..:: Round 8 Wrap ::..

Round 8 Wrap - 29/11/08

The Sports Power backed premier league moved to the Barnard St Lawn courts for round 8. All three matches were fairly one sided with many of the regions best players finding the conditions tough going on the slick grass courts. 

Spring Gully Mozzies 85-8-8 df Strath Park Storm 71-4-4

The closest of the round 8 matches saw Spring Gully Mozzies continue their rise up the premier league ladder, this time disposing of the previously 3rd ranked team Strath Park Storm.  The win puts the Mozzies into third for the first time this season, signing an ominous warning to Bendigo Lawn and South Bendigo that they will again challenge for the title.

The win was of significant importance as the Mozzies men of Jamie Brown, Travis Toner and Steven Rogers were able to inflict their fair of damage on the Storm all with impressive singles victories.  Whilst the Storm men did open strongly winning both opening mens doubles sets through Terry Smith and Michael Smyth, along with Michael Hogan and James McArthur, they could only manage one victory in the singles through Hogan. 

Mozzies captain Jamie Brown's showed impressive grass court form in recording a victory over "Supervet" Terry Smith in a tight tiebreaker, whilst Travis Toner was equally impressive in disposing of Michael Smyth 9-7.

In the womens, Danielle Bowles made her premier league return and it was as if she had never left.  Bowles combined with sister Bronwyn Osborne to dispose of the Storm's Michelle Rodwell and Paige Ipsem.   The Mozzies girls showed no signs of missing regular no 1 Jess Hartland, taking all singles, doubles and mixed sets.

Best players for the Mozzies included Brown, Toner, Rogers, Bowles and Osborne.  Whilst for the Storm, Michael Hogan captured his 3 sets for the Storm.

Strath Park 48-4-4 lt Bendigo Lawn 88-8-8

Bendigo Lawn recoreded their 7th win of the season, easily accounting for Strathdale Park 8 sets to 4.  Even without skipper and no 1 man Curt Garwood, the Lawn had all the answers for the last placed Strath.

Jack and Alistair Baker enjoyed a reprieve in Garwoods absence, opening up with a strong doubles win 8-5 over Ward Garwood and Stefan Butson.  The joy was short lived though as Nick Bath and Michael "Tiger" Nihill, along with Mandy Connors-Butson and Tamara Wright easily accounted for their opponents.

The Lawn then extended their lead at the singles, winning all but the second men's where Alistair Baker inflicted Stefan Butson's first singles defeat this year.  By the mixed the match was all but over, Starth managed to capture some late points through wins to Alistair Baker and Rueben Ellis, along with Eliza Long and Jack Baker.

The best players for the winners included Michael Nihill, Nick Bath, Tamara Wright and Mandy Connors-Butson.  Whilst for Strath Alistair Baker was again his teams best performer in winning his 3 sets for the day.

South Bendigo 94-11-11 df Castlemaine 67-1-1

The last match of the premier league round was a whitewash, with South Bendigo taking the sword to a struggling Castlemaine.  The 11 set to 1 slaughter has really put a gap between the top 4 sides, with Castlemaine and Strath Park falling a long way behind the front runners.

South Bendigo opened strongly and got stronger.  The men of Corbin Fleming, Frank Ryan, Grant Leader and Jono Guy combined well in the doubles, before all but Ryan were able to go onto capture singles wins.  Shane Burke was the lone hand for Castlemaine in his 8-4 cameo victory, the only joy in a torrid day at the office.  Whilst Matt Hartland, Robert Jefferies and Dave Carer all tried hard, they didn't have the answers for the top ranked side

Ashlea Baker and Maxine Everitt again continued their fine seasons, accounting for Kirby Jefferies and Jessie Culpitt in all 5 women featured matches.  Come the mixed, it was all over, South continued capped off the match in taking the last 3 sets for the day, giving them 13 valuable premiership points.

Sports Power Senior Pennant 2008/09

Section 2 Round 8
Epsom 7-71 df BLTC Bronze 3-48
Spring Gully New China 4-60 lt Spring Gully Sensation 6-65
Spring Gully Blue 9-79 df BLTC Green 1-19

Section 3 Round 8
BLTC Gold 8-80 df BLTC Blue 2-53
BLTC Federer 9-76 df Strath Park Symmetry 1-34
BLTC Rafa 1-40 lt BLTC Red 9-72