Erika Allen
PLAY resumed for the second half of the Wellington Gippsland Tennis Association (WGTA) summer competition at the weekend.
After a lengthy hiatus over the Christmas break, players reached for their racquets and dusted off their tennis shoes. Some were no doubt raring to go, if not a little bit rusty when they took to the court last Saturday.
RESULTS showed the competition is heating up in the senior sections, as ladder moves were made across the board.
With four rounds left before finals get underway, teams cannot afford to hit outside the lines.
Senior Section 1 is made up of five teams, all fielded by WGTA heavyweights, Maffra Lawn Tennis Club and Sale Tennis Club.
The battle for top spot is shaping up as an intense showdown between Maffra Gippsland Real Estate (Maffra GRE) and Sale KFC, having surged more than 10 points ahead of Sale Dahlsens in third.
Sale Dahlsens look safe in third, while unfortunately for Maffra Community Sports Club, currently at the bottom, their chances of making it to the finals seem slim, given that only the top four teams will play in the semi-finals. It will take a strong run against Maffra Wellington Real Estate, Sale Dahlsens and Maffra GRE in their next three rounds to be in contention.
Following the completion of Round 11 last weekend, changes at the top of the ladder saw Maffra GRE move just two points clear of Sale KFC after thrashing Sale Dahlsens, eight sets to none.
A top-of-the-table clash is set to take place in Round 13, a full 10 rounds since Maffra GRE triumphed over Sale KFC in a close one, where the doubles matches went the distance.
The prospect of a home court advantage may once again prove to be in Maffra’s favour in their upcoming encounter, as a team of seasoned grass-court giants Mitch Allman, Josh Kennedy, Nat Allman and Alicia Dignan are a formidable match-up.
Sale KFC have been a dominant force throughout the season, but washouts in Round 7 and 9, as well as a bye in Round 10 impeded their momentum going into the Christmas break. No doubt, they will be looking to reclaim top spot over Maffra when they meet in two rounds time.
Under the guidance of in-form Anthony Glynn, who enters the second half of the season with notable titles in the men’s doubles alongside teammate Cal Board, as well as a mixed doubles championship shared with Jess Board from the 2023 Championships of the Sale Tennis Club, they are a team to be reckoned with.
Rolling up to Duke Street’s hallowed turf has proven to be a daunting task for Sale players not accustomed to the low and fast play of the ball, but Board and Regina Virgo are no strangers to the reliable fire power of the Allman siblings, and are sure to have some tactics up their sleeves.
LADDER positions were not affected in Section 1 Juniors over the weekend, but matches were not without drama.
Maffra played fearsome rival Sale Intersport in a battle between the top-two sides. The result was a nail-biter, with Sale coming out on top but only on games, 41-40.
Players went match-for-match in the singles and doubles, winning four sets each out of a total eight played.
On the day, three matches went to 7-5, while a tie break decider played out in the boy’s 3, 4 doubles. That match went the way of Maffra’s Jack Dennis and Cooper Clutterbuck.
A theme for the weekend emerged in Section 1.
A BATTLE between Sale Sambuilt and Sale Khayaam, ranked fourth and fifth respectively, went down to the wire in Wellington Gippsland Tennis Association junior action.
Just five games separated the teams at the end of the day – Sale Khayaam nailing down a meritorious win over Sale Sambuilt 40 games to 35.
Little change affected the ladder positions in sections two to seven.
Round 12 Fixture
Seniors
Section 1: Sale KFC v Sale Dahlsens, Maffra GRE v Maffra WRE, Maffra CSC – BYE.
Section 2: Maffra O’Briens v Longford, Sale CS v Sale Findex, Maffra ARL v Stratford, Heyfield – BYE.
Section 3: Sale GL v Briagolong, Heyfield-Longford v Maffra Stobies, Stratford v Maffra Wilmours.
Juniors
Section 1: Maffra v Sale Khayaam, Sale Sambuilt v Bairnsdale, Longford-Sale v Sale Intersport.
Section 2: Maffra v Sale Ideal Hearing, Longford v Briagolong-Stratford, Sale Dawson Street Food – BYE.
Section 3: Heyfield v Bairnsdale Rafters, Maffra v Sale Riviera Signs, Bairnsdale Alcott v Sale Marathon Electrical, Longford – BYE.
Junior Section 1 Sale Khayaam’s Ruby Running shows great athleticism as she plays a forehand drive in her match against Sale Sambuilt last weekend.
