Premier League
South Bendigo 9-9-83 df Castlemaine
3-3-61
South Bendigo took the first road trip of the season and it proved to be worth
the ride, as they gave Castlemaine a drubbing on their home courts. It was a
fairly even performance from all South players, only dropping 3 sets in a strong
performance.
South got off to an idea start, capturing the opening three doubles sets. It was
then to the all important singles, with the key match up to be between South no
1 Corbin Fleming and Castlemaine captain Matt Hartland. Following the close
doubles, the singles should have been set for a good contest, unfortunately for
Hartland though Fleming has been ruthless in the singles early this year and
again proved to good in a 8-1 victory.
Fleming was well supported by team mates Grant Leader, Jono Guy and Erin Colman,
all whom scored singles victories.
For Castlemaine’s Shane Burke was his teams best player, scoring a strong
singles win over Simon Kelly and pairing with Dean Harris to capture the last
mens doubles.
The victory sounds an ominous warning to the rest of the competition that South
are perhaps the team to beat. With Fleming yet to drop a set this year in either
singles or doubles, it will be up to Strath Park next week to try to curb his
winning ways.
Spring Gully Mozzies 4-4-78 lt Strathdale Park Storm 8-8-74
The Barnard St lawn complex was used for the first time by premier league for
the remaining two matches, the first which saw a cracker between Spring Gully
Mozzies and Strath Park Storm. The grand final rematch lived up to its promise,
in an enthralling encounter.
The Mozzies were the first team to strike a blow, with Jess Hartland and Browyn
Osbourne proving far to strong in the opening ladies doubles, in an 8-0 trashing
of the Storms Michelle Rodwell and Tova Smith. When Brad Booth and Steven Rogers
took the second mens doubles, the mozzies were off and racing.
Terry Smith again provided the spark for his team. A world Veteran Champion, he
partnered Andrew Lethlean in a tight opening doubles victory over Jamie Brown
and Travis Toner, to open the Storm account.
The singles was to be the difference between the two teams, with the Storm
hitting powerdrive, taking the match from the Mozzies in capturing 5 of 6
singles matches. Jess Hartland was the only singles winner for Mozzies in solid
performance over Tova Smith 8-3.
The final three sets were again all tight, but when Terry Smith and daughter
Tova struck a surprise win over Brown and Hartland in a quality mixed battle,
they had enough sets to get their team over the line.
Best for the winners included Terry Smith, Andrew Lethlean, and Danny Watson.
Whilst Jess Hartland again was the pick for the Mozzies.
Strathdale Park 3-3-66 lt Bendigo Lawn 9-9-90
The final match of the round was between Bendigo Lawn and Strath Park. With both
teams coming off losses last week, the two teams were eager to get on the
winners side of the card in round 3.
The point of interest in this match saw Strath’s young champ Eliza Long take on
Mandy Connors Butons. Connors Butson has long been considered one of the top
females in the regional Victoria and again proved she still has the answers for
the next generation. Following a tight doubles match where Long and partner
Heather Robbins scored an impressive victory, Connors did just enough to thwart
her younger opponent in a close singles battle. She prevailed in a close
tiebreaker 9-8.
Whilst the ladies were close it was all one way traffic in the men, with the
Lawn team of Curt and Ward Garwood, Tiger Nihill and Nick Bath dominated in
taking all four singles and 2 of the three mens doubles matches.
Alistair Baker and Rueben Ellis were the only men winners for Strath, taking the
final point of the day 9-7 victory in the second mens doubles.
For the winners the men were the dominate force, with Curt Garwood, Nick Bath
winning all three sets, whilst Heather Robbins and Eliza Long were the top
contributors for Strath.
Section 2
Section two and three were all played at the Coca Cola Complex. The closest
match perhaps showed a changing of the guard, with Spring Gully Sensation
inflicting a 6 set to 4 victory over club mates New China.
Spring Gully Blue 7-7-64 df BLTC Green 3-3-46
Epsom 8-8-69 df BLTC Bronze 2-2-43
Spring Gully New China 4-4-61 lt Spring Gully Sensation 6-6-73
Section 3
BLTC Gold 6-6-61 df BLTC Blue 4-4-53
BLTC Federer 5-5-64 lt Strath Park Symmetry 5-5-68
BLTC Rafa 4-4-61 df BLTC Red 6-6-51
Round 1 Wrap
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Round 2 Wrap click
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Round 3 Wrap click here....