It was semi-final week for Tennis Geelong Junior Saturday competition for the majority of sections, and almost half of the first-semi results were tied on sets and decided on games.
Grovedale had a surprise 5-1 loss to Wandana Heights in the last home and away match of the season, but reversed the score this week in Section 1 Girls, holding Wandana to just 15 games.
Surfcoast Torquay took top spot in Section 2 Girls last week, but Beachside showed they were a force to be reckoned with as the girls from Warrnambool and Hamilton took the final five sets to one, and only missing the clean sweep in a tie-break in the fourth singles.
Section 3 Girls went to Western Heights Uniting whose strong form over the season continued, with a 6-0 win over Centre Court.
Level on sets, only two games separated Surfcoast Torquay and Geelong Lawn at the end of the morning in Section 4 Girls, despite Sienna Grigic winning both her sets for Lawn.
All of the boys sections had the minor premiers win through to the grand final, however, all matches were close with the biggest margin four sets to two and six games.
Section 2 Boys went set for set, but two good wins and two tight losses meant the game advantage went to Grovedale against Geelong Lawn. Malachi Hedt led the way at number one, winning his sets 6-1, 6-0.
Things were all tied up after the singles in Section 3, and the doubles were split, but Centre Court’s 6-1 win topped the tie-break loss, giving it a four-game lead over Lara, and the most even match with all eight players winning a set for the day.
The Ballaghs were in form for Clifton Springs in Section 4, taking a 4-2 win over Surfcoast Jan Juc. Jesse, Max and Shannon all won their singles, before Jesse and Max teamed up to take the first doubles, earning their team a rest next week.
Barwon Heads would be breathing a sigh of relief after a 4-2 win over Grovedale, with the match producing three tie breakers, in Section 5. The first two singles went to Grovedale’s Riley Van der Vliet and the Heads’ Michael Sheridan 6-2, but from there the results were incredibly close with Barwon Heads taking the remaining singles 6-4, 6-5, and each team winning a tie-break in the doubles.
Section 6 Boys started late due to wet courts, but once started, the Grovedale team didn’t let the delay distract them. Despite Heath Agustsson winning his two sets for Highton, the home team put itself into the grand final with a 4-2 win.
Grovedale also has a rest next week in Section 7 after a close win three sets all with a four game lead over Geelong Lawn White. The teams were evenly matched with both the singles and doubles split down the middle.
Geelong Lawn looked likely to take the win after the singles in Section 8, being up three sets to one, but home team Lara fought back taking both doubles to win by five games.
The closest match of the day was Section 9, where Ocean Grove Blue hosted Leopold. The match was tied on sets and games after the singles, and the doubles were nailbiting.
Tom Scorpo and Lincoln Wilson got through in a tie-break for Leopold, but Blue’s Bailey Cairncross and Fred Spencer won the second doubles 6-4 giving them the win by one game.
