Open SSL
A Res: VRC 1 v VRC 2
Team 1 won their semi against team 2 and went straight into the grand final.
Team 2 played their prelim against Westerfolds. At the end games were equal and Westerfolds had 177 points to 175points. Close! But team 2 prevailed - 2 rubbers to 1.
With a confidence boost coming off a close win, team 2 reversed their prelim results and grabbed the premiership.
Team 2: Darren House, Dan Jones, Charles Burgess, Brett Ramsden
Team 1: Darrin Brooke, John Barton, Paul Seedy, Dan Photopoulos, Roy Deng
B Grade:
This team won B grade last season and made the semi finals despite losing their no.1 (Roy) who was promoted to A Res. Great job guys.
B Res:
This team won C grade last season and went up to B res. It's always tough going up a grade but these guys were in touch with the top 4 although missing out on the finals. Looking forward to next season!
Ladies SSL:
We had a Cup grade and an A grade team entered this season. Super tough season for both teams. Jeanette's looking at combining teams and entering 2 in A grade next year.
Friday Morning:
Div 1:
VRC 1 Jenny Peet, Sue Taylor and Joyce Murphy won their semi against Mulgrave but the Westerfolds team were too strong in the grand final. The Westerfolds no. 1 in particular hadn't lost all season.
VRC 2 came up against the same Westerfolds team in the semi. Had a close one but no cigar.
Div 2:
VRC 4 Mal Taylor, Eric Evans and Helen Hayhurst had a strong win against Mulgrave in the GF to be grade 2 premiers. Well done team.
VRC 3 John Tutt, Trish Simpson, Ashok Ruparelia came up against the eventual premiers in their semi going down 144 - 152
Masters:
We had 3 teams playing Masters and two premierships!
Grade 3: Team 1 After a tough season in grade 2 in Autumn these guys went to grade 3. They finished on top and went straight into the grand final and won the premiership. Kevin Peet, Alan Gibb, Chris Everist Colin Hill, John Ampt, Don House. For their sins they'll likely go back to grade 2 although with a new no.1, Darren House.
Grade 4: Both teams in grade 4 struggled for fill ins all season but somehow Team 3 managed to get enough players qualified to make it to the grand final and winning the premiership by 4 points and one game. Kristian's first game against Chris went to 22/24! Aaron Guthrie, Kristian Oates, Syed Ahmed and Heather Cooke played on the night. (The fill ins roll call - Warren Everett, Jenny Peet, Sue Taylor, Mal Taylor, Jeanette Barton and me)
Team 2 had major issues with fill ins so had a tough season.
Racquetball:
Grade 4: The VRC Hillbillies (Fraser Smith, James Hill, Don House and Tony Holland) finished on top and went straight into the GF. They were joined by the VRC Dynamites (Colin Hill, Geoff Waller, Ian Chalmers, Eric Evans, Sandy Chalmers) who won through to the grand final by beating Mulgrave in the semi. Hillbillies proved too strong on the night to win. (Don House's second premiership of the season).
Grade 3: The Alligators made it to the semi but Mulgrave proved just too strong - Alligators down by 6 points. The Pink Panthers came up from winning Div 4/ 5 last season and found the transition tough, as most teams do their first season in a higher grade. It was great to welcome back Mark Longfield who played at no.2 in the Panthers.
Thanks to everyone that played this season including those who stepped in to fill in. Thanks to the associations for organising the comps and thanks in particular to our match and pennant people who give their time to ensure teams got on the court in 2024.
Dan Photopoulos (SSL Open), Jeanette Barton and Sue Taylor (Ladies Open and Friday), Mal Taylor (Masters), John Souness (Racquetball).
cheers
Lao
