Jai leads Lara to victory

Section 1 Men's Lara: Shane Harman, Michael Parry, Jai Bosnjak and Bianca Duff. (supplied)

Lara’s Jai Bosnjak led his team to a 4-2 win over Surfcoast in Section 1, in a match that was close to a carbon copy of the first semi-final.

The teams split the first two sets, but Lara got ahead taking the third and fourth before splitting the final two.

After finishing behind Drysdale, with a draw and two convincing losses to the minor premiers through the season, Lara turned its form around when it mattered in 4 Men’s. The visitors started well taking the first two sets 6-3, 6-2, then followed up with the next two 6-3, 6-2 to put the result beyond Drysdale’s reach. The final result was Lara four sets to two.

Bannockburn had the best win of the day, coming from third to upset minor premiers Moolap six sets to love. While a number of sets were close, the boys from Banno held their nerve and didn’t give Moolap a look at the scoreboard.

Clifton Springs had something to celebrate as well, with Section 4 Mixed and the combination team with Drysdale in Section 5 Mixed both victorious.

Jesse, Shannon and Max Ballagh backed up their win from the morning in Juniors, helping their team to a five sets to one win over Ocean Grove, while Andrew Vlahovic led his team winning his three sets in Section 4’s four sets to two win over Grovedale.

Grovedale had a day it would rather forget, with only one of their five teams coming away with a win. Clayton Paull was the standout for the Section 2 Men’s team that got over the line, taking his three sets in the match with Highton Gold. Grovedale led three sets to one going into the final two sets, and with a win in the final set clinched the victory.

Waurn Ponds enjoyed two wins over Grovedale, in Sections 1 and 3 Mixed. The minor premiers in Section 3, couldn’t have started better with Clarissa Walker and Nam-Ha Quach taking the first set 6-0, but Grovedale’s Carolyn Goonan and Russell Duffield countered taking the second 6-1. From there, it was all Waurn Ponds winning the last four sets giving them a convincing 5-1 win.

Section 1 was a little closer with the Ponds getting up 4 sets to 2. Grovedale struggled early, while the Ponds came to play, and took the first two mixed 6-2, 6-1, and followed on taking the ladies 6-2, while Grovedale took the Men’s 6-1.

With a three sets to one lead going into the reverse mixed, Nicole Mullen and Ben Rankin gave the Ponds the win taking their set 6-1.

The closest match of the day went to Wandana Heights Blue over Grovedale in Section 2 Mixed. Grovedale had not come close to Blue through the season with 6-0 and 5-1 losses, but on grand final day that all goes out the window.

The match seesawed through the day but Wandana was keen to stay ahead. Grovedale took the first mixed 6-2, while Blue took the second 6-1.

Grovedale took the ladies 7-5, Blue the Men’s 6-3. With a two-game lead going into the reverse mixed, the match was well and truly alive.

Lisa and Isaac Graham gave Grovedale a chance winning the fifth set 6-4, but Wandana were good enough to take the sixth 6-4 sealing the win, three sets all with an extra two games.