LOCAL TENNIS Donna Schoenmaekers
Geelong Lawn won the top local women’s premiership after the Ladies Midweek grand finals went ahead on Tuesday due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Geelong Lawn Green took the first two hard-fought sets 7-6, 6-4 against Surfcoast Black, which ultimately proved the difference with the next four evenly split.
Nine sections in total took to the court in perfect weather, with minor premiers facing ladder runners-up after restrictions forced the cancellation of last week’s preliminary finals.
Section 2: Flag favourite Point Lonsdale redeemed their shock 0-5 loss to Geelong Lawn Pink by winning all six sets and dropping just eight games.
Point Lonsdale completely dominated with the exception of Barbara Scanlon and Cath Morgan, who went down valiantly for Pink 4-6.
Section 3: Drysdale backed up their first semi win over Highton in what was looking like a very tight match.
After the first four sets, the teams were tied at two sets and 19 games apiece.
But Drysdale steeled their nerve and took the final two, both 6-1, to beat the minor premiers.
Section 4: Barwon Heads showed why they were flag favourites defeating Surfcoast Yellow.
Barwon Heads took the first two sets in tight 6-4 battles then followed up with a 6-0 win before Surfcoast hit back in the fourth 6-1.
Coming from behind was always going to be tough for Surfcoast away from home, and Barwon Heads took the final two 6-3 and 7-5 to secure the premiership.
Section 5: Point Lonsdale and Surfcoast Torquay’s thrilling grand final went to a seventh set – unsurprising, given only percentage separated the teams at the end of the home and away season.
Point Lonsdale started well at home taking the first two sets 6-3, 6-4, but Surfcoast would not go away, taking the next two 6-4, 6-1 to move two games ahead.
Point Lonsdale took the lead with a 6-2 win in the fifth but Surfcoast fought back hard to take the last 6-4, tying the match at three sets, 27 games each.
Surfcoast’s Loretta Fisher and Lesley Nock defeated Point Lonsdale’s Tamara Gaylard and Rebecca Milburn in a thrilling 6-4 decider for the premiership.
Section 6: Highton Blue almost pulled off a nail-biting comeback against Anglesea.
Highton took the first 6-3 but Anglesea stunned them winning the next three 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, for a three-set, six-game buffer.
The Highton ladies showed their class winning the final two 6-3, 7-5, drawing level on sets and falling just one game short of sending the match to a tiebreak set.
Section 7: Only one point separated Barwon Heads White and St Stephens at the end of the season, and both teams were locked at two sets, 18 games all in a predictably thrilling grand final.
But St Stephens held their nerve taking the final two 6-2, 6-3 for the flag.
Section 8: Despite Western Heights Uniting finishing 14.5 points clear of second-placed St Mary’s on the ladder, the side’s two clashes both finished at three-sets all, with games deciding the result.
The teams did not disappoint in the grand final, with yet another three-set-all result.
The first two sets went for an hour, with both decided in tie-breaks, one each way.
St Mary’s looked like they might steal the win taking the next two 6-4, 7-5.
But Western Heights would not be denied, powering through a tired St Mary’s 6-1, 6-0 to claim the premiership by seven games.
Section 9: Geelong West and St Mary’s fought for top honours in this section all season.
Geelong West had the edge over St Mary’s in both their previous encounters. But St Mary’s won when it counted most.
They took the first two sets 6-1, 6-2 and eventually won the match 5-1 for the premiership.
