Tennis Geelong’s Tuesday Midweek certainly left the best until last with this week’s grand finals in both the weather and the results.
The sun was out and so was the quality of tennis with many of the results not decided until the last set.
Surfcoast Bellbrae and Geelong Lawn Pink have been neck and neck all season in Section 1 and Tuesday was no different with the result tied on sets and only three games separating the teams.
Pink started well winning three of the first four sets, before Bellbrae fought back winning the sixth set 6-1, but Pink’s Lynda Nixon and Ida Durran forced Bellbrae’s Kristie Walters and Colleen Battye to a tie-break, which levelled the sets, but the extra games earning Pink the flag.
Surfcoast also had a hard time when Jan Juc came up against Drysdale in Section 5. The home team started well winning the first two sets 6-3, 7-5, but from there Drysdale took control winning the final four sets upsetting the minor premiers in their first loss of the season.
Surfcoast Torquay Yellow had a much better day in their Section 4 match against Barwon Heads. Things were hard to pick going into the match, with their previous encounter being decided by only one game, however, Yellow came out firing and had the biggest win for the day, not dropping a set and limiting the Heads to 16 games.
Surfcoast made it three wins for the day, when Torquay had a come from behind win against minor premiers Highton Blue. The teams had scored one win each during the home and away season and were only separated by percentage after the last round, so it was likely to be a thrilling match.
Highton won the first two sets 6-1, 6-3 before Torquay countered taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-4. Highton held a three- game lead going into the final two sets, and up until match points the result was in question. In the end Torquay won two nail biters 7-5, 7-6 to take a four sets to two win, by only two games.
Grovedale would have been nervous coming up against Ocean Grove in Section 2, despite finishing fourth after the home and away matches, as the Grove had won both encounters. Grovedale started well winning the first two sets 6-4, 6-3, however Ocean Grove fought back taking the next two 6-3, 6-2 giving them a two game buffer going into the final two sets.
Lisa Graham and Belinda Lee won the fifth set for Grovedale 6-2, while Courtney Pallero and Kahlee Rennes did the same for Ocean Grove, leaving Ocean Grove winners by the same two games.
In Section 7, Grovedale also faced a tough match against rivals St Mary’s. Grovedale had two wins through the season, but their last encounter was a 5-1 win to St Mary’s, so things were bound to be tight. This proved to be the case with the teams tied on sets and games after four sets. Steph Thomas and Heather Graham won the fifth for Grovedale 6-4, then with Laura and Ann Rowan winning the sixth for St Mary’s in a tiebreak, the teams finished level on sets, but Grovedale ahead by just one game.
St Mary’s also missed out when they faced Western Heights Uniting in Section 6. St Mary’s started strong winning the first two sets 6-4, 6-4, but with the memory of last summer’s 5-1 defeat in the Section 7 grand final in their mind, Uniting steeled their nerve and won the remaining four sets dropping only five games to take the victory.
