The final set of the 2021/22 Mount Gambier and District Tennis Association season has been played and Centrals/Uniting reigned supreme yet again.

Having entered the summer as reigning premiers, Centrals/Uniting was the team to beat and lived up to the favourites tag by cruising to the ladder lead and an early grand final berth.

But Reidy Park was one team that had troubled Mark Heemskerk’s crew all summer and the foes faced off again in the decider.

On a terrific day for tennis where the Olympic Park courts were full of players enjoying the sun and fighting for silverware, the class sides of the Division 1 season faced off on the big stage.

Despite entering the contest following a fortnight on the sidelines, Centrals/Uniting showed its class by snatching the ascendancy early and never letting it go.

The men showed no mercy in the singles collecting three big wins which set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

Andrew van den Hurk used his experience to frustrate Reidy Park captain Zayne Young, while Heemskerk also collected a 6-1 victory over Joel Childs.

The likes of Ashlea Dunn and Jade Delaney also got in the act scoring strong wins, while the only Reidy Park player to score singles success was Jayme Young.

Already enjoying a dominant lead, Centrals/Uniting could have afforded to take things slightly easier in the doubles, but kept the foot down.

The men completed the perfect day winning all six sets on offer with van den Hurk and Dane Heemskerk the only ones to be pushed in their doubles encounter.

Zayne Young and Michael Ellis were determined to score a consolation win and pushed the contest into a tiebreaker, but just like all previous occasions, the Centrals/Uniting pair emerged on top.

When the Heemskerk’s teamed up the result went their way convincingly, while Dunn, Casey Walker and Vanessa Maxwell kept the good times rolling in the women’s doubles.

But hopes of a doubles sweep were denied by Jayme Young and Sharon Edwards, who combined beautifully to give Reidy Park an emphatic consolation 6-0 triumph.

However, it did not dampen Centrals/Uniting’s celebrations of back-to-back flags.

Mark Heemskerk said it was a win the entire team could be proud of, with all players contributing.

“Our team performance was awesome,” he said.

“Having two weeks off meant we were a bit weary going in, but our seasoned campaigners knew what they had to do and made sure we were relaxed and up for game day.

“Everyone goes in with a few nerves, but being back to back finals we had a bit more composure on the day and knew what we had to do to get the job done.

“The men did not drop a set all day and the ladies also did really well.

“It was just the perfect day with beautiful weather and a big crowd putting on a great atmosphere.”

Reflecting on the season as a whole captain Heemskerk said his team’s strong start laid the foundations for what was to come.

“We knew it was a long season, but to make a good start and set yourself up for the rest of the year was really important,” he said.

“We went undefeated for quite a few weeks which gave us lots of confidence.

“We also started to play some new players after Christmas and built a full and competitive team, so the season just went really well.

“Obviously Reidy Park stepped up and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but hopefully we can continue to perform.”

No-one could come close to West Gambier Red across the entire Division 2 season and nothing was going to stop the club from steaming towards the trophy.

West was lined up against a Mount Schank team boosted by its unexpected run to the decider, but proved no match for the undefeated minor premier.

Bryan Haywood opened proceedings with a convincing 6-1 win, but his team did not have everything its own way.

Mount Schank did not back down with Shaunn Robinson, Steph Ward and Elzette Le Roux all pushed to the edge needing a seventh game to topple their opponents.

Despite fighting hard, luck was not with the Mount Schank team as sets did not fall their way and the trophy quickly drifted out of reach.

By the doubles the contest was as good as over with Bryan Haywood, Henry Haywood, Ward and Dale Domleo finishing the job for West Red in the six-set triumph.

However, Will Boston and Alex Laube stole a stunning 7-6 win to give Mount Schank something to cheer about in the doubles.

The Division 3 decider between Mil Lel and Suttontown Tigers was the closest battle of the day and some special support pushed the victors over the line.

The passionate cheers heard from a full stand of supporters decked out in Richmond Tigers outfits were enough to help drive Suttontown to a stirring win.

At one stage the Tigers looked bound for glory after Brody Sharam, Kobe Cole and Tom Inglis snatched the opening three singles sets.

However, Mil Lel then went on a run of its own through Kate Fabian, Jorja Douglas and Jessica Douglas.

With the game on the line in the doubles and the “Tiger Army” at full voice, Suttontown stepped up.

Steve Dehmel, Sharam and Inglis laid the foundations before the sisters stole the show.

Siblings Molly Lennon, Eleanor Doyle, Lizzie Doyle and Agnes Doyle used their strong relationship to full effect, blitzing the women’s doubles to win the two sets required to send the premiership flag to Suttontown.