The third round of the Competitive Metro Mid-Week comp took place last night at the Memorial Drive Centre Courts.
First up was Tennis SA, taking on the impressive Pembroke outfit. In the top single it was the big hitting Beckett Wolfe taking on the highly-skilled Tom Adams. Tom would prove too good on this occasion with a two set win and getting the Pembroke lads off to great start.
In the second single it was a tight battle. James Hart, making his debut in the Metro-Mid Week, took on the versatile Grant Pietsch. The first set went the journey with Pietsch getting it done in a tiebreak and then rolling on to take it in two sets.
Andy Fried had a sensational start in his first match for the season, putting on a great show and getting a comfortable win. Ben Adams followed suit to make it a singles clean sweep for Pembroke. Tom Adams and Pietsch combined well in the top double, with Hart and Wolfe proving some resistance, it would be Adams and Pietsch tasting victory.
On the other courts Andy Fried and Ben Adams put on a clinical display, comfortably winning the second doubles and making it a quality night’s work for Pembroke who now cement their second spot on the ladder. Tennis SA, after a couple of poor weeks, will be very keen to regain the services of Matt Fitzgerald and Ty Allen, with some rumours also of Tennis SA former employee Andrew Wilson potentially making a cameo late season appearance. They really need to get back in the winners list.
On the other side of the picturesque centre courts, it was top of the table Henley doing battle with Prospect. Going off results this year you would think it would have been Henley then daylight, but Prospect gave Henley plenty to think about.
First up was the talented Heath Johnston taking on Mid-Week debutante, Jay Leginestra. There was some seriously high-quality tennis on show here, and it would be Leginestra getting Prospect off to the perfect start with a two set victory.
In the second single, the 2016 Rio Paralympic Silver medallist (for Table Tennis), Sam von Einem, would prove a bit too consistent for young-gun Alastair Umpherston, squaring the ledger for Henley. Rhys Johnston was too good at number 3, and Matt Robinson finished off Henley’s work in the singles with a two set win over Noicos.
Johnston and von Einem put on a show in the first set of the top double, but Laginestra and Umpherston regrouped strongly in the second, making the Henley boy’s earn their two set win.
Rhys Johnston and Robinson took on Underwood and Noicos in the second double. It went to a tiebreak in the first with Johnston and Robinson winning the critical points in crunch time. In the second set they carried on their work to win in two sets. Henley now will be very difficult to move from top spot. Prospect on the other hand showed some fantastic tennis and made Henley work for every point.
Next week we will be treated to a top of the table clash, with Henley doing battle with Pembroke. You would have to lean towards Henley giving their win in round one, however, Pembroke seem to have found their mojo and are certainly capable of an upset.
In the other match up Tennis SA will take on Prospect, and on exposed form, you would have to say Prospect are favourites to get the win and put intense pressure on Tennis SA with just a few weeks remaining in the season.
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