LOCAL TENNIS with Donna Schoenmaekers
Things are heating up in the race for finals in Section 4 Mixed, with six teams still capable of finishing in the four with one round to play.
Drysdale remains four points clear at the top of the ladder after a 4-2 win over sixth placed Clifton Springs/Drysdale this week.
The teams were evenly matched going into the final mixed sets, but Drysdale came over the top with a 6-4 win to Sophie Harris and Darren Humphrey in the fifth set, Harris winning her three sets for the day, while family combo Isabella and Angus Saunders took the sixth 6-1.
Clifton Springs/Drysdale is still in contention only five points behind Wandana Heights White and Highton, which is separated only by percentage at fourth and fifth, and will like its chances at pushing into the four when they come up against bottom team Leopold next week.
Highton drew closer to fourth spot with a 4-2 win over third placed Wandana Heights Blue, placing it only five points out of second. The teams were locked on sets with only one game the difference going into the final mixed sets, but Frances Grant and Martin Costello put Highton ahead winning 6-4, before Penelope O’Toole and Brendan O’Hallaran sealed the day with a 6-2 win. Blue will face Drysdale next week, and will need to play well to ensure they maintain a finals berth.
Wandana Heights White also had a 4-2 loss this week when it hosted Eastern Districts,
which pushed into second with the win. The play went the same way as the previous two matches with sets at two-all going into the final mixed.
Courtney Johansonn won her third set for the day with Justin Heap 6-4 while Debbi Irwin and Jesse Heap sealed the win also getting up 6-4.
White’s finals fate is likely to rest with Highton’s next week when the teams play each other with the winner likely to end the others’ hopes. White will also need to win well, with Clifton Springs/Drysdale also nipping at its heels.
The final match of the round was between Western Heights Uniting and Leopold, sitting outside finals contention in seventh and eighth. While several of the sets were close, Uniting proved too strong taking a 6-0 win.
