Grove stays on top of the table

The day started wet, but the clouds dried up enough for play to go ahead in all Section 6 Midweek matches on Tuesday.

Leading into the day, with five weeks left in the season, finals positions were well and truly up for grabs.

Top team Ocean Grove travelled to Bellbrae and kept a slender lead over the rest of the pack, with a 4-2 win. Things were tight all through the day with two sets decided 7-5 and another two 6-4. The difference for the day was Robyn Lont winning her three sets for the visitors, but Leanne Heath almost stole the show for Bellbrae winning two sets and missing a third 7-5.

Second placed St Stephen’s closed the gap on Ocean Grove with a 5-1 win over Clifton Springs, leaving it only half a point behind.

Heavy rain delayed the start of play, but the visitors were undeterred, although the Springs didn’t make it easy for them. The first two sets were lengthy, despite the 6-3 score lines, and St Stephen’s taking the third and fourth sets 7-5 meant everyone was getting their money’s worth.

The final two sets both went the way of the visitors, but again the sixth set could have gone either way, being decided in a tie-break.

Wandana Heights was left to wonder if it was going to play when Drysdale didn’t arrive for their match. Eventually the match started with the delay costing the visitors two sets, and Wandana taking the win 4-2.

Anglesea elevated themselves into third this week with a 4-2 win over cellar dwellers Grovedale.

The home team were edged out in the first set going down in a tie-break before taking the second 6-2.

From there Anglesea took control winning the next three sets 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, before Grovedale finished the day with the final set 6-3.

The competition will be heating up in the next few weeks with the top six teams still in contention with all teams due to face at least two of the top four in the final four rounds.

With Ocean Grove (51) and St Stephens (50.5) only 7.5 points ahead of Anglesea (43) and Clifton Springs (43), separated only by percentage, with Surfcoast Bellbrae (40.5) hot on their heels and Drysdale (36) not far behind them, all teams will be wanting some good form over the next month to secure their place in the finals.