On Saturday, April 6, the Grand Finals and Playoffs for the Eurobodalla Junior Super League (EJSL) were hosted by Batemans Bay Tennis Club in glorious conditions.
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All 12 courts at BBTC were in full use by the juniors, and it was great to see so many players and spectators supporting their local juniors.
More than 50 of the Eurobodalla's junior tennis stars representing Narooma, Moruya, Broulee and Batemans Bay Tennis Club's played 160 matches over the last 16 rounds of competition, beginning back in October, 2018.
The EJSL is a professionally run junior competition, where each player is ranked within their league, and also receives a world ranking based on their performances.
Competitors were placed into teams and grouped into leagues, playing a Davis Cup style format of singles and doubles matches each week.
The Division 3 League, comprising of first time competitors, was hotly contested. It was the first time playing organised competition for nearly all of the Division 3 players, and the improvement in players from October to now was incredible.
In the Grand Final, the Moruya Missiles duo of Akin Suksing and Geoffrey Billingham had their targets locked onto the Narooma Ninjas trio of Maxim Savchenko-Ray, Mitch Lavis and Leah Adams. After battling out 2 tie-breaker sets, the Ninja's prevailed with a hard fought two sets to one win.
In Division 2, the grand finalists from last year met once again in what is shaping up to be one of sports great rivalries.
Bradley Lunn and Jesse Ogilvy of the Moruya Marauders shot out to a terrific start over the Broulee combo of Pypar McCarthy and Skye Stayte by winning the first doubles in a tough tie breaker, and then Bradley keept his unbeaten singles run alive by edging out Pypar in the singles.
The girls were not in an ideal position needing to win the remaining singles and doubles to have a chance. Skye defeated Jesse in the singles, leaving the remaining doubles a live set to determine the Division 2 champions.
The girls found another gear while the Marauders were left wondering how to stop the Dragons from soaring, and could not stop them from running away with the set, and the gold.
Division 1 was an all Broulee affair with Mackenzie Rippon and Oliver Dolphin of the Strike facing off against the Bulls team of Isaac Wright and Jordon Grimmond.
The last time these teams played it was a comprehensive victory for the Strike, and they took this confidence into the grand final. The Bulls, however, played hard, consistent tennis winning the first two doubles sets.
Isaac kept his unbeaten singles run going and was too strong, sealing the championship by winning his singles emphatically.
The new EJSL competition will commence in early term two. Any interested players should get in contact with Richard Sellick on 0414 753 941.
Results
Division 1
Broulee Bulls (Isaac Wright, Jordon Grimmond) def. Broulee Strike (Mackenzie Rippon, Oliver Dolphin) 3-1 (18-13).
Best & Fairest - Isaac Wright
Division 2
Broulee Dragons (Bradley Lunn, Jesse Ogilvy) def. Moruya Marauders (Pypar McCarthy, Skye Stayte) 2-2 (21-16).
Best & Fairest - Bradley Lunn
Division 3
Narooma Ninjas (Mitch Lavis, Maxim Savchenko-Ray, Leah Adams) def. Moruya Missiles (Akin Suksing, Geoffrey Billingham) 2-1 (18-14).
Best & Fairest - Mitch Lavis