It was cool and overcast conditions for Tuesday’s Midweek Competition, and at Round 11 with only 13 points between first and seventh in Section 4, all finals positions are still up for grabs.
It was a top of the table clash this week, when Moolap travelled to Surfcoast Bellbrae. With one point separating the teams, and Bellbrae winning by two games with the sets tied in its previous match, this match had the potential to be match of the round.
Moolap has an impressive record, with its three early losses decided on games difference with teams tied on sets.
Since round five, the team has been dominant, and it continued its good form this week. Erica Sutherland and Felicia Johnston got the visitors off to a good start with a 6-1 win while Bellbrae countered in the second with Judy Harvey and Ann Cooper winning 6-3.
From there Moolap kicked up a gear winning the next four sets, giving the visitors a 5-1 win, and increasing their lead to seven points.
Point Lonsdale moved into fourth and closed the gap on third place with their 5-1 win over Eastern Districts.
While the final score looked one sided, Districts pushed Lonny in several of the sets. Tamara Gaylard and Jane Molphy opened the day for the home team with a 6-4 win, while Districts went ahead in the second with Delwyn Foster and Shelley Gioffre winning 6-2.
Eastern Districts was unlucky with injury impeding the fourth set, and Lonny took sets three and four 6-2, 6-0.
In the final two sets Districts tried hard and narrowly missed out going down 6-4, 7-5, with Gaylard and Molphy winning their three sets for the home team, and halving the gap to third place.
Mount Moriac also had a 5-1 win this week, pushing into fifth, one point out of the four, in its clash against Ocean Grove.
The Mount took full advantage of the home court advantage, however, the score belied the quality of the tennis. Phillipa Hendry and Beni Turkson battled to take the first set for the Grove in a tie-break while Jenyce Hosking and Barb Hepburn had an easier win for the Mount in the second taking it 6-1.
From there the home team pushed hard, and battled to the win taking the final four sets 7-5, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
The final set of the day was the closest, with Surfcoast Torquay hosting Portarlington.
Winsome Batchelor and Melissa Coulsell opened the match with lengthy 7-5 win for the home team while Nicky Beeston and Louise Clohessy had an easier time for the Port with a 6-1 win.
Portarlington also got the best of sets three and four with 6-3, 6-4 wins, but Torquay wasn’t going away and fought back in the final sets taking the fifth in a tie-break and the last 6-3. At the end of the day the teams were level on sets, with Portarlington ahead by four games, leaving it in third, but only two points away from second and the realistic possibility of a second chance when finals start in four weeks.
