Brave Redbacks go down fighting

From the match commencement, the Kyabram men and ladies took it right up to their previously intimidating opponents from two weeks earlier.

In an impressive display of disciplined and determined tennis, the Redbacks were only nine games down going into the last four mixed sets and definitely had their opponents on notice that they would not go down without a fight.

The Kyabram men played courageous tennis throughout the day and although James Sheppard and Darren Woodcock were the only set winners, 8-7 in their doubles, it was evident that the Numurkah men were under the pump from the opening serve.

Young up-and-comer Blake McMeekin was given the monumental task of taking on Numurkah’s gun Matt Cason.

Although McMeekin did not record a game in his set, his much improved performance had Cason on notice that he and his men’s team were in for a real battle for the afternoon.

Rod Alley played an impressive brand of serve-volley tennis to shock his opponent in his second men’s singles.

In an extremely entertaining quality tennis encounter, Alley just went down 4-6.

Alley then partnered the experienced Darren Woodcock in the doubles going down 5-8, but importantly nullifying their strong Numurkah opponents.

As previously mentioned, James Sheppard and Woodcock combined beautifully to again nullify their powerful opposition.

In a tense encounter, Sheppard and Woodcock played a commanding brand of tennis taking control of the net from the first service.

Woodcock, was in great touch producing an impressive volley-smash display to support the equally damaging Sheppard whose service game was decisive throughout the set.

Enter the Redback ladies.

After only winning two sets against the much improved Numurkah ladies the previous fortnight, the Kyabram ladies made sure, from the start of the afternoon, that they were taking control of proceedings.

Marg Haw and Susie Bennett turned the tables from a fortnight earlier to take their ladies’ double set 8-7 and serving notice to their accomplished opposition that the Redbacks would be no pushover.

Sonya McCraw and Lauren Bennett then produced a telling 8-5 to put Numurkah on its back foot.

Not to be outdone, legend Marg Haw then teamed up with McCraw to notch an impressive 8-4 victory.

Although going down in the last ladies 7-8, the mother-daughter combination of Susie and Lauren Bennett stopped any chance of Numurkah taking a commanding lead going into the mixed.

With four mixed sets to play, it was evident Numurkah was going to have to produce something special if it was going to take this year’s flag.

Darren Woodcock and Sonya McCraw made a massive statement with an extremely dominant 8-3 win.

Unfortunately for the Redbacks, this would be the only success in the mixed with Numurkah taking the next three sets with an efficient and stubborn performance.

Numurkah fully deserves this season’s pennant, but the Kyabram Redbacks, although defeated, can be very proud of their grand final effort.

Although losing by 43 games in their previous encounter against Numurkah, the Redbacks improved their scorecard by 26 games to go down by only 17.

CENTRAL UMPIRE.

Other Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association grand final results:

Premier 1 Numurkah Warriors 8-77 d Nathalia/Shepparton 4-69.

GM2 Cobram 6-57 d Tatura 4-50.

GM2 Open Tongala 10-78 d Stanhope 1-53.

GM3 Numurkah 8-86 d KLTC Redbacks 5-69.

GM4 Tatura Monsoons 6-64 d Tatura Lightning 3-48.