by Leon Retallick
The Bendigo Tennis Association senior pennant returns to the court this Saturday, for round 1 of the 2010/11 season. Round 1, which was due to start last week, was pushed back back a due to the replay for the AFL Grand Final.
Epsom Butterflies vs Bendigo Lawn National @ BBTC 1, 5 & 6
With a new sponsor, reigning premiers Bendigo Lawn National will open their campaign with last years 4th ranked team Epsom Butterflies at the Bendigo Bank Tennis Complex. Lawn National are looking to be the first team in recent memory to claim a hat trick of premierships, and will be looking to get off to a winning start in round one.
Curt Garwood will leads the charge for Lawn National, with the league’s dual MVP to be supported at no 2 by brother Ward Garwood. The team also welcomes Alistair Baker from South Bendigo, who will combine in the lower order with Nick Bath and new arrivals Sam Storer and Tom Metherall. Both Metherall and Storer impressed last year in section 2, which has paved the way for the pair to join the region’s elite tennis competition.
In the ladies, Lawn National will be without star player Mandy Connors-Butson for their opening clash, however, will welcome Glen Iris based player Stephanie Foster as an adequate replacement. Foster, who has played at Grade 1 level in Melbourne pennant, will combine with Lawn’s gun Tamara Wright in what will prove a heavy hitting combination.
Epsom Butterflies had a very successful debut season in 2009/10, and will be looking to build on their 4th placing from last year. The strength of the sides comes through their consistent doubles combinations, which laid the foundations for many of the teams inaugural season victories.
The Butterflies will be lead by men’s players Matt Hartland and Shane Burke, who will have an up hill battle nullifying Lawn’s Garwood brothers. The Butterflies will be hoping that the experienced Michael Nhill and Robert Jefferies can get the better of the 3 and 4 men’s sets to keep Epsom in the match at the mixed.
The Butterflies ladies combination of Danielle Bowles and Jane St Clair should fancy their chances in the opening ladies doubles, and will be competitive in the singles. Their consistent serve and volley play will be in compete contrast to the heavy hitting of their Lawn opponents Wright and Foster, which should make for entertaining tennis.
With both teams keen to open the season with a win, this should be a tight match. However, Curt Garwood is always a good performer against Epsom and will be the difference between the sides.
Verdict: Lawn National to win 8 sets to 4
South Bendigo vs Spring Gully Bigpond 09-10-2010 1:00 PM BBTC Crts 2, 7 & 8
South Bendigo will have the opportunity to atone for a poor 2009/10, when they take on grand finalist’s Spring Gully Bigpond in their opening match. The Bigpond on the other hand will be hoping to replicate their feats of last year, which saw the side win 2 finals matches, before being overcome by premiers Bendigo Lawn in the Grand Final.
The Bigpond team will be lead by Spring Gully club coach Jack Baker, who will look to support from Kevin Derix, Barry Green, Andrew Freckleton and Zach Storer. Baker and Derix played well in the opening matches of 2009/10 and will be hoping to build on those confidence boosting wins.
In the ladies, the Bigpond will continue to benefit from the improvement of 15 year old gun Eliza Long and the experience of Heather Robbins. Long established herself as the no 1 women in Bendigo tennis last season, with convincing singles wins over Tamara Wright, Jessica Hartland and Mandy Connors-Butson. For Bigpond to continue to be a force this year, Long and Robbins will again need to continue to build on last years success.
For South, the return of no 1 players Corbin Fleming and Ashlea Baker into the fold should dramatically improve the teams performance. The side has also recruited former Castelmaine players Alyssa Cole in the ladies and Pat McMillian in the men.
Fleming, McMillian, Grant Leader, Frank Ryan and Simon Kelly make for an extremely strong men’s line up and will fancy their chances against all comers. They will likely hold the key to this weeks match and will need to play well to ensure an opening success.
In the ladies, both teams are likely to be without their regular no 1 players. With an injury cloud hovering over South Ashlea Baker, Alyssa Cole and Paige Ipsen are likely to take the court for the bloods. They will battle Bigponds Heather Robbins and Rebbeca Tweed, who will be stepping in for Eliza Long. Tweed is a welcome return to Bendigo Tennis, following a decade absence. Having played State Grade tennis in Victoria’s leading tennis competition, Tweed will not take long to dust out the cobwebs.
With both teams looking to find their feat early in the season, this is likely to be a closely fought battle. Fleming looking to be major difference, with Bigpond ulikely to have a genuine match up for the State Grade player.
Verdict: South to win 7 sets to 5.
Spring Gully Brougham Arms vs Bendigo Lawn Boltons BBTC 9, 10 & 11
Spring Gully Brougham Arms and Bendigo Lawn Bolton’s round out the premier league matches for round 1, in what is likely to be the pick of the matches.
Lawn Bolton’s have made the transition from Strathdale Park Storm to their new home and have picked up some handy players, including Leroy Miller, Dean Harris and Grant Harris, along the way. Not to be out done by the Broughie though, who have secured the services of former Storm player Andrew Lethlean and Bigpond player Craig Nolan, into the line up.
Lethelan and Nolan will add another dimension to the Broughie side and will likely fill the spaces at 2 and 3. In combination with Jamie Brown, Travis Toner, Shane Cox and Peter Valentine, the Broughie are beginning to again look like premiership contenders.
For the laides, the Broughie will look to the tried and proven combination of Jessica Hartland, Bronwyn Osborne and Lynda Gallagher. With Osborne missing the opening part of the season, Gallanger will need to be at her best to support Hartland against an improving womens competition.
For Bendigo Lawn Bolton’s, Terry Smith and Michael Smyth will welcome the reprieve of playing in the no 1 spot as they welcome young ace Leroy Miller into the ranks. Miller is tipped to be the pick up of the year, having narrowly lost a 3 set battle to league no 1 Curt Garwood in the recent Bendigo Association Championships. The Bolton’s Lawn team will be hoping that he can continue his dramatic improvement and may push Garwood and Fleming as the leagues best player.
The battle in the ladies sets will be interesting with Michelle Rodwell and Tova Penno tipped to line up for Lawn Bolton’s against Hartland and Gallagher. The Broughie combination have enjoyed good performances against their rivals in recent weeks and may hold the key to this weeks match.
With the men’s likely to be close, the dominance of the Broughie women could be the difference between the teams. Expect the match to go down to the wire, with the mixed sure to split the teams.
Verdict: Like Collingwood and St Kilda in the GF, this match could be a draw.
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Section 2:
Section 2 also returns to the Complex this week, with an increase to 12 teams to battle it out for this years title. With the competition to be split into section 2 gold and 2 silver after 11 rounds, all teams will be keen to get off to a good start.
The teams to watch this season including Epsom Dragons, Epsom Scorpions, BLTC Stoser, Phoenix New China and Spring Gully Sensation.
Spring Gully Sensation vs Epsom Scorpions @ BBTC 16 & 17
Phoenix New China vs Spring Gully Rockets @ BBTC 18 & 19
Spring Gully Spartans vs Epsom Dragons @ BBTC 14 & 15
BLTC Boris vs Spring Gully Racqueteers @ BBTC 12 & 13
BLTC Tsonga vs BLTC Red @ BBTC 21 & 22
BLTC Rafa vs BLTC Stoser @ BBTC 3 & 4
Section 3:
With teams still to confirm numbers, section 3 will commence their season from Saturday 16th October at the BBTC. If you are interested in playing Saturday tennis please contact the Complex on 5442 5744 or email info@bendigotennis.com.au