..:: Round 11 Preview ::..

Round 11 Preview - 20/12/08

Premier League

Following last weeks washout, all teams will be keen to hit the courts for the last time in 2008, before the 4 week Christmas / New Years break.  In an important round, Bendigo Lawn and South Bendigo will battle it out for supremacy in Premier League as the top two go head to head.

Bendigo Lawn vs South Bendigo @ CCC Crts 8, 9 & 10

Bendigo Lawn will like their chances to again upset top side South Bendigo again in round 11, with questions over the availability of South's big weapon players Corbin Fleming and Aiden Fitzgerald.  One of these two are expected to line up against league no 1 man Curt Garwood, however, South are tight lipped about who will get the job.  Late time these two teams met it was Fleming, who after an early doubles setback, regrouped to dismantle Garwood 8-2 in a dominant singles performance.  A similar result will again be sought after for South to stay in touch.

The ladies battle is also a highlight of this match with Ashlea Baker and Maxine Everitt likely to match up against the powerful lawn women of Mandy Connors-Butson and Tamara Wright.  Last time these two played Baker scored a strong win over Connors-Butson in the singles, whilst Wright got the better or Everitt.  Expect the lawn to reverse the order, with Wright's power game perhaps the key to upset a rock solid Ashlea Baker.

The remaining mens matches will likely see Lawns Stefan Butson, Michael Nihill and Nick Bath, match up against Frank Ryan, Grant Leader and Simon Baker.  All will be good contests in singles and doubles, with perhaps the lawns consistency giving them the edge in the expected windy conditions.  However, with such evenly matched players results could go either way.

This match is going to be extremely difficult to pick a winner, with both sides keen to show the other that they are the team to beat in 2008/09.  Lawn got the better of the match the last time these two met and the strength of their women and consistency of the men could again give them a slight edge.

Verdict: Lawn 7 sets to 5

Strath Park vs Strath Park Storm @ CCC Crts 1, 4 & 5

Strath Park Strom will be keen to return to the winners list when they take on club rivals Strath Park.  For the Storm, nothing short of a convincing win will be acceptable as they try to stay in touch with the top 2 sides two keep their hopes of a finals double chance alive.  With Castlemaine also showing improved form the Strom will want to keep the bottom two at bay.

Strath Park however, will take some real hope into this match and believe they are on the cusp of their second victory for the year.  With Danielle Bowles replacing the injured Eliza Long, their is plenty to like about Strath's chances.  Bowles will partner Heather Robbins, with the duo likely to be too strong for the Storms Michelle Rodwell and Tracey Illott.  Illott will be steping up for her first hit of premier league and with some impressive results for Epsom in Section 2, won't go down without a fight.

The mens battles at the number 1 and 2 position will also be tight with Alistair and Jack Baker, likely to take on the experienced Terry Smith and Michael Smyth.  These four players have already had several key battles this year with results fairing either way. The victors of the opening mens could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match.

At 3 and 4, Storms James McArthur will return to partner Michael Hogan, and will likely match up against Leon Retallick and Rueben Ellis.  Hogan has been in terrific form this year and remains unbeaten in singles. Both Ellis and Retallick will need to be on their games to curb his strong influence and keep the contest alive come the mixed.

This could be a very close match, with the Storm men likely to win a majority of their sets, whilst Strath's women are expected to be too strong.  It could again be decided by the mixed, with the experienced Storm likley to have too many options.

Verdict: Storm to win 7 sets to 5.
 

Castlemaine vs Spring Gully Mozzies @ Castlemaine

Spring Gully Mozzies will round out the 2008 calendar year with a trip down the Calder to Castlemaine.  Matches between the Maine and the Mozzies have been real classics this year, with the highlight been watching Castlemaine's new no 1 man Matt Hartland front up against his former team.  Neither want to give an edge and this should be no exception

Last time the two teams met it was Hartland and partner Shane Burke who stood up against the Mozzies pair of Jamie Brown and Travis Toner.  Again the Maine will look to their 1 and 2 men to keep their team in the match.  They will however need some support, with Dean Harris and Robert Jefferies to be called to do the job on Steven Rogers or Bryce Bacillie.

The womens side of the card will be fairly one sided with Jessica Hartland and Bronwyn Osborne likely to be too strong for either Alyssa Cole, Kirby Jefferies or Jessica Culpitt.  Osborne will be hoping to continue to accumulate points to kep her impressive player rankings in tact.

It will again be difficult for the Maine to match such a powerful ladies line up, which is expected to be the difference between the teams.

Verdict: Mozzies to win 8 sets to 4.

In other sections...

Section 2 Round 11

Spring Gully Sensation vs Spring Gully Blue @ CCC 16 & 17
BLTC Green vs Epsom @ CCC 14 & 15
Spring Gully New China vs BLTC Bronze @ CCC 12 & 13

Section 3 Round 11

Strath Park Symmetry vs BLTC Gold @ CCC 21 & 22
BLTC Red vs BLTC Federer @ CCC 23 & 24
BLTC Rafa vs BLTC Blue @ CCC 18 & 19