STRATHFIELDSAYE stands in the way of South Bendigo netting back-to-back premier league titles in the Bendigo Tennis Association grand final on Saturday.
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The league’s top two at the end of the 18-round regular season will do battle on the William Loud complex hardcourts in Nolan Street from 1pm.
In their most recent meeting, South Bendigo won five of six rubbers in an emphatic 11-72 to 1-45 victory in the semi-final.
Their first duel was much closer in round five of the home and away season when South Bendigo won 5-7-59 to 1-5-47, while the 12th round clash between the two teams was not played.
Strathfieldsaye struck back from that defeat to score a 5-7-58 to 1-5-53 win in last Saturday’s preliminary final against Spring Gully Strath Eppalock Butterflies.
The Jordan Hicks-led South Bendigo won 12 of 14 matches in the lead-up to the finals series as Strathfieldsaye finished on an 11-4 record.
Strathfieldsaye regained number one player Aidan Fitzgerald and Lachlan Perdon for the preliminary final win.
They teamed with Michael Smyth and Nick Bath to keep Strathfieldsaye’s premiership hopes alive.
A talented Strathfieldsaye squad includes Tova Penno, Casey Fleming and Terry Smith.
In the semi-final, Penno scored a 10-1 victory in the tie-break to beat Brett Mulgrew.
South Bendigo’s winning line-up in the semi-final was Jordan Hicks, Connor Gledhill, Grant Leader and Brett Mulgrew, as Mick Mulgrew teamed with Leader in a doubles rubber.
Ryan Leader, Tiahna Leader and the experienced Peter Somerville complete South Bendigo’s squad.
The Quest Bendigo-backed division one grand final clash pits BTC Infants against Axedale.
Although they finished two rungs below Axedale at the end of the regular season, Infants have won both showdowns so far.
The round four clash ended in a 7-70 to 3-52 win for BTC, the ninth round match was not played, and Infants prevailed 6-64 to 4-51 in the 14th round.
Both have been in terrific form in the finals.
Axedale beat Spring Gully Net Assets in the semis, as Infants defeated BTC Stingers on the same day.
In last week’s preliminary finals, Axedale beat Spring Gully Panthers by 25 games, and BTC Infants defeated Spring Gully Phoenix by 10 games.
The grand final starts at 1pm at Bendigo Tennis Association headquarters in Nolan Street.
