Five rounds before finals

Central Wimmera Tennis Association senior teams return to the court on Saturday for five rounds before finals.

Kalkee is sitting in top position by percentage only on the pennant ladder.

Kalkee will play Central Park and Horsham Lawn will take on St Michaels on Saturday, while Drung South has one more weekend off.

Central Park and Kalkee have won nine games apiece and each team has defeated the other on one occasion this season.

Central Park defeated Kalkee by six sets in round two, and Kalkee defeated Central Park by six sets in round seven.

In their final match-up for the homeand-away season the result could go either way, with both teams looking strong before a January break.

Kalkee’s Jeff Friberg has had a successful season so far, while Hayley Thomas is yet to lose a singles match.

Central Park’s Willow Sainsbury and Brendan Nitschke will make for challenging opposition leading into finals.

Leading into the main break, St Michaels won two of the final three rounds and will be hoping to take that momentum into round 12 action.

However, Horsham Lawn starts on the front foot having defeated St Michaels twice this season – in round two by six sets and round seven by two sets.

Cherie Wood continues to be a staple player of Horsham Lawn’s line-up and will be difficult to beat.

Teammate Shane Gillespie has also had a strong season so far.

Angela Nitschke has been playing well and will aim to continue her form in the remaining rounds. Saints star Steffi Mcdonald has moved to Brisbane to take up a coaching role with Rise Sports.

The three top-placed teams are now fighting for their ladder position heading into finals, wanting to be in the top two to give themselves a double chance at the big dance.

Drung South and St Michaels will continue to vie for the final top-four position, with both teams sitting at two wins each.