Donna Schoenmaekers
It was grand final week in Tennis Geelong’s senior Saturday pennant last week, and spectators were treated to some fantastic matches.
There were three matches level on sets and decided on games – Section 2 men’s, and Sections 6 and 9 mixed.
Newcomb was crowned premiers in Section 2 men’s with a three game advantage, despite Jarrod Zannardo winning his three sets for Wandana Heights.
Wandana matched Highton set for set in Section 9 mixed, but Wandana again missed out to a slightly more consistent Highton by two games.
In Section 6 mixed however, Wandana had nerves of steel against Newcomb, where again the match went set for set, with only as much as one game the difference the whole day and Wandana finishing one game ahead on completion.
While these matches went down to the wire, Section 4 mixed took it to the extreme with Moriac Blue and Anglesea tied after six sets, and having to take it to a decider.
Anglesea was a game ahead after the first mixed sets, and still only a game ahead after the doubles, but Moriac managed to make up the game in the reverse mixed sets.
Both teams chose their mixed pair for the deciding set, and Anglesea’s Claire Ingham and James Hardman rewarded their team’s faith in them taking the final set 6-1.
While a number of matches were close, several of the men’s sections were anything but.
While there was good tennis and some close sets, Grovedale (Section 1 and 5), Hamlyn Park (Section 3) and Drysdale (Section 6) all dominated on the day taking their matches in a clean sweep.
Section 1 mixed was a battle of Grovedale, with newcomers Gold taking on reigning premier Yellow.
Gold was undefeated for the season and remained so at the end of the day taking the match 4-2, with the mixed sets split, but too strong in both doubles.
Moriac and Highton had alternated wins through the season and first semi in Section 2 mixed, but Highton broke the trend taking a 4-2 win.
Clifton Springs took a surprise win in Section 3 mixed, with its first win over Wandana Heights.
After losing on games in the first semi, the Springs lost a close one 7-5 in the first mixed set, but then dominated taking the next five sets to earn the crown of premiers.
Section 4 men saw Hamlyn Park win a tight one over nemesis Bannockburn 4-2.
With only one game the difference going into the final two sets, either team was poised to take the win, but the Park held its nerve taking the final two sets 6-4.
Wandana Heights (Section 5 mixed) and Surfcoast Jan Juc (Section 7 mixed) both took upset wins, with Wandana spoiling St Mary’s unbeaten run taking their match 4-2, and the Juc toppling minor premier Grovedale 5-1.
Sutherland’s Creek would have fancied its chances against Drysdale in Section 8 mixed, after toppling minor premier Wandana Heights in the first semi, but Drysdale’s doubles pairs proved the difference taking the premiership from third.
