ROUND seven of the Creswick and District Community Bank Senior Mixed Pennant was hosted at Mount Prospect Tennis Association on Saturday.
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On an overcast afternoon, teams matched up with a win on their minds. One key match-up was second last on the ladder Smeaton, vying for a second win against higher-placed Lawrence, who were keen to solidify their spot in the top four.
In the men’s sets, the advantage went to Smeaton, with James Maher, Adam Donnan and Rod Male comfortably winning all three of their sets, 8-2, 8-6 and 8-3, against Lawrence’s Broden Haintz, John Kinnersly and Koji Hoashi.
But in the women’s sets, the reverse occurred, with Lawrence dominating Smeaton in all three sets, although the sets were close.
Smeaton’s Tracey Amarant, Libby Vaderkley and Anne Turley limited the damage Lawrence’s Helen Rae, Sally Punshon and Larelle Holloway inflicted, losing only just, 8-6, 8-7 and 8-4.
This set up the players for a grandstand finish, with both teams entering their respective mixed sets with three sets apiece, but Smeaton held the advantage with six games.
The first mixed set saw Smeaton’s Maher and Amarant reach victory, winning 8-5 over Kinnersly and Rae. Lawrence hit back with the same score line through Haintz and Punshon in their matchup against Donnan and Vanderkley.
Smeaton’s Turley and Male approached the final mixed set with a six game advantage to protect from Hoashi and Holloway, although the former eventually conceded 8-6.
This was enough for Smeaton to claim their much sought after second win, prevailing over Lawrence by four games.
Smeaton’s James Maher, Adam Donnan, Rod Male, Tracey Amarant, Libby Vanderkley and Anne Turley 4/60 defeated Lawrence’s John Kinnersly, Koji Hoashi, Broden Haintz, Sally Punshion, Helen Rae and Larelle Holloway 5/56.
In other games, top-placed Mt Prospect fell one game short against Miners Rest, while Kingston Black were knocked down a notch by St Augustines by four games.
With round seven over, every team has played each other and the ladder is tight, with 10 rounds left in the season.