Maccabi's Grade 5 Pennant team narrowly lost on sets in an exhilirating decider played at MCC Glen Iris Valley TC. In an intense encounter with many ups and downs, the Maccabi team gave their all but fell agonisingly short against a talented team of youngsters from Kooyong LTC. A vocal delegation of Maccabi supporters was there to cheer on the team in a high standard level of play.
Grade 5 Maccabi players with the runners-up flag L to R: Jonny Henquin, Daniel Sneider, Jordan Jaffe (captain), Clive Fredman (Life Member), Asaf Nagar, Joel Fredman and Assaf Drori. Not pictured: Gilad Nagar, Marty Schwarz.
Grade 5 Grand Final Kooyong LTC 3-8-66 def Maccabi 3-4-51
Assaf Drori/Daniel Sneider 5-7 5-7
Jordan Jaffe/Jonny Henquin 7-5 2-6 10-6
Asaf Nagar 6-3 3-6 10-8
Jordan Jaffe 1-6 6-7
Daniel Sneider 1-6 2-6
Jonny Henquin 6-1 7-6
After 3 weeks of long and hard fought finals, along with the 14 week regular season, the entire team were all very excited to be given the opportunity to represent Maccabi in a winter pennant grand final. Fortunately for all, it was very good conditions for tennis and everyone was ready to give it their absolute all in the hopes of bringing home a premiership.
Starting with the doubles, Assaf and Daniel played a talented pair consisting of 2 extremely strong and talented youngsters. Despite having leads and significant chances in both sets, the pair just fell short 5-7 5-7. A great effort by both players, and a match that was so close to going the other way.
In the other doubles, Jordan and Jonny came against a really tough pair consisting of one youngster and one older player brought in especially for doubles. After taking a close first set 7-5, the pair struggled in the second set, falling 2-6. However, realising the importance of the deciding tiebreak, Jordan and Jonny used a more attacking style to win an important 3rd set tiebreak 10-6.
In the singles, Daniel went on first and played another very talented younger player. Despite giving it his absolute all, he unfortunately couldn’t get to his very best and went down 1-6 2-6.
Jonny was on the other court, and started the match in incredible fashion, winning the first set 6-1 within 25 minutes. However, the second set was much tougher as the player changed tactics and forced Jonny to play a style he was not as comfortable with. Despite going down 3-5, Jonny persevered and came back to win a massive 2nd set in a tiebreak (led tiebreak 6-0 to win 7-2).
The last 2 matches to go on were Asaf and Jordan - both of whom were to play extremely strong 13-14 year olds who were top 5 in the state for their age group. Asaf, at number 1, started the match very well, playing an incredible level of tennis and getting his opponent frustrated with his class and consistency - taking the first set 6-3. In the 2nd set, Asaf’s opponent stepped up and started to gain momentum, leading the set 4-1, before eventually forcing a 3rd set super tiebreak. In the 3rd set tiebreak, after many long rallies and intense points, Asaf won a massive super tiebreak 10-8 to force a win or go home final match.
The last singles was Jordan. Jordan’s opponent was also very talented and started the match incredibly, hitting winner after winner and punishing every short ball that came his way, taking the lead 5-1. Despite Jordan going down 3-6 in Set 1, Jordan had started to get his game going and knew he was every chance in this match. After taking a good lead of 4-1 in Set 2, before his opponent edging it back to 4-3, it was at this moment that Asaf’s match had ended and both players knew the situation, whoever wins the match, wins the premiership for their team. From this moment, Jordan continued to give it his absolute all, and forced a tiebreak in the second set where he devastatingly fell short 8-6 in such a close and intense tiebreak, giving the win to the opposition.
In the end, they came so close to a premiership - 1 match or even a few points was the entire difference between them and a premiership. Although it is still very tough and sad for the entire team to think about how close they were and how things could have been so different, they all know how much of an incredible achievement it was to make it to a grand final and that they should all be proud of their efforts throughout the entire season.
It was such a pleasure to captain such an incredible team over the last 6 months and I’d like to thank all of them for their incredible effort and support in making this such an amazing and memorable season for myself and for all. Here’s to our next season - where we can hopefully go one better and bring another premiership back home to Maccabi!
- Jordan Jaffe