..:: Round 4 Preview ::..

Round 4 Preview:

Premier League

Spring Gully Mozzies vs Bendigo Lawn    CCC Crts 2, 6 & 7

The Mozzies and the Lawn will meet for the first time this season in this weeks premier league match of the round.  With both teams expected to be at full strength, it promises to be an entertaining match.

A larger focus of this match will move to the women's, where Mandy Connors Butson and Jessica Hartland will renew hostilities after a two year spell.  Connors-Butson did not play in the 2007/08 premier league season, however in years previous these two had many classic battles.  Whilst Hartland will carry favoritism into the match, especially following last weeks victory over Ashley Baker, one can never completely write off Connors-Butson. Both players will be extremely keen to win this one and the victory may go along way to deciding the overall outcome of the match.

In the men Curt and Ward Garwood will look to continue the good form shown last week for the lawn.  Both were extremely impressive in their previous weeks matches and should have to many weapons for Jamie Brown and Travis Toner.  It will be left to Steven Rogers and Pete Valentine to keep their team in the match against the wily Stephan Butson and Tiger Nihill.

Verdict:  Lawn on paper look to have the goods in the men, however the Mozzie's can't be discounted.  In a close match Lawn to prevail 7-5.

Stath Park Storm vs Castlemaine   CCC Crts 8, 9 & 10

It will be top verses bottom when Strath Storm do battle with Castlemaine this Saturday.  The Storm will welcome back captain Michael Smyth following two weeks break for the clash.  Smyth will replace Andrew Lethlean, who has proven to be a handy replacement in guiding the Storm to back to back victories. 

The "maine" however have struggled in the opening rounds and will be eager to get some much needed points over their higher placed opponents.  They will again look to the expertise of no 1 & 2 men Matt Hartland and Shane Burke to give their side a chance.  For Hartland he will have the tough task of curtailing a rampaging super vet in Terry Smith.  Smith, also Hartlands coach and mentor, has been in superb form this year and goes into the match unbeaten in three singles outings.

The 3 and 4 mens matches will be tight with the Storms James McCarther and Danny Watson likely to take a majority of their sets over Dean Harris and David Carre.

Strath Storms girls will also be brimming with confidence following strong showings against the Mozzies last week.  Whist Tova Smith and Michelle Rodwell were comprehensively beaten in the open doubles, both fought back strongly in the following sets and will be keen to continue the momentum.  They should have too may answers for Castlemaine's Alyssa Cole and Jessie Culpitt.

Verdict:  Sadly, its hard to see where Castlemaine will pick up their sets.  Storm will be far too strong 9-3.

Strath Park vs South Bendigo CCC Crts 1, 4 & 5

It will be out of the frying pan and into the fire for Strath Park this week in their round 4 encounter with premier league heavyweight South Bendigo.  South will go into the match without no 1 Corbin Fleming, which will could provide Strath with a genuine chance of an upset victory.  However, the bloods have an adequate replacement with Aiden Fitzgerald taking to the courts for the first time this season.

Fitzgerald is a class player, arguably one of the best Bendigo has produced since Kane Dewhurst and Paul Atkin in the late 80's.  His combination of lethal serve and pinpoint vollies, along with a solid back court game give him the complete package on all surfaces.  His inclusion in replacement of Fleming will take nothing away from their chances.

Strath will also need to be wary of South's 3 and 4 men in Simon Kelly and Grant Leader.  Leader in particular has been in stunning form this year, highlighted with his 8/0 demolition of Castlemaine's Dean Harris last week.  The Strath pairing of Jack and Alistair Baker, along with Jarrod Epps and Leon Retallick will have their work cut out for them this week if they are to give their team a chance.

In the womens ranks Ashley Baker will return for South in the no1 position.  With young champ Eliza Long out for Strath however, their much anticipated match up will have to wait until later in the year.  Heather Robbins and Paige Ipsem will look to step up fill the void left by Long and should be a chance to snare their share of sets.

Verdict:  South have too many weapons and should cruise to an 8-4 victory.

Section 2:

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

 

Section 3:

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

Round 1 Wrap click here...
Round 2 Wrap click here..
Round 3 Wrap click here..