Tuesday saw an extremely hard fought match between Mortlake Blue and Lawn Tennis Green for Division Two Grand Final glory at Terang BC.

The path to the Grand Final wasn’t an easy one for Mortlake, with Lawn Tennis Green defeating Mortlake Blue in the Semi Final at Dennington, 67-62.

Last week’s Preliminary Final saw Mortlake Blue defeat City Memorial Blue, 70-62 at Dennington.

The stage then was set for the Semi Final rematch between Lawn Tennis Green and Mortlake Blue at Terang BC.

Despite wind gusts in excess of 40km/h at times, conditions were less than ideal for both sides going into the Grand Final.

No ground was given from either side from the start, with the overall score being 5 all after 6 ends and the overall lead swapping twice in the first 9 ends of the match, with Lawn Tennis gaining one shot overall 7-6 against Mortlake.

Mortlake had started to claw back the lead from Lawn Tennis after 18 ends, with a 5 shot lead, 17-12 but was very short lived as Lawn Tennis fought back to be 5 up against Mortlake, just 6 ends later.

A mere 3 ends after that, at the 27th end, the scores were level again at 22 shots a piece. At this point, all 3 rinks were tied twice already, having played 9 ends each.

Lawn Tennis reclaimed the lead, in the next ends, gaining a slim 2 shot lead over Mortlake 25-23.

By half time, 36 ends were played and Mortlake were 7 shots up over Lawn Tennis, 32-25. The overall lead was level twice and across all rinks, scores were tied 7 times. If the first half was close, the second half was sure to test everyone’s mettle.

And soon after the break, Lawn Tennis had reclaimed the lead and were one shot up, after 42 ends played, 35-34.

Mortlake were in a bit of trouble after 57 ends, with the lead being extended by Lawn Tennis to 9 shots, 52-43. Not to be outdone, Mortlake began to reel in Lawn Tennis at the penultimate end and had taken the lead by one shot, after 72 ends played, 63-62.

With one end to play on all rinks, the match could have gone either way. Whatever the result, the match had it all – drama, tension and a nail biting finish, in very challenging conditions.

The scores were after 24 ends each: D Robertson 29 v M Treweek 14; M Whitson 13 v D Prout 27 and V Smith 21 v M Fisher 21.

In the end, D Robertson conceded one shot to M Treweek, 29-15, M Whitson gaining two shots from D Prout, 15-27 and V Smith getting one shot from M Fisher, 22-21 – with the overall score being 66-63 in Mortlake’s favour.

This match was an extremely close Grand Final for two teams whom, have the utmost respect for each other on and off the greens. Hats off to Lawn Tennis Green for one of the best Grand Final matches seen for a very long time. The Grand Final came down to the wire quite literally and was a thrilling match to watch and could have not been a better Grand Final, even if it was planned.

On the day, Mortlake Blue were the victors however, consensus is that Lawn Tennis will soon be joining them in Tuesday Pennant Division One very soon if this Final was anything to go by.

Mortlake and Lawn Tennis players at the Tuesday Pennant Division Two presentation.

Pictured (from back left): R Pasque, F Robertson, R Wass, A van Diemen, G MacDonald, L O’Shannessy, L Smith, M Whitson; (from front left): G Kenna, V Smith, H Lynam, P Smith, S Richie, D Robertson.