Only one Central Wimmera Tennis Association pennant match finished with a result after torrential rain forced play to be abandoned on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Drung South won enough sets against Haven before the rain to secure an important victory, leapfrogging their opponent into fourth spot on the ladder.
Drung South’s captain Dylan Emmerson said he was pleased to win the last match of the year, and hopes the team comes back in top form after the Christmas break.
“That put us above them on the ladder and into that finals spot which is good,” he said. “Logan Casey played perfect tennis, I had a good set win with him. He’s really stepping up and gaining confidence.
“It’s been a busy season – we’ve struggled with numbers a lot this year, but luckily we’ve had some fill-ins and Kate-Lyn Perkin has been filling in as a man.
“Hopefully we’ll have everyone available after the break.”
St Michael’s were ahead by three sets against Horsham Lawn and needed just two more sets to secure a win before their match was called off.
Two crushing 8-0 singles victories by Jess McDonald and Kassie Peachey helped set up their lead. But Horsham Lawn were not entirely out of the contest, with Graeme Wood winning two of his sets including an 8-0 win against Ian Nitschke. The match finished as a draw with the scores 6-53 to 3-43.
Kalkee were leading Telangatuk East by four sets before their game was abandoned with scores 5-44 to 1-19. Kalkee can consider themselves hard done by, as the two points they missed out on could prove vital in a close competition.
Heading into the long break, five teams are in contention for four finals places, and each side has shown their strong enough to compete on the right day.
Last season’s premiers St Michael’s have seemed a cut above the competition so far, but with line-one men’s player Steffi McDonald absent for the remainder of the season, they are by no means a guarantee to go back-to-back.
Haven are the only team to have beaten the Saints this season, but they currently sit just outside the finals places in fifth, one match behind Drung South after their match on Saturday.
After a draw at the weekend, Horsham Lawn should be able to hold onto their finals spot while Kalkee would be hoping to do the same. Kalkee are one and a half games ahead of Haven. The two side face off in the final round of the season in what could be a huge contest.
Meanwhile the weekend’s results crystalised Telangatuk East’s fate, as it is now mathematically impossible for them to make finals. They will however still be hoping to win their first ever pennant match in the last four rounds of the season.