Finals booked in ‘dales clash
TEESDALE advanced to the Tennis Geelong section 1 preliminary final after a convincing win over Grovedale on Saturday.
The Teesdale team of Ramona Mataruga, Brodie Young, Jayson Tomicic, Jordan Tabakovic, Carolyn McGann, Jake Dunn and Jordan Drew lost only the first mixed set, to Grovedale’s Bianca Duff and Jeremy PalmerMorgan, and the second ladies to Duff and Abbie Walker, in its 6 sets 45 games to 2 sets 26 games win.
Teesdale will play All Saints Anglican in the preliminary final, after it went down to St Albans in a tight second semi-final.
The ladies dominated for St Albans with Karen Filippou taking out all her three sets and Julie Golightly and Alessia Roso winning two sets each, including all three ladies doubles.
Ry Davies was best for St Albans men, winning his two sets. But the All Saints men of Matthew Findlay, Matthew Fisher and Daniel Thomas kept them in the match by winning two sets each. The final score had St Albans sneak home 5 sets 45 games to All Saints Anglican 4 sets 42 games.
In section 2, it was the final round of the regular season, and Ocean Grove gained a significant psychological advantage over Shell with a dominant six sets to love win.
Ocean Grove’s Brad Edwards, Jarryd Proctor, David Franks and Luke Kosmetschke were in great form, and will again play Shell in the semi-final on Saturday.
Hamlyn Park and St Mary’s will also meet for the second week running in the semi-final after Hamlyn Park snatched second spot on the table with a 4 sets to 2 win on Saturday.
Hamlyn Park’s Robert Lazic was outstanding, winning all of his sets, while Tony Lazic and Jozef Horvat won two sets each. Michael Stuhne won both his sets for St Mary’s.
In the battle to avoid the wooden spoon, Jan Juc toppled Clifton Springs by eight games with sets levelled.
Jan Juc’s Sam Rogers was the star of the day, winning all of his three sets and conceding only five games in the process.
Section 2 ladder: Ocean Grove 99 points, Hamlyn Park 71, St Mary’s 71, Shell 52, Jan Juc 34, Clifton Springs 33.
In the last round of section 3, third-placed Newcomb shocked top side Geelong Lawn to give it a lot of confidence heading into the finals.
David Kos led the way for Newcomb winning all his sets in fine style, losing only seven games for the day.
Newcomb will now play Wandana Heights in a cutthroat semi-final next Saturday.
Geelong Lawn will take on Little River in the other semifinal. Little River ended its regular season with a hard-fought win over Highton. Aaron Joyce proved the form player heading into the semi-final by winning his three sets.
Section 3 ladder: Geelong Lawn 76 points, Wandana Heights 74, Newcomb 61, Little River 60, Highton 56, Grovedale 33.