LOCAL TENNIS Donna Schoenmaekers
Geelong Lawn Green needed an extra set to defeat a valiant Surfcoast Torquay Black in a thrilling Section 1 semi-final in the midweek ladies competition.
The match was close throughout with Lawn taking the first set 7-5 and Surfcoast the second 6-4 on Tuesday.
In the third Lawn newcomer Bridget Laird teamed up with Karen Best to take the lead with a 6-3 win.
Rain interrupted the fourth at 5-5, before Surfcoast’s Julia Allan-Goodwin and Annebelle Howkins narrowed the lead, taking the set in a tie-break.
At two sets all, with Geelong Lawn ahead by two games, Surfcoast came out strong, and looked like scoring an upset taking a 4-0 lead in the fifth.
But Bridget and Jill Pavia fought back for Lawn winning six games straight to take the set.
Surfcoast responded, winning the last 6-2 and, with both sides locked on games and sets, the mammoth semi-final progressed to a decider.
Bridget and Jill Pavia continued their winning form taking the seventh set 6-1 for Lawn just minutes before rain set in again, booking their place in the grand final.
Surfcoast, who placed second on the ladder, will have a second chance next Tuesday to make the grand final.
In Section 2 Geelong Lawn Pink stunned favourite Point Lonsdale five sets to love before rain interrupted the last, while Winchelsea overcame Geelong Lawn White on their home turf 4-2 on sets.
In Section 3, neither home team won, with top-of-the-table Highton going down in an upset to Drysdale 0-6, and Mount Moriac, in third, crashing out of the finals with a 1-5 loss against fourth-placed Barwon Heads.
The gusty and rainy semi-final round featured plenty of close games in various sections.
Barwon Heads won by one game over Surfcoast Yellow in Section 4, Centre Court by three games over Highton Gold in Section 6, and Wandana Heights by one game in Section 8 over St Mary’s.
