Dandenong Tennis Club coach Valoja Illangasinghe, right, and his Hampton Park Tennis Club counterpart Tim Symons organised a Davis Cup-style challenge between the clubs last week.By Marc McGowan
DANDENONG Tennis Club will seek revenge next year after losing the inaugural club challenge with Hampton Park Tennis Club last Wednesday.
Head coaches Valoja Illangasinghe and Tim Symons, of Dandenong and Hampton Park respectively, created the concept hailed its success and hope to run it twice a year.
The Narre Warren residents are also involved in the coaching of Waverley Tennis’ elite junior program at Doveton.
The format involved two A-grade competitions – one male and one female team each – and a beginners’ unisex contest.
Around 20 children took part in the challenge at Hampton Park’s Robert Booth Reserve courts, with most competitors playing one singles and two doubles matches.
Hampton Park triumphed in both A-grade clashes, while Dandenong prevailed in the beginners’ match-up – giving the former a 90-70 overall victory.
Illangasinghe, who has been involved in the sport for more than 20 years and still plays at grade-one Pennant level, was delighted with the event.
“It was really good and we hope to make it bigger and involve more kids in the future,” he said.
“They belted us, but we’ll sort them out next time!
“We’re looking at holding another one over the next couple of terms before winter while the weather is still pretty good.”
Illangasinghe said the loss of talented junior Jordan Jacotine due to a knee injury was a blow to his side’s chances.
Symons, who has coached for a decade at Hampton Park, Doveton and Belgrave Tennis Clubs, was just as enthusiastic about the concept.
“We had a great time on the night and Valoja and my kids were really excited leading up to it,” he said.
“It was very friendly – we had a barbecue afterwards – and we encouraged the kids to get to know each other.
“Tennis is a pretty individual game, so to get the chance to play in a team of 10 against another club is fantastic.”
