by Leon Retallick
18th December, 2011
Epsom Butterflies 57-2 lt Bendigo Lawn National 89-10
Bendigo Lawn National have snatched the race for top spot on the Bendigo Tennis Associations Premier League ladder at the mid season break, following a 10 set to 2 demolition of bottom placed Epsom Butterflies.
A tussle has developed for the double chance in recent weeks, with Lawn National and Lawn Bolton’s exchanging spots. Spring Gully Brougham Arms also lurk as premiership contender just 4 points adrift in 3rd position.
Again it was the same story with the Lawn National men’s line up proving the difference between the teams. The line up of Curt and Ward Garwood, along with Nick Bath and Tom Metherall won all four singles and five doubles sets which they featured to close out the match.
The only joy for Butterflies came in the ladies doubles and singles, where Danielle Bowles (pictured) and Bronwyn Osborne combined to overcome Tamara Wright and Mandy Connors-Butson in a tiebreaker. Bowles picked up Epsom’s 2nd and last point for the day when Wright forfeited the singles sighting illness.
The National ensured a percentage boosting win in taking the last two mixed sets, through Curt Garwood and Wright, along with Metherall and Connors-Butson.
Three set winners for the National included Curt and Ward Garwood, Nick Bath and Tom Metherall.
Spring Gully Brougham Arms 62-5 lt Bendigo Lawn Boltons 76-7
Bendigo Lawn Botlon’s put some space between themselves and 3rd placed Spring Gully Bigpond, with a tight 7 set to 5 victory.
The Broughie started strongly, taking the opening men’s and ladies doubles. Jamie Brown and Craig Nolan’s 8/6 victory over Bolton’s Leroy Miller and Terry Smith was a highlight for the Broughie, in a tight encounter.
The Bolton’s captain Michael Smyth hit back, taking his singles match, and then pushed Botlon’s back in front when he teaming up with Dean Harris to take the second men’s doubles.
The Bolton’s got the better of the singles clashes, with wins to Miller, Smyth, Harris and Balic (nee Rodwell).
Craig Nolan and Jessica Hartland for the Broughie ensured the match was alive at the mixed, with strong singles win’s. Nolan’s was the pick of the matches in defeating veteran Terry Smith 8/6. The result was a complete turning around the 8/0 result in Smith’s favour early in the year.
With the match evenly poised, it was the Lawn Bolton’s team who took the most of their opportunities to take 2 of the last 3 sets of the afternoon and secure a good team win.
Jessica Hartland improved her personal standings for the Broughie, combining with Jamie Brown to take the last set of the day 8/3 over father/daughter Terry Smith and Tova Penno.
Three set winners for the day included Michael Smyth for Bolton’s, whilst Jessica Hartland was the Broughie’s best.
South Bendigo 83-8 df Spring Gully Bigpond 78-4
South Bendigo all but wrapped up 4th spot on the league ladder with a tight 8 set to 4 victory over Spring Gully Bigpond. The victory leaves what looks an insurmountable 17 point gap between the 4th and 5th placed teams, with 8 rounds left in the season.
South started the match strongly, taking the opeing two men’s doubles through Pat McMillian and Frank Ryan over Bigpond’s Jack Baker and Barry Green 8/3. Whilst Grant Leader and Michael Nhill proved too strong for Zac Storer and Andrew Freckleton.
The Bigpond team hit back through the ladies combination of Eliza Long and Heather Robbins, who played solid tennis in overcoming Ashlea Baker and Maxine Everitt.
The pair continued their good form in the singles, with Long defeating Baker 8/3, whilst Robbins was too consistent for Everett in winning 8/1.
The South men were proving the difference however, with McMillian, Ryan, Leader and Nhill all overcoming stiff opposition to record wins and give the team the edge at the mixed.
The run of the close points continued in the latter sets, with Ryan and Leader combining in the last men’s doubles ton win 9/7 over Baker and Freckleton. Whilst Nihill and Everett won South’s 3rd tiebreaker of the day over Zac Storer and Heather Robbins.
Eliza Long and Barry Green captured Bigpond’s 4th point for the afternoon with am 8/6 win over McMillian and Baker.
Best player for South included Frank Ryan, Grant Leader and Michael Nhill, both whom won 3 sets. Whilst Eliza Long again continued her dominant season in winning all her sets.
Premier League and Section 2 will resume play on Saturday 15th January, 2011.
Sportspower Senior Pennant 2010/11
Section 2 Round 11
Spring Gully Sensation 74-8 df Epsom DCK 49-2
Spring Gully Rockets 54-3 lt Spring Gully Racqueteers 70-7
Epsom McCarthy Homes 82-10 df BLTC Red 38-0
Phoenix New China 40-1 lt BLTC Stoser 74-9
Spring Gully Spartans 60-6 lt BLTC Rafa 62-4
BLTC Boris 42-2 lt BLTC Tsonga 78-8