The fourth round of the Competitive Metro Mid-Week comp took place last night at the Memorial Drive Centre Courts.
First up was Tennis SA, going head-to-head with the young Prospect side. Prospect coming off a respectable showing against Henley last week were keen to keep that momentum going, while Tennis SA desperately needed to get the ship back on track after a couple of poor weeks. Tennis SA gladly welcomed back Matt Fitzgerald into the lineup after a couple of weeks off, and he did battle with Prospect young-gun Alastair Umpherston. While Umpherston hit some nice shots, Fitzgerald was all class with a two set victory.
Big hitting Beckett Wolfe took on Dylan Lo in the second single. It was tight battle in the first, with Lo making Wolfe work, but the massive second serve of Wolfe would prove too much to handle in the second. Wolfe getting it done in two.
Allen was also a welcome return after a week off, and was a bit too experienced and consistent for Grano on this occasion. Some tight rallies took place but in the end it was Allen in two. Michael Noicos got Prospect onto the winners list with a great come from behind victory in the final single. His consistency and endurance would prove too good in a Match Tie-break marathon.
In the top double Fitzgerald and Wolfe took on Lo and Grano. There was some clean hitting here and Fitzgerald and Wolfe would continue a good night for Tennis SA with a two set win. The other double would go down to the wire. Umpherston and Noicos got Prospect off to a great start with a comfortable first set win. But Tennis SA then settled in to their work and got it done in the Match Tiebreak set, with Allen putting on a volley masterclass.
In the end the return of some handy players allowed Tennis SA to get back on the winner list. Fitzgerald did some heavy lifting at the top and will be vital in how the rest of the season plays out for TSA. Prospect played some good tennis, and at times looked dangerous.
On the other courts it was top of the table clash, with the undefeated Henley taking on the highly-skilled Pembroke outfit. Henley and Pembroke were both coming off big wins the week before so there were always going to be some tight battles in this one.
First up was Ben Adams getting a promotion to number one to take on one of the best players in the comp Heath Johnston. The consistency and court coverage ability of Johnston was the difference in the end, with the Henley young-gun getting the win in two.
The second single saw a tight match unfold. Pietsch (Pembroke) and Tregoweth (Henley) went the journey. Tregoweth was superb early taking the first, but the endurance of Pietsch saw him take the second and the Match Tiebreak to even things up for Pembroke.
Matt Adams got off to a good start in the next single against Henley’s Metro Mid-Week debutant, Luke Costello. However, Costello found another gear in the second, and then managed to win the important points in yet another Match-Tiebreak set, winning in three.
Tom Adams playing at four was always going to be hard to stop, and hard to stop he was, beating King in two sets to make it two rubbers a piece after the singles.
In the top doubles Ben and Tom Adams pushed Johnston and King all the way, but the Henley duo got the win in two tough sets.
It was a similar story in the second double with Pietsch and Matt Adams making Tregoweth and Costello work for every point. However, Henley proved why they are at the top of the table getting the win in two again.
This was easily the hardest Henley have been pushed all year, and while they proved too good on this occasion, Pembroke will take great confidence knowing that should they meet in the final, they are more than capable of causing an upset.
Next week Pembroke will be looking to assert their place in second spot, taking on the young Prospect side. Tennis SA will need to field close to their best side if they are going to trouble premiership favourite Henley. A salivating match-up between Fitzgerald and Johnston potentially awaits…
Latest
SA