LOCAL TENNIS Donna Schoenmaekers
Grovedale and Ocean Grove remain the only undefeated teams in the Section 1 Mixed draw after round two, with both posting 4-2 wins last Saturday.
Ocean Grove’s top mixed players started against Highton in the same way they finished last weekend – with long sets – taking the first two mixed rubbers 7-5, 7-6.
Highton fought back in the men’s and ladies’ taking both sets 6-1, but the reverse mixed both went to Ocean Grove 6-3, 6-4, earning the young team second place on the ladder.
The side is just one point behind ladder leader Grovedale, which defeated Newcomb on Saturday.
Bianca Duff asserted herself as number one lady for Grovedale losing only four games in her three sets, while Jai Bosnjak took his two sets.
Barwon Heads defeated St Alban’s 5-1 in a tighter match than the final score indicated.
With a total of 63 games, St Alban’s challenged Barwon Heads in every set, but only managed to win the ladies’ rubber 6-4.
In Geelong’s premier men’s tournament Hamlyn Park remains the sole undefeated team after the second round.
The side backed up its 6-0 win against Ocean Grove with a 5-1 victory over Barwon Heads on Saturday.
The match started close with a tie-break win to Hamlyn Park, but Ben and Charlie Reid (no relation) gave the lead to Barwon Heads with a 6-2 win.
From there Hamlyn Park hit their stride and took the final four sets comfortably.
Clifton Springs is in second position in Section 1 after a 4-2 win over Geelong East Uniting.
Clifton Springs started well taking the first two sets 6-3, 6-1, but East Uniting fought back, with the teams taking a set apiece 6-4.
With the final two sets split, Clifton Springs took the win.
Ocean Grove hit back after a 6-0 loss in round one, downing Highton at home.
Grove fought hard to take the first four sets 6-1, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 for the win.
The Highton players, to their credit, refused to give up in the dead rubbers, winning both 7-5.
Surfcoast Torquay had a bye.
Rain halted play in last Tuesday’s round 12 of Tennis Geelong’s midweek competition.
With just two rounds left, competition for the top four spots is heating up in all divisions.
Meanwhile, youngsters from Bannockburn, Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Geelong Lawn, Grovedale, Highton, Lara and Surf Coast got their first taste of tennis in the seven-week Orange Ball competition.
The ‘orange ball’ games are designed to introduce children to competition tennis on a reduced size court with lower compression balls.
