LOCAL TENNIS Donna Schoenmaekers
Tennis returned full steam ahead across Geelong on Saturday following a two-week break, with the competition tightening up in the Section 2 men’s.
The weekend’s play resulted in several moves in the top four and, with five rounds to go, any of the top seven teams can still make finals.
Grovedale moved into top spot with a 5-1 win over Highton Gold.
The team, comprising of three father-son combinations, chose mostly older heads this week with Andrew Paull, Craig Watson and Dirk Scott teaming up with Clayton Paull.
The line-up paid off, with Grovedale starting strong to take the first three sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
Brodie Spong and Trent Carson fought back to take the fourth for Highton 7-5 against Scott and Watson.
But that was the single highlight for Highton, as Grovedale took the final two 6-3, 6-0, giving them a 14-game win to jump from third to first on the ladder.
Wandana Heights White moved into third place with a 4-2 over second-placed Moolap.
White started well winning the first two sets 6-4, 6-1, but Jeffrey Bacareza and Riley Kotwic got Moolap on the board taking the third 6-3.
Nick Cullen and Paul Dean steadied the ship for White taking the fourth 6-2.
The final two rubbers were split with each side taking a set 6-2, giving White the win and an eight-game lead.
Wandana Heights Blue also had a day out, winning 5-1 against Highton Blue.
It was team Crosby for Wandana Heights, with Kai, Paul and Koby Crosby teaming with Austin Batty to take the first five sets.
Mackenzie Spong and Samuel Cracknell took Highton’s only set for the day 6-3 in the last, resulting in a 16-game win for Wandana Height.
The final match between Hamlyn Park’s Blue and White teams produced the closest result of the round, with Blue winning by six games after the sides tied on sets.
The sets went each way throughout the match but a 6-0 win in the final set to Lou Arzanovski and Patrick Walpole cemented the win for Blue.
