LOCAL TENNIS with Donna Schoenmaekers
It was round 12 this week of Tuesday Midweek and with finals around the corner, competition is heating up in Section 6.
Clifton Springs cemented themselves at the top of the ladder and as minor premiers with an away win against Anglesea, 4 sets to 2.
The match was two sets apiece with Anglesea two games in front going into the final two sets, but the Springs proved too strong with Beverley Draper and Sarah Winship taking the fifth set in a tie-break, while Jan Whitmore and Vicky Winship sealed the win with a sixth set score of 6-2, giving Winship her third set for the day.
Surfcoast Bellbrae found themselves on the opposite side of a three-set draw, going down by 5 games to Grovedale Yellow, after their round five encounter put them ahead by two games.
The two teams went set for set, with Grovedale up by 2 games going into the final two sets. The final two sets continued the same with Diane Ambrus and Jenny Finch winning the fifth for Grovedale 6-2 while Sue Douglas and Gail Dunstan took the sixth in a tie-break for Bellbrae, leaving the win with Grovedale, and despite the win, dropping to seventh on the ladder.
Spoiling the win for Grovedale Yellow was Grovedale Black with their 6-0 win over Barwon Heads. While on paper the win was convincing, the Heads played well and pushed Black with four of the sets decided 6-4 or 7-5, but just couldn’t get over the line.
Black have left themselves with a small chance to still make finals, but with two rounds to go and matches against Clifton Springs and fourth placed Drysdale, they may have left their run too late.
In the final match of the day, Drysdale closed the gap on third place Hamlyn Park with another tight win with sets level at 3-3l, with the two game difference giving them the points.
The home team started well with Jenni Hunter and Deborah Peacock taking the first 6-3 and the second going to Mandy McManus and Lindy Honey 6-2. Hamlyn Park rallied in the next two sets with Cassie Spain and Janeene Barry winning the third 6-4 while Petra Neilson and Tanja McKenzie cruised to a 6-1 win.
With the match tied on sets and games the teams fought hard in the final two sets, but with Peacock and McManus getting up 6-3 and Hunter and Honey narrowly missing out in a tie-break, Drysdale got over the line.
With two rounds to play and only eight points between second and fifth, and sixth and seventh still within reach of the four, teams will be playing for a place in the finals and the chance to play them at home, so everyone will need to bring their A game to give themselves the best chance of success.
