Strathdale Park 5-5-75 lt Castlemaine 7-7-77
Castlemaine opened their winning account for the year with a narrow escape against Strath Park. With the team being bolstered with the return of regular players Alyssa Cole and Dean Harris, the Maine were out to prove that last week was just a slump and they will look to become a force in Premier league again.
The Castlemaine men opened the accounts for their team strongly, taking the
opening two mens doubles in close matches. Matt Hartland and Shane Burke,
withstood a spirited challenge from Alistair Baker and Jarrod Epps, and then
followed up their doubles performance with solid wins in the singles.For the Doors it was again left to the small but very capable shoulders of Elize Long to dig her team out of the hole. Following a strong first up doubles win with stand in partner Maxine Everitt, Long went on a path of destruction in the singles, proving far to strong for Alyssa Cole in a commanding win.
Reuben Ellis was the only Strath man to strike it for a win in the singles, but when Castlemaine captured the opening Mixed and last mens doubles, they had done enough to get the points.
South Bendigo 7-7-75 df Spring Gully Mozzies 5-5-52
South Bendigo welcomed back no 1 player Corbin Fleming for the first time for 2008/09, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, following South’s disappointing effort last week. Fleming’s return could be the tonic to get South back on track, and if his demolition of Mozzies captain Jamie Brown in both the singles, doubles and mixed is anything to go by then the rest of the competition can consider themselves on notice.
The match however, got off to a rather sour taste with the Mozzies unable to find replacements in the no 3 and 4 mens positions and as a result they had to forfeit 4 sets, effectively handing South the match, even before it had began.
However the battle when on and despite starting well behind from the outset, the Mozzies women rallied to get their team some valuable premiership points. Jessica Hartland and Bronwyn Osbourne stared for the Mozzies, winning both singles, the doubles and the second mixed.
Hartland's battle against the impressive Ashlea Baker was a great spectacle. Many fancied Bakers chances due to her solid form last week., however, Hartland is not a regional singles champion by mistake. Her 8-3 victory in the singles would have left the champ well satisfied that she still is the barometer of the competition.
Bendigo Lawn 1-1-44 lt Strathdale Park Storm 11-11-87
With the two Garwood boys, Stephan Butson and Mandy Connors Butson all unavailable the Lawn were always going to be against it in this match. However, Matt Conroy was welcomed into the Lawn team in his first outing in Bendigo Tennis for some time.
Conroy combined with Tiger Nihill in the opening doubles, however, found the going tough early against the experience Terry Smith and Andrew Lethlean. Whilst their games are based on an “old school” teaching of serve and volley Smith and Lethlean proved that their style was still as effective today as in the past.
The match between Conroy and Lethlean was of the highest quality, and only cut short when Conroy reinjured his groin at 5-2 up. Unable to continue he had no option but forfeit the remaining set and subsequent mens doubles.
It was all chocolates and roses for the Storm however, also opening their winners account for the first time with contributions from all players, including James McCarther, Daniel Watson, Michelle Rodwell and Tova Smith.
The only blemish on an otherwise perfect scorecard for the Storm was an heavy defeat from Nick Bath and Marco Masserino in the second mens doubles over McCarther and Watson.
Section 2 and 3 played at the Barnard St lawn courts, the first time the courts have been used for senior pennant this season.
Section 2
Spring Gully New China 8-8-76 df BLTC Green 2-2-43
Spring Gully Blue 4-4-53 lt Epsom 6-6-71
Spring Gully Sensation 9-9-75 df BLTC Bronze 1-1-33
Section 3
BLTC Red 5-5-55 lt BLTC Blue 5-5-64
BLTC Rafa 6-6-61 df Strath Park Symmetry 4-4-60
BLTC Federer 7-7-67 df BLTC Gold 3-3-51