IT has been a long time coming, but Our Ladys' pennant captain Michael Tabban finally has a reason to smile on grand final day.
Tabban's only previous experience at the business end of the tennis season resulted in a runner-up finish, but there was no such disappointment this time around as the combination of Tabban, Eric Yillmaz and Leon Clovers triumphed 4-1 over Laverton Park at Rosamond Tennis Club on Saturday.
The comfortable victory caps off a stellar year for the pennant 6 team after it spent the majority of the season atop the ladder with Laverton Park firming as the only genuine premiership danger.
"It's my first premiership win, so it is very sweet," Tabban said.
"We were probably favourites going in, but Laverton Park are a good side; they've been up with us in the top two all year."
The dominant performance by Our Ladys is even more impressive considering the combination only came together for the first time in season 2010.
"I had known Leon from work and I knew that he was playing tennis at Greenvale, so I sort of coerced him into coming down to Our Ladys to join up with us."
Tabban's recruiting drive proved a masterstroke with Clovers taking out the club's most consistent award and winning both his single sets to help wrap up the premiership early in the day.
"I was actually still playing my singles set, and was down 5-1 when I could hear that we might have sealed the win on the other court, so it was pretty hard to focus when you think you've already won it."
While Tabban fought back in his singles set but lost 4-6, Our Ladys' premiership charge wouldn't be denied with Tabban and his teammates able to relax and enjoy the doubles with the title in their keeping.
In the other grand final at Rosamond, North Sunshine father-son team of John and Matt Harvey went down 3-2 to Yarraville.
"They were just a bit too good for us on the day basically," John Harvey said.
"But it's been a great season getting to play in a grand final with my son."