..:: Round 17 Preview ::..

28/2/09

The top 4 teams will do battle in round 17 of the Sportspower backed Premier League, and Christmas will come early to some as 4 brand spanking new Plexi Cushion Prestige courts will be available to the top brass of Bendigo Tennis.

South Bendigo vs Spring Gully Mozzies @ CCC Crts 3, 6 & 7

Spring Gully Mozzies will be looking to press closer to the Lawn at the top of the table as they take 3rd placed South Bendigo.  South will have a slight advantage, with no 1 man Corbin Fleming having played many matches on the Plexi Cushion at Melbourne Park.

Fleming will go into battle against Jamie Brown and will be expected to take a majority of his matches at the no 1 position.  The battle at two between Frank Ryan and Travis Toner will be close, with Ryan's recent good form likely to see him get a win.  In the lower order men Steven Rogers will team up with Peter Valientine, and a tough afternoons tennis with Grant Leader and Simon Kelly.

The Mozzies ladies will be led by Jessica Hartland and Bronwyn Osborne, both of whom were in tremendous form last week in only conceding 9 games in 5 sets.  There opponents this week will be Maxine Everitt and Paige Ipsen, who are coming off a tough week against Bendigo Lawn.  Again, South's women must try to capture at least one set, if their team are to be competitive come the mixed.  Perhaps Paige Ipsen will again rise for South against Osborne.

This should be a very entertaining match with the highlight likely to be the singles between Brown and Fleming on the new courts.  The team that can adjust to the changed conditions the quickest, might just get over the line on the day.

Verdict: Mozzies to win on games 6 sets each.

Bendigo Lawn vs Strath Park Storm @ CCC Crts 2, 8 & 4

Curt Garwood has been chirping at the bit to get on the Plexi Cushion and he will get his chance against Strath Park Storms Terry Smith.  It will be the future of Bendigo Tennis against a champion of the past when these two clash, and Terry may find it hard to compete with his young opponent.

The Storm will also go into the match without captain Michael Smyth, which will push either Michael Hogan or James McArthur up to the no 2 spot, with Danny Watson expected to resume his spot to round out the line up.  The pressure will be on Storms lower ranked players, with Nick Bath and Michael Nihill in good form for the Lawn, and they must be competitive in the lower order singles matches to stay in touch.

In the ladies, Tamara Wright and Courtney Jarman are expected to play, leaving Mandy Connors-Butson a well deserved break in the lead up to finals.  Wright and Jarman will have a good stouch with Storms Tova Smith and Michelle Rodwell, with the singles match between Rodwell and Wright likely to be of a high standard.  Tova Smith will also be looking to improve her singles record in the expected battle with Jarman.

With Mandy Connors-Butson and Stefan Butson rested from this weeks squad, the Storm may fancy their chances for an upset.  However, they will have to show a lot more than they did last week if they are to push Curt and Co come the mixed.

Verdict:  Lawn should have the answers in the men and skip to an 8 set to 4 victory.

Strath Park vs Castlemaine @ CCC Crts 5, 14 & 15 

The wooden spoon will be up for grabs in the battle between Strath Park and Castlemaine.  Strath Park lept from the bottom of the ladder with their second win of the season last week.  They reviled in an impressive 9 set to 3 win over Strath Storm, whilst Castlemaine couldn't muster any points in their clash with the Mozzies.

The Maine will again be without captain and no 1 man Matt Hartland, forcing Shane Burke and Leigh Campbell to again take the rains at 1 & 2.  Their match's with Strath's Jack and Alistair Baker will be tight, with the victors likely to go a long way in deciding the outcome of the match.

In the lower order men's Dean Harris and Robert Jefferies will look to again score wins over the Strath pair of Ruebin Ellis and Jarred Epps.  Epps returns to the line up after recovering from a broken toe, whilst Ellis will take confidence from a strong showing in the singles last week.

In the ladies the Maine's Alyssa Cole and Jessie Culpitt will have their work cut out against Eliza Long and Heather Robbins.  Long and Robbins were both impressive last week in both doubles and singles.  Their good form should see them account for Cole and Culpitt.

Verdict:  Strath will be looking to make it 2 from 2 and should win 7 sets to 5.

Sports Power Senior Pennant 2008/09

Spring Gully New China vs BLTC Green @ CCC 12 & 13
Spring Gully Sensation vs BLTC Bronze @ CCC 21 & 22
Spring Gully Blue vs Epsom @ CCC 23 & 24

Section 3 Round 17

BLTC Federer vs BLTC Gold @ CCC 25 & 26
BLTC Red vs BLTC Blue @ CCC 27 & 28
BLTC Rafa vs Strath Park Symmetry @ CCC 29 & 30