Premiers crowned in midweek tennis

TWS3 Moolap and Barwon Heads: Wendy Bell (M), Rita Nelis (M), Shirley Patterson (M), Erica Sutherland (M), Emma Webb (BH), Tania White (BH), Sally Ford (BH), Shelley Sutton (BH).

It was grand final week for Tennis Geelong’s Tuesday Women’s Winter Pennant and teams were keen to hit the court.

Moolap were favourites going into the Section 6 final against Wandana Heights Green.

Green took it to Moolap in the first two sets, but Moolap prevailed 7-5 in both. Sets three and four went one each way putting Moolap in the box seat at three to one. Wandana kept themselves in contention, winning the sixth 6-2, but with Denise Black teaming with Kirsty Matthews to win her third set, Moolap got over the line as champions.

Things were a little different for Moolap in Section 3 when they travelled to Barwon Heads.

The Heads went into the match with two wins under their belt and they continued on their winning way, taking the first five sets, giving them the win.

Grovedale was the only other club with multiple teams playing, and their fortunes were also mixed.

Section 5 faced Teesdale, and the teams had been evenly matched with one win each during home and away and only one point separating them on the ladder. The first set went to Teesdale 6-2 while the second went to Grovedale 6-3, then Teesdale put themselves ahead winning 6-0 in the third. Sets four and five were tie-breaks that went the way of Teesdale, guaranteeing the win.

Section 2 started the same way against Aireys Inlet with the teams splitting the first sets before Grovedale pushed ahead winning the third and fourth sets 6-2, 7-5. Aireys kept themselves in contention winning the fifth 6-2, but Erin Wilkinson and Belinda Lee won the sixth for Grovedale granting them the premiership.

Drysdale were hoping to repeat their round 12 win over minor premiers Mount Moriac and come from third to be crown premiers in Section 4. The home team took an early lead winning the first two sets 6-2, Drysdale won the third in a tie-break, but then the Mount took control dropping only five games in the remaining three sets to take the win 5-1.

Point Lonsdale and Anglesea boasted one win each and a draw during the Section 7 season, so on paper the final seemed hard to pick. The end result was one-sided as Point Lonsdale came to play and made the most of their home court advantage, winning the first four sets to gain the win, before Anglesea won the final two sets in tie-breaks.

The final match was Section 1 where Surfcoast Torquay’s Yellow and Black teams would battle out yet another thriller. Yellow won the first semi by just one game, so the match was expected to be close, and it was. Yellow’s Tegan Marshall and Kristie Walters opened their account winning the first set 6-2, while Black’s Roseanne Michie and Liz Flower took the second 6-1. Marshall teamed with Colleen Battye in the third to put Yellow ahead winning 6-1, while Black stayed in contention with Flower and Bronwyn Mifsud taking the fourth 7-5. At two sets all and a two-game lead to Yellow tensions started to mount going into the final two sets. Both teams fought hard and the games score was neck and neck and in the end each team took a set 6-4 leaving the final result with Yellow ahead by the same two games