16 February 2016 | Tennis SA

Men’s

Glenlea’s men’s team is making a late charge at the top four after a resounding six rubbers to love win over Tea Tree Gully on the weekend. Glenlea had their strongest team of the year with Darren Polkinghorne and Damian Farinola headlining the lineup and both taking out straight sets wins. The dominant win leaves Glenlea in fifth place, one point behind Trinity in fourth.

Collingrove had a strong four rubbers to two win over Trinity in what could shape as a preview to a finals match up in coming weeks. Trinity number one, Li Tu, continued his strong season with a straight sets win over Sean Page before Collingrove Captain Matt Teivans levelled the match after beating James Ma in three sets. After the singles matches it was two rubbers all heading in to the doubles where Collingrove took the ascendancy with Teivans and Page pairing up to take down Ma and Tu in a tight three setter that proved the difference between the two teams.

Brad Mousley appearing for Golden Grove was not enough to get them over the line against a strong Broadview outfit that took out the match four rubbers to two. In one of the highest level matches of the State League season Broadview’s Sam Longhurst took it up to Mousley at number one single before going down in two tight sets. Golden Grove youngster Sean Van Rensburg lost a tight match to Broadview veteran Martin Richards while former touring professional Tim Crichton had a resounding straight sets win to put Broadview in the box seat. Broadview were able to win one of the two doubles to clinch the match and virtually assure themselves of a top four finish.

Seaside caused the upset of the round in the men’s competition with a four rubbers to two win over The Drive. Seaside’s Mislav Bosnjak had an impressive win over Lawrence Bataljin at number one single while Sam May and Raf Azhar both managed wins to get Seaside an impressive win late in the season. For The Drive the loss has left them in a dicey situation with round to go as their spot top four is still in jeopardy, a win this weekend will confirm their top in the four.

Ladies

In the ladies competition Tea Tree Gully won a nail biter over Glenlea by one game after rubbers and sets were even. Glenlea Brooke Milner had a strong three set win over Amber Marshall at top singles. Unfortunately for Glenlea, Tahlia Van Der Eerden and Simeona Stakic both had singles wins to get TTG back in the match and go into the doubles at two rubbers all. The match came down to the doubles between Marshall and Van Der Eerden up against Elyse Edwards and Brooke Milner. Marshall and Van Der Eerden shot out of the blocks and never looked back as TTG took the match win and all but locked themselvesw in for a top two finish.

Prospect had a welcome return to top form with a dominant win over Kingswood. Prospect number one Olivia Ley was too strong for Nicole Kraemer while Maddie Bishop also was too solid for Natasha Russell. Prospect won all four singles before Kingswood managed to win one of the doubles to make it a five rubbers to one win for Prospect. The win means Prospect are within striking distance of a third placed finish which would grant them a home final.

The Drive ladies were too good for a plucky West Lakes outfit who put up a strong fight in a five rubbers to one loss. Mel Clayton and Mel Beadman were both impressive at one and two single with straight sets wins over Jovana and Stefana Petrov. The Drive will be looking to lock away a top placed finish when they take to the court for their round 15 match this weekend.

Below are the ladders after round 14. Finals are held on February 27, March 5 and the Grand Final on March 12 at Memorial Drive.

Men’s Ladder

Women’s Ladder