Nine of the 27 Tennis Geelong Junior Pennant grades began finals on Saturday 28 February.
In the Premier sections, things went the way of the favourites, with all four home teams taking the win.
Ocean Grove were pushed to a live doubles by Surfcoast Jan Juc but got over the line 8-3 in the boys while Drysdale did the same in the girls 8-4, despite Grovedale Black finishing ahead on sets.
Hamlyn Park ended Barwon Heads season in the Boys elimination final with a clean sweep of rubbers while Geelong Lawn took both singles to win the day in the girls before going down in the doubles to Grovedale Yellow.
Boys 1 was the closest section of the day with Geelong Lawn taking an early lead over minor premiers Lara, winning three of the four singles before Lara won both doubles 6-1 and 7-5 leaving them just one game short and into a prelim against Ocean Grove, who had to go to a deciding set against Grovedale before prevailing 6-4 in the seventh.
Wandana Heights and Western Heights Uniting also had a tight tussle in Girls 1 with the teams tied on sets and Wandana ahead by one game after the singles. Western Heights took the first doubles 6-4, leaving Wandana needing to win the set 7-5 to prevail. Wandana eventually took the set in a tie-break, pushing the match into a seventh set, which saw Wandana come out winners 6-2.
The elimination final was a different story with Ocean Grove Blue proving much too good for Grovedale with a 6-0 clean sweep.
Boys 3 was the closest section at the end of home and away with only three points separating the four teams, and the finals were just as close.
Minor premiers Ocean Grove were tied on sets with Highton Blue after the singles, with a two-game lead to Highton.
Highton took the first doubles 6-3 to go ahead while the second doubles was a battle with the Grove eventually winning 7-5, but it wasn’t enough and will face Geelong Lawn in the prelim.
Lawn gave themselves a great chance, winning three of the four singles against Waurn Ponds and despite the Ponds winning the second doubles 6-4, Lawn’s 6-1 win in the first sealed it and kept their finals run alive.
Grovedale’s poor luck continued in the Girls 4 elimination final against Clifton Springs. Grovedale won the first singles, but from there the Springs took control, winning the next five sets.
They will face Barwon Heads Blue after Surfcoast Torquay Blue almost took a clean sweep against them, with only a tie-break loss in the first doubles.
Grovedale’s one success was in Boys 6 where they kept their season alive by beating Barwon Heads. The teams were level on sets after the singles, but Grovedale’s doubles prowess saw them take both sets for a 4-2 win.
They will face Wandana Heights who had a tough 5-1 loss to Western Heights Uniting.
Point Lonsdale had a winning day in Boys 8 with the White team advancing to the decider with their win over Clifton Springs, and the Blue team getting over Inverleigh to avoid elimination.
White won three of the four singles and a doubles to progress while Inverleigh will be wondering what could have been, winning 29 games but only one set. Three tie-breaks went the way of Lonnie to put them through to the next round.
Green Ball 8 produced two upsets. Minor premiers Teesdale won the first singles against All Saints, but the away team took control to advance, winning 5-1. St Mary’s only dropped the fourth singles against Barwon Heads to go through to the prelim.
With the Labour Day long weekend, play will resume on 14 March.
