For the second week of finals, the weather was not looking favourable for our Tuesday Ladies, but the rain paused long enough for matches to go ahead, and grand finalists be decided.
It wasn’t a great day for many home teams with four of the six preliminaries going to last week’s elimination finalists and the two that did make it through did it by the skin of their teeth with only a few games difference.
Section 4 was the only grade with two finals, with Surfcoast Torquay Black, who have dominated all season, having a 5-1 win over fourth placed Western Heights Uniting, while Teesdale had a much tougher time against their Torquay’s counterparts Bellbrae Green.
The match went set for set, and there was only one game separating the teams with two sets to play.
It was a great match, with ‘deuce’ the word of the day. Bellbrae put themselves ahead with Diedre Pike and Judy Harvey winning 6-3, but with Lynette Wood and Melissa Gillett’s 6-1 win for Teesdale, they took the day, and the spot in next week’s final.
The upsets started at the top with Section 1 minor premiers Barwon Heads going down to Moriac in a tough battle. Moriac, fresh off their deciding set win last week, started well, but with a couple of close wins in sets three and four, eventual winners four sets to two, but by only two games.
Aireys Inlet also struggled in their middle sets against Surfcoast Torquay Yellow in Section 2, with Yellow proving too strong winning four sets to two. The team was helped along with Kerryn Viner winning her three sets for the morning.
Highton tussled with Clifton Springs in the first two sets in Section 3, eventually winning 6-4, 7-5, and then taking the third 6-2 before the Springs hit back in the fourth, winning 6-0.
Jacqui Duxson led from the front for Highton winning her third set with Jules Gower to give the team the win, while the Springs took the last in a tie-break. Highton through to the final with a 4-2 win.
Highton also enjoyed success in Section 5, with the best win of the day defeating Grovedale six sets to love. The team had won both of their encounters during the home and away series, so were favourites going in, and they made the most of the day. The teams have enjoyed their matches over the season, including the final, even posing for a photo together after the
match.
Grovedale fought hard in their Section 7 match with St Mary’s, and despite leading three sets to one going into the remaining two sets, St Mary’s weren’t just going to lie down.
Christie Moores and Denise Henry kept them in contention winning the fifth set 6-4, while Teresa Mifsud and Carol Mills put them over the line by three games, winning 6-3, with the teams level on sets.
Clifton Springs were neck and neck with Hamlyn Park in their Section 6 clash with the result in question to the end. Hamlyn Park took the first set 6-3, but the Springs managed to go two games better in the second, winning 6-1. The Park took the third 6-4, the Springs countered with a 6-3, now three games ahead.
The remaining two sets were again split with Hamlyn Park winning the sixth 6-2, but with Clifton Springs getting up 6-1, despite being tied on sets, the match went to the Springs with a four game advantage.
The winners will now be looking to next week’s grand finals and hoping they will be the ones at the end of the day with a glass of champagne and having their premiership photo taken.
