Strath Park Storm 73-6-6 lt South Bendigo 75-6-6
The key match in premier league this week was between 3rd placed South Bendigo and 4th placed Strath Park Storm. Both teams had plenty to play for, with South still looking to push up into the top 2 and that important double chance.
With captain and no 1 gun Corbin Fleming returning into the team it was all guns a blazing in the opening doubles. Fleming teamed with the powerful Frank Ryan to overwhelm the experienced Terry Smith and Michael Smyth in the opening mens doubles. Both then continued the job in the singles, with Flemings seeming effortless power from the back and deft touch at the net, providing too much for super vet Terry Smith. Frank Ryan also struck up an impressive singles win over Smyth.
The south men were definitely the key with Jono Guy and Grant Leader buttering up at 3 and 4 to score convincing doubles and singles wins over Danny Watson and James McArthur.
The match was far from over though, as the Storm girls Michelle Rodwell and Tova Smith fought gallantly to keep their team in the match. With no 1 Maxine Everitt rested, Paige Ipsem and Erin Colman were outplayed by their opponents in both doubles and singles.
Come the mixed the match was almost dead, with South holding a commanding 6 set to 3 lead. A late flurry from the Storm however, nearly enabled them to steal the points, but the bloods had done enough and recorded a close 2 games victory.
Castlemaine 40-1-1 lt Bendigo Lawn 91-11-11
Castlemaine were trying to keep their finals dream alive when they came up against the might of Bendigo Lawn, however, hope was dashed early in the day with Lawn smashing their 5th placed opponents on route to an 11 set to 1 thumping.
The positives were few and far between, with the Lawn men of Curt and Ward Garwood, Stefan Butson and Nick Bath again dominating all sets for the day. Curt Garwood was particularly ruthless in his “beat-up” of Maine’s captain Matt Hartland. Garwood conceded a meager 7 games for the day, again proving he is the strongest player in the BTA premier league.
The only light in what was a tough day for the Maine, was young Jessie Culpitts first premier league singles victory. Culpitt out gunned lawns Courtney Jarman in a match which will give her plenty of confidence for next year.
Mandy Connors-Butson was again an impressive contributor for the lawn, dispatching Alyssa Cole in the singles and combining well with Curt Garwood in the mixed to secure another win.
Overall it was a well rounded and commanding performance by the lawn, with all players contributing well over the course of the afternoon.
Strath Park 66-3-3 lt Spring Gully Mozzies 85-9-9
Spring Gully Mozzies continue to keep the pressure on the Lawn at the top, again recording a strong win, this week at the expense of Strath Park. It was the experienced Mozzie players who stood tall when it counted enabling them to get home 9 sets to 3.
The Mozzies opening strongly through their doubles pairs, taking the opening 3 matches through the strong combinations of Jamie Brown and Travis Toner, Steven Rogers and Peter Valentine, and Jessica Hartland and Bronwyn Osborne.
The Brown/Toner doubles match against Strath’s Jack and Alistair Baker was of an extremely high standard. With the Mozzies pair getting a late break in the match to pinch the set. The two continued their impressive run in the singles, and combined with Jessica Hartland win over young Eliza long, the lead was pushed to 6 sets to 0
Unusually for Strath, the resistance came in the lower order, with Jarred Epps, Ruebin Ellis and Heather Robbins all scoring strong singles victories to keep the match alive come the mixed.
The match was put thoroughly to bed though through the reliable mixed combination of Jamie Brown and Jessica Hartland. The mozzies extended their winning margin in the last two sets of the day to record a convincing win.
Best players for the winners included Jamie Brown, Travis Toner and Jessica Hartland.
Section 2 Round 15
BLTC Bronze 3-54 lt Spring Gully Blue 7-77
Spring Gully New China 7-74 df Epsom 3-56
BLTC Green 0-32 lt Spring Gully Sensation 10-81
Section 3 Round 15
BLTC Rafa 6-63 lt BLTC Gold 4-69
BLTC Blue 4-46 lt BLTC Federer 6-72
Strath Park Symmetry 5-50 lt BLTC Red 5-63