Recap

Smash Storm Back to Take Match in Five

Smash Get Out to Good Start with Convincing Win in Women’s Doubles

Coming off their first match victory in four starts at the Western Split, the East Toronto Smash looked to the women’s doubles duo of Leigh Bradwell and Jordann Vigna to launch their quest for a second against the Southwestern Ontario Brewers team of Christina Chin and Susan Pound. The launch was successful, with Bradwell and Vigna building an early lead and then cruising to a 15-10 win.

Much of the first half saw a few extended rallies, but most points scored on unforced errors. Down 7-4, Pound got into the act with a backhand to get the Brewers with two, only to have Bradwell – later named Player of the Match – reply with a scorching cross.

On the match went with Vigna and Bradwell schooling their counterparts with an amazing display of shot-making and defense, leading to a relatively easy triumph to get things going.

Brewers Send Smash to Sideline Early with Huge Victory

After taking it on the chin in women’s doubles action, the Brewers came out swinging in men’s doubles, thrashing the Smash 15-5 in the process. The Brewers Jeff Elwood and Mark Cleminson were on a mission and unfortunately for the Smash’s Chris Alain and Connor Weeks, they were just in the way.

Before anyone could say “ATP” the Brewers were already ahead 6-0, with both Cleminson and Elwood launching aggressive winning shots and rallying to get the Smash to make unforced errors. Alain and Weeks found a bit of traction, getting a point from a sweet Alain forehand, but still found themselves trailing 10-2 after Elwood set them up for a net return on a backhand.

Later, an extended rally saw the Brewers inch toward victory at 13-2, but the Smash showed a little spunk, rallying for three straight points, before succumbing to the offensive onslaught by the Brewers.

Brewers Spank Smash Again in Mixed Doubles

At first, this game between the Brewers Mark Cleminson and Christina Chin and the Smash’s Connor Weeks and Jordann Vigna was going to be more of a rollercoaster ride. Unfortunately for the Smash, this ride went off the rails too soon in a 15-6 loss to the Brewers.

The Brewers got out to a 3-1 lead, when Weeks got into gear with a wicked backhand winner. Cleminson, though asserted his dominance right after, ripping an overhand winner to make it 4-2. He and Chin later rallied to force the Smash into an unforced error for a 7-3 lead and a timeout. The break did little to abate the Brewers’ assault, with Cleminson and Chin outscoring their opponents 4-2 to go up 11-5.

The Smash were able to muster one lone point in the final stages, one dominated thoroughly by Cleminson, who mixed lobs and crosses to confound the Smash and end the game quickly.

Smash Get Redemption in Beating Brewers, Force Tiebreaker Too

After taking it on the chin in two previous games, the Smash needed a win in a big way to force a tiebreaker. That they did, as Chris Alain and Leigh Bradwell turned the tables and thoroughly defeated the Brewers Jeff Elwood and Susan Pound, 15-7. It was close, for a short while, with the Smash taking a 5-4 lead and both sides making too many unforced errors.

Alain kicked it into high gear shortly thereafter, absolutely smoking three straight winners on a backhand, overhand, and cross to make it 10-4. Bradwell chipped in a great crossing winner to make it 12-4 and Alain again rocked the Brewers with an overhand – one of his six winners — for a commanding 13-6 lead. The Smash finally put the contest out of reach when Pound hit the Selkirk net on a return.

Smash Complete Comeback in Entertaining Singles Tiebreaker

Chris Alain set the standard and the rest of his team followed in this pivotal tiebreaker, the Smash coming back from being down 2-1 in this match to win it 15-11 in a tiebreaker. Alain rallied hard against the Brewers Jeff Elwood to give his club a 3-0 lead.

The Brewers did rebound nicely, with both Mark Cleminson and Christina Chin taking two of three against Connor Weeks and Leigh Bradwell, respectively to make it 5-4 Smash. But, Jordann Vigna restored a four-point cushion, sweeping Susan Pound 3-0.

Alain then grabbed another two against Elwood to push the score to 10-5, however, the Brewers would outscore them 6-3 in the next three stanzas – Pound taking three points from Vigna, too — to make this very interesting. Yet, Alain, prohibitive player of this game, notched the last two points against Elwood to hand his team the match.