Altona showed a total disregard for the form guide to leave red hot premiership favourite Hoppers Crossing stunned after the Western Region Tennis Association Section 1 Pennant grand final.
The youth driven A’s not only caused a major boilover, but did it in a ruthless manner, winning five rubbers to nil on the road at Wootten Road Reserve on Saturday.
Sean Spralja, the A’s No. 3 player, was respectful of the opposition and what they achieved this summer, but went in quietly confident his team could produce an upset.
“They were undefeated all season, but I did feel that if we all played at our best, all worked as a team, we could get the win,” he told Star Weekly. “That’s what ended up happening.
“We’re pretty excited to get the win.”
At no point did Altona ever give Hoppers Crossing a look in.
The A’s stormed through the singles rubbers, despite having to face in-form Hoppers duo Shaun Sharp and James Cook.
Sharp – Hoppers’ No. 1 – was just named the competition’s most consistent player, but even he was powerless to stop the A’s on this day.
A’s top player Robert Carpio thrashed him 6-0 before A’s second Jordan Glowacki beat him 6-2.
Spralja overcame Cook 7-5 in a tight battle, then Carpio repeated the match-to-love dose over Cook.
The doubles was a non-event with Hoppers forfeiting due to injury.
The A’s ended up winning 31 of the 38 games.
“We always knew we had it in us to beat them, but to beat them that well was a surprise, that’s for sure,” Spralja said.
The Altona trio will now turn their attention to the Tennis Victoria pennant competition.
The new season begins in April.
“We’ll be playing teams from all across the city, rather than just the western region,” Spralja said. “It’s a lot stronger competition so it will be a good challenge for us.”
