Sam Campbell
IN a grand final that will be remembered for its grit, tension, and razor-thin margins, Couldabeens claimed the Broken Hill Tennis Division One Summer title by the slimmest of victories, a countback on games after splitting the night’s matches three apiece with Spin Doctors.
Playing under perfect evening conditions, both sides brought intensity and resilience to the court, treating those in attendance to a gripping battle that came down to just two games.
Spin Doctors came out swinging, quickly putting Couldabeens on the back foot.
In the opening set, Mackenzie Niarros and Shaun Kennedy combined powerfully to dispatch Wayne “How now brown cow” Lee and Glenn Andrich 7–3.
The Couldabeens rallied in the second match of the final, with Jamie Passlow and Leonie Channing overwhelming Tom Kennedy and Doug Coff 7–2 to level the tie at one apiece.
Couldabeens found their rhythm in the second set of doubles.
Lee and Channing battled through a tight clash to edge out Niarros and Coff 7–3.
Their momentum was halted as the Kennedys combined to best Andrich and Passlow 7-4.
With the fixture still deadlocked at two sets each, it came down to the final couple of matches.
Spin Doctors claimed one result when Tom Kennedy and Niarros dispatched Lee and Passlow 7-3.
But Couldabeens were resurgent as Andrich and Channing clenched the final set of the night, also 7-3, over Coff and Shaun Kennedy.
With both teams locked at three sets each, all eyes turned to the scorecard.
And there it was: Couldabeens finishing with 31 games to Spin Doctors’ 29.
Well done to both teams.
