Rain the only winner as tennis opens

RAIN prevented Centre Court Red from an important opening-round win over Newcomb in Section One of Tennis Geelong competition on Saturday.

Red was up by four sets to one when rain stopped further play.

Court’s Karen Filippou and Ry Davies had an outstanding win in the first mixed match, proving too strong for Bianca Duff and Tony Brushfield.

In the second mixed match, Red’s Ramona Mataruga and Matt Hicks got home in a close struggle against Joanne Puckett and Peppe Scorpo.

Newcomb won the third mixed match, with Anna Clifton and Chris Higgins defeating Alessia Roso and Sam Arli.

Filippou and Mataruga had a hard-fought and entertaining first women’s match against Duff and Puckett. Court got home in a tiebreak and Hicks and Davies put Court in a commanding position with a strong win against Brushfield and Scorpo.

In the other match in Section One, Centre Court Blue was away to St Luke’s Highton Uniting, but only two sets were played before bad weather caused the abandonment of the match at one-all.

Abbie Walker and Jeremy Palmer-Morgan got St Luke’s away to a good start, winning the first mixed match against Carolyn McGann and Adam Lasky.

Kelly Brunger and Jordan Drew made amends for Court Blue taking out the second mixed match against Rae-lee Palmer- Morgan and Jared Bromley.

In Section Two, St Mary’s, opened its account with a close win over Shell by six games with sets even, while Hamlyn Park won three of the four sets before rain washed out the remainder of its match against Highton.

In Section Three, Gheringhap’s title defence began with a strong win over St Albans.

New side Bannockburn had a comfortable win over Grovedale Yellow. Geelong Lawn proved too strong for Grovedale Black, while Waurn Ponds defeated Barwon Heads.