Andy Bay Sharks and Andy Bay Dolphins continued their good form in the Dunedin women’s competition at the weekend.
The Sharks were clinical in their play as they beat Mornington-Roslyn 4-0.
Jenna Bowie beat Georgie Lawson 6-2, 6-2, and Andrea Ryder teamed with Jenny Mockford to beat Amelia Holmes and Amelia McKeown 6-1, 6-2.
With the tie nearly sealed, Andy Bay Sharks claimed the last couple of matches with Ryder beating Holmes 6-2, 6-2 and Bowie/Mockford beating Holmes/McKeown 6-1, 6-1.
In the other women’s tie, Andy Bay Dolphins had to dig deep to get the win against Balmacewen.
At top singles, Crystal Chiang gave Balmacewen the early advantage as she beat Jess Willans 6-3, 6-2.
Andy Bay Dolphins then got one back as Simone Hart and Jackie McCutcheon were too solid for Billie Fraser and Tessa Richardson, winning 6-1, 6-3.
The second singles featured a battle between youth and experience as Fraser took on Hart.
The first two sets were split as the match contained frequent momentum shifts. In the super-tiebreak, Hart was able to keep her composure in the bigger points, eventually winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.
Andy Bay Dolphins then claimed the last doubles to win the tie 3-1, keeping them in touch with Andy Bay Sharks at the top of the table.
On the men’s side, the two Balmacewen teams battled it out in a local derby.
At top singles, the in-form Hugo Barsby (Balmacewen 1) looked to break Albert Hailes’ (Balmacewen 2) two-year unbeaten streak.
Barsby started stronger as he got up 6-3, 4-1 through persistent pressure.
The inevitable comeback from Hailes arrived as he pushed through an injury niggle to get to 5-5 in the second.
However, Barsby held his composure to eventually win 6-3, 7-5 and give Balmacewen 1 a 1-0 lead.
Balmacewen 2 evened up the tie as Will Bourne and Max Gaffaney beat Nick Cutfield and Gunnar Woller 6-3, 7-5.
With nothing separating the two teams, the second singles featured Bourne taking on Cutfield. In a battle of slices, the former was able to edge it out 6-1, 2-6, 10-7.
Balmacewen 2 kept the momentum rolling as Hailes/Gaffaney took down Barsby/Woller 7-6(3), 6-2, giving them a 3-1 tie win.
The other tie between Taieri and Andy Bay was postponed due to player unavailability.
By Paddy Ou
