Lawn struck back through a pairing of Lachlan Punchard and Macey Maybery, who defeated Matt Jones and Tara McIntyre 8-5, but the Parkers’ Brendan and Sienna Nitschke struck back to down August Koch and Cherie Wood by the same score.
Leading three sets to one at the conclusion of the mixed doubles, the Parkers suffered an early slip up in the men’s doubles when Allan and Harman were on the wrong side of an 8-0 bagel from McGrath and Walls.
Lawn seemingly had a chance to reassert itself in the match, only for the Parkers to snatch the next three rubbers, with Jones and Brendan Nitschke’s 8-2 result against Punchard and Koch turning proceedings emphatically back in their favour.
Both clubs changed pairings for the second round of men’s and women’s doubles, and while the Lawn men won each of their final two rubbers, the Parkers women ensured their side would emerge victorious – Sainsbury and McIntyre defeating Thompson and Maybery 8-2, while Joseph and Sienna Nitschke downed Boyd and Wood 8-4.
The 8-78 to 4-64 result saw the Parkers move five games clear of second-placed Lawn atop the ladder, guaranteeing a minor premiership and home-court advantage in the finals.
Meanwhile, Kalkee was no match for St Michaels, with the Saints putting on a show to win 10-91 to 2-54.
There were bright spots for the Kees, with Jeff Friberg and Anna Exell partnering in the mixed doubles to take down Eli Bailey and Jess Cannane 8-5, with Meaghan Pohlner later partnering with Exell in the women’s doubles to beat Cannane and Mia Rees 8-6.
But the Kees’ good results did not extend to tiebreakers, with Bailey teaming with Steve Schultz to beat Jeff and Jordan Friberg 8-7 while Chris Ellis and Kassie Peachey beat Aiden Richardson and Keeley Schultz by the same score in the final mixed doubles rubber.
This weekend’s matches will see the Kees host Horsham Lawn, while Central Park travels to take on the Saints.
Results
Seniors
Pennant: St Michaels 10-91 d Kalkee 2-54; Central Park 8-78 d Horsham Lawn 4-64.
A Special: Central Park 8-91 d Horsham Lawn Dorman 6-97; Horsham Lawn O’Connor 9-102 d Homers 5-73; Drung South forfeited to Brimpaen.
A Grade: Horsham Lawn Tigers 10-89 d Haven Blue 2-48; Central Park 7-81 d Haven Red 5-64; Homers 6-71 d Horsham Lawn Ahern 6-69; Horsham Lawn McGennisken 7-73 d St Michaels 5-66.
B Special: Central Park 15-95 d Haven 1-41; Horsham Lawn Bardell 11-80 d Natimuk 5-65; Laharum 9-70 d Horsham Lawn Savage 7-64.
Juniors
Open: Central Park Yellow 6-36 d Horsham Lawn Green 0-10; Central Park White 6-36 d Central Park Orange 0-18; Central Park Blue 4-33 d Horsham Lawn Gold 2-19.
Section 1 Boys: Haven 4-33 d Horsham Lawn White 2-22; Central Park 5-32 d Horsham Lawn Gold 1-27.
Section 1 Girls: Haven 4-32 d Horsham Lawn White 2-24; Horsham Lawn Green 5-32 d Horsham Lawn Gold 1-19.
Section 2 Boys: Central Park 3-28 drew with Horsham Lawn Green 3-28; Horsham Lawn Gold 4-30 d Haven 2-26.
Section 2 Girls: Horsham Lawn Gold 5-35 d Homers 1-13; Horsham Lawn White 4-30 d Central Park 2-18; Horsham Lawn Red 5-34 d Natimuk Yellow 1-10; Natimuk Blue 4-28 d Horsham Lawn Green 2-18; Horsham Lawn Black 4-33 d Haven 2-24.
Section 3 Boys: Horsham Lawn Green 5-31 d Haven Green 1-13; Horsham Lawn Gold 4-28 d Haven Blue 2-19.
Section 4 Girls: Haven 5-35 d Horsham Lawn 1-28; Homers 6-36 d Central Park 0-14.
Match Play Section 5 and 6: Cancelled due to heat.
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