It is all systems go with Tennis Geelong this week with the end of school holidays and the beginning of new Pennants.
The week kicked off with Associations Junior Pennant on Sunday, with teams both away and at home struggling with the tough conditions.
Open B Boys started well, winning both doubles before abandoning play, while several matches didn’t go ahead.
The 12B Boys team had a convincing 5-1 win over second placed Waverley while counterparts 12D took a narrow seven-game win over ladder leaders NSJLTA.
The 14C Girls came through for their first win in great fashion defeating Berwick and District 5-1, and in the closest section 14B Boys had a 5-1 win
where there are only seven points separating all the teams.
In complete contrast, Monday Night Women’s started their season warm and windless and the nine teams relished the ideal conditions.
Section 1, comprising three teams, played their first super round with pairs from each team matching up against the others in best of two-set rubbers. Grape Therapy were the best performers of the night winning both their rubbers while Rusteze came away with one.
Section 2, with six teams, played three regular match ups with Wallabies, Western Warriors and Moolap Monarchs all having strong wins over their
opposition.
The weather turned again for what was supposed to be the return of Tuesday Midweek. With lashing rain and more wind, round 11 was abandoned leaving teams with three rounds to play before finals.
Thursday will see the start of the Triples Spring Pennant with 27 teams in five sections playing the 10-week season.
Moolap’s Two Phones Chol will be looking to defend their Section 1
title, and will have new opposition to face with newcomers to the competition Geelong Lawn and Surfcoast. Only time will tell if they can stay on top. With new teams coming in at the top of the competition, several teams will find themselves in new sections which should promote more competitive play and generate new rivalries.
Saturday is the commencement of the Summer Pennant for juniors in the morning and seniors in the afternoon. Juniors will comprise 12 Boys sections, eight girls sections, four green ball sections, along with 11 orange ball beginner teams and the introduction of two new Premier Open grades consisting of 12 teams.
The Premier trial will involve a smaller team playing rubbers matches with the aim of providing more intensive competition at the higher level. With a combined total of 206 teams across all divisions, players are bound find
matches are competitive.
The Senior Pennant will see 108 teams compete in six Mixed, three Men’s and six Open sections in a season that will run until March.
Competition this season should be impressive with a
number of new combinations with players returning after an absence and changes of clubs being entered at the top end of grading.
This can only strengthen and increase the level of play across the competition.
Tennis Geelong is set up for a fabulous summer of tennis.
