Things were hot in Tennis Geelong’s Junior Pennant Finals this week with plenty of great play and oppressive conditions.
With increasing winds and temperatures, players had to work hard for their wins.
All but one girls sections were in do or die semis, with most of the top teams winning through, with only three exceptions.
Section 1 will see third placed Highton take on fourth placed Wandana Heights after their upset wins over Geelong Lawn and Grovedale.
Highton took their match comfortably winning 5-1, while Wandana snuck in three sets all but a game ahead.
Western Heights Uniting were also tied three sets all with Barwon Heads in Section 2, but with a five-game advantage will now face Surfcoast Torquay next week.
Inverleigh and Ocean Grove will play off in Section 3, Geelong Lawn White and Grovedale in 4, Lara and St Mary’s in 5, and St Mary’s and Grovedale in 7 after all teams had solid wins.
Section 6 will see Ocean Grove play Wandana Heights after both teams won four sets to two, defeating Barwon Heads Blue and Clifton Springs but matches hung in the balance with only three and two games between them.
Section 8 was the one prelim final for the girls and Point Lonsdale booked their place next week with a 4-2 win over Drysdale.
It was lollies all round after Ocean Grove White defeated Highton at Surfside in Section 9, they will now play Ocean Grove Blue in next week’s grand final.
In the boys, things were not so straightforward. While Geelong Lawn White (S1), Surfcoast Jan Juc (S4), Geelong Lawn (S5) and Highton White (S7) kept their hopes alive after last weeks losses, Wandana Heights (S2), Barwon Heads (S3), Highton (S8) and Geelong Lawn Green (S9) continued their winning runs from elimination finals last week and earned themselves places in the grand final.
Semi-finals were held for Section 6, 11 and 12, and while Grovedale and Drysdale (S6) and Highton and Ocean Grove (S12) won through with clear margin, Section 11 came down to game difference in both matches.
Point Lonsdale were three sets to one after the singles before St Mary’s won both doubles, but Lonny were too far ahead in the games tally, securing them a match up with Hamlyn Park.
The Park were two sets all with Drysdale and one game down going into the doubles, the doubles went one set each way but with a 6-0 win against a 6-2 loss, Hamlyn Park got through by the barest of margins.
Green Ball prelims were held in Section 1 where minor premiers Geelong Lawn won through while All Saints came from the clouds to defeat favoured St Mary’s in Section 3.
Section 4 will see Ocean Grove play Drysdale Brown after the Grove’s 6-0 win over Point Lonsdale, and Brown overcame Drysdale Gold by three games with teams tied at three sets all.
Sections 2 and 5 finished with minor premiers Geelong Lawn White and St Mary’s winning through 4-2 over Wandana Heights and Geelong Lawn, while the second-semis were both tied at three sets all and the game advantage with the away team. Bannockburn were tied two sets all with Geelong Lawn Green in Section 2 after the singles, but with their two losses in tie-breaks, they held a seven-game lead.
With both doubles also decided in tie-breaks, Banno kept the lead and the win. Grovedale were tied at two sets all after the singles in Section 5, but Lara held a three-game advantage going into the doubles. The doubles went one set each way, but with a 6-1 win and a 6-5 loss, Grovedale made up the difference ending the match one game ahead.
