It was a mixed week weatherwise, but Monday Women’s certainly had the best of it, with play starting at a balmy 25 degrees.
Section 2 saw the three top teams have good wins, but as there was no significant difference in the scores, the ladder remained unchanged meaning Wallabies and Western Warriors will meet in next week’s final.
Section 1 played its final this week and the tennis was as hot as the weather. Grape Therapy, which finished minor premiers, started the match well against closest rivals Rusteze, with long time playing partners Jo Puckett and Ana Clifton coming up against Mel McCelland and Denise Airey.
The match was punctuated with long rallies, great court coverage and shot making, but Puckett and Clifton proved too strong winning 8-3.
The second doubles was a gruelling battle between Therapies Sarah Williams and Donna Schoenmaekers and Rusteze’s Narelle Thompson and Andrea Eccleston.
Battling each other and the low setting sun, the combinations were well matched, but Rusteze took an early 3-1 lead which they held to the end, and after almost an hour won through 8-5 to level the sets, but Grape Therapy held a narrow two-game lead.
The third set saw Puckett team with Williams against McCelland and Thompson, in another set where the level of play belied the score. Grape Therapy had the best of the lengthy baseline rallies, and got off to a flying start winning the first five games, before Rusteze fought back, winning the next three. From there Puckett and Williams steadied, finishing off the set 8-3.
The final set saw Clifton and Schoenmaekers face Airey and Eccleston in another lengthy battle. The teams were neck and neck through the match with some phenomenal serving and smashing by Airey, great placement by Clifton and patience by Eccleston.
The score seesawed with Rusteze getting an early break, but Therapy broke back soon and eventually the teams found themselves level at six-all. With all but four games being decided by lengthy deuce games, it was a case of who could hold their nerve and get over the line. In the end Grape Therapy managed to hold serve and then break to take the win 8-6 and end the night as premiers.
This Thursday will see the final of Thursday Triples Section 1, with Moolap’s Two Phones Chol looking to win a fifth season in a row, with only Grovedale standing in the way.
Grovedale will be hoping it hasn’t peaked a week too early, having beaten the reigning premiers this week, but only time will tell.
