It was semi-final week for Tennis Geelong’s Senior Competition and while the favourites had the upper hand in the majority of first-semis, it wasn’t a good week to finish third, with seven of the 10 bowing out in their elimination matches.
The three Men’s sections saw the minor premiers go straight through to the grand final with Newcomb winning 4-0, while Ocean Grove Blue and Geelong East Uniting scored 4-2 wins.
The battles of three vs four saw Bannockburn Green have a day out only dropping seven games to Clifton Springs in Section 1, Highton downed Surfcoast Bellbrae 5-1 in Section 2 and Hamlyn Park backed up their round nine win over Drydale getting up four sets to two in Section 3.
It was closer in the Mixed sections with Section 1 and 2 minor premiers Moolap Black and Grovedale winning through 4-2, while Moolap Yellow avenged their round 14 loss to Clifton Springs getting up 5-1, and Eastern Districts reversed their loss in round 11, winning 4-2 against Drysdale.
The elimination finals were tight with Grovedale ahead by three games against Highton Blue in Section 1, Newcomb by five games to Ocean Grove and two games to Western Heights Uniting in Sections 2 and 3, all matches at three sets all.
In Section 4, parents Mel and Chris Smith won the battle of Wandana with their Blue team prevailing over son Tom’s White team four sets to two.
In the Open Sections, Surfcoast Torquay were handed their first loss of season by Wandana Heights White, going down three rubbers to one in Section 1, while Moolap continued their winning run against Clifton Springs.
Moolap had three teams making up the four finalists in Section 2 along with Hamlyn Park, and both finals were tied at two rubbers apiece. Moolap Yellow beat Moolap Black for the second time in the first final by only two games, while Hamlyn Park followed up their round 12 win over Moolap Gold by two sets and five games.
In Section 3, All Saints remained undefeated with their third win over Lara 4-0 earning direct entry to the grand final, while Surfcoast Torquay had a harder time against Highton White, taking the first two rubbers before White fought back to take the remaining two, but not well enough to overcome the home team, with Torquay finishing ahead five sets to three and by eight games.
While most Girls and Green Ball sections were playing their final matches of the home and away season of Tennis Geelong’s Junior pennant, the Boys were in semi-final week and competition across all grades was fierce.
Section 4 was the only Girls section in finals and saw Drysdale continue their unbeaten run with a 5-1 win over Ocean Grove to progress to the grand final, while Highton won a nailbiter against Western Heights Uniting by three games with the teams tied on sets.
In the Boys, Section 1 saw Wandana Heights have their third win against ladder leaders Geelong Lawn 5-1 to earn the week off, while Grovedale won the two doubles to go ahead 4-2 over Ocean Grove Blue to keep their chances alive.
Barwon Heads progressed to the grand final in both Sections 2 and 4 with wins over Clifton Springs White and Lara four sets to two, while Wandana Heights came through in the elimination finals of the same grades four sets to two over Grovedale and Surfcoast Jan Juc.
Grovedale had a bad day in Section 3 with their Yellow team going down to Geelong Lawn 4-2, but will have a second chance at making the decider when they face All Saints who defeated Grovedale Black.
Section 5 had the closest matches of the day with both matches decided on games when the sets were tied at three-all. Geelong Lawn White and Green faced off in the first-semi and the teams were neck and neck through all the sets, with Green prevailing.
Highton won through to the prelim with a win over Western Heights Uniting by one game. Highton started well winning the first two singles, but the Heights countered winning the third and fourth before the teams split the doubles.
Section 9 also had Geelong Lawn White and Green pitted against each other with another match tied on sets. The teams were dead level going into the doubles, and with White taking the first 6-5 and Green the second 6-4, Green got across the line by just one game. White will have a second chance next week and will play All Saints who took a 5-1 win against Hamlyn Park.
Hamlyn Park fared better in the elimination final in Section 7 where they held on over Drysdale. The Park were ahead 3-1 after the singles, and while Drysdale rallied to win both doubles, they couldn’t make up the game difference. Hamlyn Park will face Grovedale Yellow who went down to Club rivals Grovedale Black 4-2 in the first-semi.
Wandana Heights had their fourth win of the morning in Section 6 with a 4-2 win over Ocean Grove, their third for the season, to put them into the prelim next week. They will face Highton White who went down to Geelong Lawn, who also won four matches for the day.
Geelong Lawn had another close one in Section 8 against Bannockburn, when they finished the morning tied at three sets all. The teams were separated by one game going into the doubles, but with a 6-2 win and 6-5 loss, Bannockburn got over the line.
Leopold/Moolap had an easier time in the elimination final with their win over Western Heights Uniting and will relish their chance against Lawn this week.
