LOCAL TENNIS with Donna Schoenmaekers
Early morning showers threatened to ruin the first week of finals for the majority of Tuesday Midweek, however the skies cleared and the day proceeded without interruption.
Sections 1, 5 and 8 all had their last round of home and away matches with Geelong Lawn, Drysdale and Point Lonsdale taking out the respective minor premierships.
Section 2 saw two upsets with Winchlesea, which snuck into fourth place by a point in the final round, besting Grovedale with Andrea Spiller winning her three sets in the 4-2 win, while Barwon Heads got through in a close one against Point Lonsdale.
The Heads were down three sets to one going into the remaining two sets, but turned it around to win both, putting the result at three sets all, but with a four-game lead to put them straight into the grand final.
Things were a little more predictable in Section 3 with minor premiers Aireys Inlet winning the first four sets against Moolap before Moolap rallied to take the final two, and Surfcoast Torquay dropped the first set in a tie-break to Highton, before taking a clean sweep for the balance of the match, winning through five sets to one.
Aireys Inlet and Clifton Springs finished the season one point apart in Section 4, and with both matches through the season decided at three sets all with only game difference between them, Tuesday’s match was bound to be close, and it was.
The teams were level at two sets all going into the final sets before Aireys made the most of the home court advantage to win the final two sets giving it a 4-2 win and direct entry to the grand final.
The second semi saw Wandana Heights host Ocean Grove, which was also only separated by one point at the end of home and away season, but Ocean Grove took its third win against Wandana 4-2 to continue its finals run.
Surfcoast Bellbrae pushed into second in the final week of home and away and continued its winning form this week over Clifton Springs in Section 6. The teams were level on sets and games with two sets to play, but Leanne Heath and Kenwyn Seiffert blitzed their set 6-0 for Bellbrae, and the Springs won the final set 6-2, leaving Bellbrae with the two game lead and a place in the grand final.
The second semi was not so close with Drysdale backing up a strong second half of the season with a 5-1 win over Hamlyn Park.
In Section 7, St Stephen’s would be licking its wounds this week after a retirement in the first set of their match against St Mary’s. St Mary’s had won both home and away matches against St Stephens, and continued its form taking the second semi by six games with the teams level at three sets all.
In the first semi, Western Heights Uniting was inspired by Carmel Addlem, who was presented with life membership before the match, with the team winning the first four sets of the day and giving itself a grand final berth.
The team had failed to make it past the preliminary final in the previous two seasons, so the victory was all the more sweet.
