CALIVIL North has taken out the Loddon Valley Tennis Association premiership for 2024-25 — remarkably, the club’s 28th win in 37 seasons.
It was a close run thing, with opponents Mincha West putting up a brave fight all day.
In the end, Calivil North took the title 99 games to 94.
The grand final was brought forward because of the extreme heat on Saturday, but players still had to cope with very high temperatures.
Calivil North’s victory was built on the ladies’ doubles results, which the team won 39-21.
Men’s doubles went to Mincha West, 29-42, while the mixed doubles were squared at 31 games apiece.
Winning captain Michelle Balic quipped that the ladies “as usual” were the reason for the win, before admitting “it was a real team effort”.
The topsy-turvy nature of the final was highlighted by some of her own results: she and partner
Christie Rogers won their women’s doubles 7-0, which was a critical victory overall. Yet she also lost a mixed game 7-1, illustrating the closeness of the contest.
Michelle’s 14-year-old son Oscar won the club’s player of the finals award for his performances over two weeks.
She said it highlighted the quality of the young players coming through in the association, which
was a good sign for its future.
Calivil North 99 d Mincha West 94
Mens: L Maxted C Smith lost to J Ritchie D Mann 3-7. L Maxted O Balic lost to J Ritchie D Stewart 4-7. C Smith O Balic lost to D Mann D Stewart 6-7. J Smith L Strachan lost to B Wagner P Gargen 6-7. J Smith K Maxted lost to B Wagner R Wagner 6-7. L Strachan K Maxted lost to P Gargen R Wagner 4-7. 
Ladies: M Balic C Rogers d E Prout J Wagner 7-0. M Balic G Maxted d E Prout T Wagner 7-4. C Rogers G Maxted d J Wagner T Wagner 7-1. L Strachan H Vinnicombe d T Stewart C Pickles 7-2. L Strachan A Maxted lost to T Stewart C Mann 6-7. H Vinnicombe A Maxted lost to C Pickles C Mann 5-7. 
Mixed: C Smith M Balic lost to J Ritchie J Wagner 1-7. O Balic C Rogers lost to D Mann E Prout 4-7. L Maxted L Strachan d T Wagner T Wagner 7-5. J MSith G Maxted d P Gorgen T Stewart 7-1. L Strachan H Vinnicombe d B Wagner C Pickles 7-4. K Maxted A Maxted lost to R Wagner C Mann 5-7.