Last chance for Haven in finals

Haven faces a tough last-ditch attempt to qualify for Central Wimmera Tennis Association pennant finals at the weekend when it takes on Kalkee.

The club sits fifth on the ladder after slumping to a 12-101 to 2-70 loss to Horsham Lawn on Saturday.

Despite being competitive in several rubbers, Haven was not able to break through and claim one until Skye Davis triumphed 8-1 over Lawn’s Bridie Freehan in the women’s singles section.

Davis teamed with Rebecca Bird to again defeat Freehan and partner Rachel Mckinnon 8-4 in the women’s singles.

The loss leaves Haven four points adrift of fourth-placed Drung South as the competition enters its final round.

To qualify, Haven needs to defeat Kalkee and hope Drung South suffers a heavy loss to Horsham Lawn.

A Drung South loss is far from a foregone conclusion, however. The Drungsters appear to be in fine form after soundly defeating Telangatuk East at the weekend.

Drung South’s women were particularly dominant, with Kate-lyn Perkin taking out Telangatuk East’s number one woman Courtney Price 8-2 in their singles rubber.

Luke Byrne helped get Telagatuk East on the board, teaming with Michael Dyer to beat Logan Casey and John Burford 8-6 and then joining Peter Rogers to down Casey and Ben Brooksby 8-2.

The Drungsters can guarantee themselves a finals berth with a win against Horsham Lawn at the weekend, while Telangatuk East looks likely to finish the season winless as it takes on ladder-leader St Michaels in the final round.

The Saints dispatched Kalkee with relative ease at the weekend, coming out 10100 to 4-59 victors.

As with Drung South, it was the women leading the way for the Saints.

The club’s women claimed all but one of their rubbers across singles and doubles sections, with Kassie Peachey and Barbara Crough’s 8-7 tiebreak loss to Kees Hayley Thomas and Zandria Malone the sole blemish on their record.

Kalkee’s Jeff Friberg downed Ian Nitschke 8-5 in their singles rubber, and teamed with David Pipkorn to beat Nitschke and Bill Robertson 8-4 in the men’s doubles. Pipkorn won another set with Grant Schultz, beating Bill and Nick Robertson 8-4.

The Kees could finish as high as second with a win and a big Horsham Lawn loss at the weekend, or drop to fourth with a loss and a Drung South win.