Aldgate Sports & Recreation Club

Grand final 2016 was pizza party night.

Even the pizza delivery boy said ‘I’ve brought my runners’ and was looking for an “in” on the action…

Early attention was focused on show court 2 where the Double Shots were vying with Grundfos for the all important wooden spoon. Double Shots eventually lost in a close tussle thereby securing the coveted Aldgate Night Tennis Wooden Spoon… It is easy to win but to turn up each week when the team is running bottom and do so with a huge collective smile on their faces meant that team Double Shots really summed up the entire spirit of night tennis. Barb signed off the season saying ‘I’m not sure what the score was but gee we had some fun’… Brilliant effort guys. Team Grundfos on the other hand were happy with their win tonight and went home secure in the knowledge that given their 6-0 win last week against the top team, that their best team this season could beat any team on the night… Tony is therefore now believed to be holding winter training sessions to dissect the season and prepare for next September.

The fight for 5th and 6th spots were contested with pizza in hand. ‘If I knock your plate of pizza off the net post, do we get an extra point’ etc. Renee managed to use one or both of her breasts to return one shot which set the girls into a frenzy of discussion about ‘burley bras’ and this was all too much for poor young James who totally lost focus and the girls went on to carry all before them. It is still not certain whether Racqueteers or TBA won that tie but what we are sure of was that large amounts of chocolate, pizza and red wine were consumed… and that James has received an education beyond his years…

Of course on show court 3 the match for 3rd/4th was fought between recent finals contenders Smash and Serve vs Hit and Miss. After Hit and Miss had a major personnel changeover mid season (due to boy friends, work and interstate commitments), the new look team has simply impressed with Mick leading his crew of Mark, Travis and Tony. All big hunking brutes (all number ones) and all pulverising every team in the their way… I think the selectors are going to have a good look at the handicapping for next season. Anyway, Hit and Miss were simply too strong for the one time finals favorites of Smash and Server with Cooper, Richard and Greg Craven, all ably led by Club legend and life member, Greg Sparrow…

But much of the attention on the night that was not directed at the vast amounts of pizza and beautiful Penfolds red wine was directed at show court 1 where the mighty Bushranges team were taking on the String Courtets (only three weeks ago running 7th on the ladder!). Well the harmonious and well performing Courtets players seemed to strike a  chord and eventually finished on a winning note with the brilliant Bushranges forced to surrender to the Court. Wonderful Sean var der Linden, Spunky and cute Graham Davis, Wise and Gumpy Jess Hildebrandt and Speedy Lisa Anderson (hmm, maybe I misattributed some adjectives there…) prevailed as Night Tennis Premiers over Super Shane, Dazzling Darren, Quintessential Kerry and Colourful Chris…

With much pizza, chicken, salad, chocolate still to be eaten and much red wine still to be uncorked, the ‘thank you’s’ only went on long enough to show appreciation for all the great work by everyone in the night tennis ‘family’. Thanks to all team captains and players, thanks to Jocelyn for Canteen and numerous mostly unmentionable support services for Myles, Leith for party balloons, bringing his plastic wine vibrator thingamy and knowing how to use it politely (and for being part of the ‘late night crew’), Late Night Crew pillar Leigh for the lighting and helping out each week with the lockup and supervising Leith. Super celebrity Lou-T (absent tonight on a movie shoot in Bali but always there in spirit) was also acknowledged for her great work both on the nightly cleanup and as another one of several  lynch pins of the ‘late night crew’. Leithy and Graham also said a few kind words about the Night Tennis Coordinator….. come on…. ‘stop it’ you guys…

Jocelyn was presented with a lovely bottle of white wine but alas, a rookie mistake, meant that the bottle had been left unattended on the table for five minutes and so was presented to Jocelyn, half empty!

Myles was also presented with a fabulous bottle of red (thank you) that as you can see here was cleverly hidden from view in a bottle carrier and thus was presented full of wine (the bottle is believed to have possibly survived the night).

Apologies to the council garbos who will need to remove 16 pizza boxes, numerous garlic bread, chip and chocolate packets and about two dozen wine bottles from the Club bin… we blame the Premiers for this.

On a slightly more serious note, congratulations to all players and teams and so ends a really fun season, it has been a privilege to work with you all to be able to organise the season and thank you to everyone in the ‘night tennis family’ for their encouragement, help and kind words and deeds. The success of this season is tribute to everyone and real credit to our Coummity and Club and to each of you, the people who make it all happen. Night Tennis will recommence next September but as with last year, we will have a July Wimbledon Pub Meal to blow off the winter chills and plan the attack for next season… Stay tuned to the email and enjoy your winter break..

Many thanks to everyone and all the best!