing of Teiwa Casey and Sophie Allen-Fisher. Casey and Allen-Fisher got off to a strong start leading 4-1 before some words of advice from the Midland Coach helped settle Church and Rimmer. The duo battled back to 5-5 before finally succumbing 7-5 in the first set. The Hensman pair were looking like running away with the match and the tie up 5-1 in the second set before the young Midland team again fought back. With the knowledge that Tie and the whole season of work was coming down to this set the Hensman team were stumbling and Midland girls were bravely hanging on. After blowing a number of match points the Hensman pair finally closed out the match 6-4 in the final set.
The doubles win gave Hensman a 1 set victory over all and delivered them their first state league title in over 20 years.
Left in blue: Midland Lawn Women’s State League team. Right in white: Hensman Park Women’s State League team.
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