MARONG has completed a fairytale finish to the tennis season, defeating Derby in the grand final of the Marong and District Tennis Association competition. Marong won the final comprehensively, 13-98 to 5-66. The team only made the finals by beating wooden spooners Woodstock-on-Loddon in the last round of home and away matches, jumping from sixth on the ladder to fourth. Marong then beat top side Lockwood in the semi-finals before thumping Derby, who finished second on the ladder, in the season decider. Derby sneaked into the final by defeating Newbridge 9-74 to 9-72. The final was played in extreme heat at Malone Park courts, testing everyone’s fitness and resilience. Thankfully there was some shade for the spectators as the mercury continued to climb during the matches. Marong’s victory was its first premiership since the 2019-20 season, with Harcourt having won a remarkable four titles in a row before this season, when it finished sixth of seven clubs. Derby managed to win only two of the ladies’ and mixed matches, and just one of the men’s clashes. Marong 13-98 d Derby 5-66 Ladies: R McCaig S Hardingham lost to L Naughton F Dangerfield 4-6. R McCaig J Cornish d L Naughton T Leerson 6-4. S Hardingham J Cornish d F Dangerfield T Leerson 6-4. S Thompson G Turnball lost to P Normoyle D Normoyle 1-6. S Thompson H Turnball d P Normoyle K Galea 6-5. G Turnball H Turnball d D Normoyle T Flood 6-2. Mens: L Frankel Z Turnball d L McCullagh M Dineen 6-3. L Frankel J McCraig d L McCullagh N Pollock 6-2. Z Turnball J McCraig d M Dineen N Pollock 6-0. N McCaig D Turnball d S Crane S Guerra 6-3. N McCaig M Frankel d S Crane N Naughton 6-3. M Frankel K McCaig lost to S Guerra N Naughton 5-6. Mixed: S Hardingham L Frankel d L Naughton L McCullagh 6-2. R McCaig J McCraig d T Leerson M Dineen 6-3. G Turnball Z Turnball d F Dangerfield N Pollock 6-1. S Thompson N McCaig lost to D Normoyle N Naughton 5-6. H Turnball M Frankel d P Normoyle S Crane 6-4. J Cornish K McCaig lost to K Galea S Guerra.