GROVE WINS THILLER
OCEAN GROVE HELD ITS NERVE TO CLAIM LOCAL BRAGGING RIGHTS.
OCEAN GROVE managed to fight off a brave Barwon Heads outfit in a thrilling Tennis Geelong Section 1 clash on Saturday.
The teams were locked at two sets and 15 games apiece heading into the final two sets, and when Nigel Allen and Ocean Grove skipper Sean Cronwright defeated Peter Havelberg and Andrew Griffin (6-3), they were in the box seat to claim victory.
Adam Larson and Sunny Levinson were tasked with the job and despite falling to Alex Boyle and Mick Rowe (5-7), it was enough to give Ocean Grove its first win of the 2017-18 season.
“We were neck and neck until the final set and man- aged to scrape in,” Cronwright said.
“We knew it was all square and Nigel and I got to 5-2. Adam asked what the score was so they knew they had to get to four games for us to win.
“In the end that set was closely fought and never mind the games we needed to win, we actually nearly won it, we had a few break points for the set.
“Nigel and I finished first to go up 3-2, but Sunny and Adam knew they had to get four games at least. It was nice to get on the board.”
The ‘ battle-of-the-bridge’ result puts Ocean Grove level with Barwon Heads at 1-1 after two rounds, with an upcoming clash against the undefeated St Mary’s to test where it sits among the competition’s best teams.
Cronwright said he was excited about taking on Jason Roselli and the St Mary’s side on Saturday.
“It was the first time I’d placed Barwon Heads so we didn’t know what to expect,” he said.
“It was a little bit windy but we weren’t blown off the court, it didn’t make too much of a difference.
“St Mary’s are always a tough side though with Jason Roselli, he is one of the best players in the competition so we look forward to that.”
In other Section 1 results, St Mary’s defeated Geelong East Uniting (6-36 to 0-5), Newcomb was too strong for Surf Coast (6-36 to 0-15) and Wandana Heights got up over Hamlyn Park (4-25 to 2-24) in a close contest at Bayview Parade.