Written by Leon Retallick
The Bendigo Tennis Association senior pennant kicked off this weekend, with last years premiership winners Bendigo Lawn National proving they are again the team to beat.
Epsom Butterflies 42-0 lt Bendigo Lawn National 97-12
Bendigo Lawn National have sent an ominous warning to all challenges, with a 12 set to 0 demolition of Epsom Butterflies in round one of the BTA Premier League action. Lawn National were ruthless in their assault of last years 4th ranked team, setting the pace as they attempt a 3 peat of premierships.
The Garwood brothers Curt and Ward, got the team off to a great start with a strong doubles win over Butteflies Matt Hartland and Jono Guy. The lead was soon extended with further wins to Nick Bath and Sam Storer in the 2nd mens doubles, along with Tamara Wright and Stephanie Foster in the ladies.
Lawn National then stepped up a gear at the singles, with a string of great wins. Michael Nhill put up the most resistance for the Butterflies, going down in a tight tiebreaker to Nick Bath.
With the match over, Lawn National didn’t relent to take the last 3 sets and win the day in a clean sweep in a great team performance.
South Bendigo 86-9 df Spring Gully Bigpond 72-3
South Bendigo re-established themselves as a premier league threat, with a comfortable 9 set to 3 win over last years grand finalists Spring Gully Bigpond.
With Corbin Fleming returning for South, along with new imports Alyssa Cole and Pat McMillian from Castlemaine, the team looked strong in a commanding performance.
With McMillian being delayed by a late train, Fleming took to the court for his singles clash against Bigpond’s captain Jack Baker. His performance was superb, combining power and deft touch in the 8-3 victory.
The no 1 ladies singles was also on court early, with Bigpond’s Heather Robbins opening her teams account with a solid 8/4 victory over South’s Paige Ipsen.
The match moved into the doubles, and South pulled ahead, with 3 strong victories to the combinations of Fleming and McMillian, Grant Leader and Frank Ryan, whilst Ipsen partnered Alyssa Cole to outlast Robbins and Rebecca Tweed in a tiebreak.
South furthered its lead with the reaming singles, with victories to McMillan, Leader and Ryan. Rebecca Tweed continued the Bigpond ladies good form with a great 8/4 win over Cole.
With South in a strong position at the mixed, the team pushed to take 2 of the last 3 sets. Ryan and Cole held out a Zac Storer and Rebeccca Tweed in the mixed, whilst Fleming and Leader were too good for Jack Baker and Andrew Freckleton.
The Bigpond combination of Kevin Derix and Heather Robbins got their teams final point of the afternoon with a dominant 8/3 win over Ipsen and McMillian.”
Best performers for the winners included Corbin Fleming, Grant Leader and Frank Ryan all whom won 3 sets.
Spring Gully Brougham Arms 73-6 lt Bendigo Lawn Boltons 77-6
Spring Gully Brougham Arms and Bendigo Lawn Bolton’s fought out the match of the round, with the new look Lawn Bolton’s scoring a narrow 3 game victory.
Lawn Bolton’s Leroy Miller stepped out for his first match with his new team, impressing in a good first up doubles win with Veteran Terry Smith, over Andrew Lethlean and Craig Nolan.
The Broughie hit back, with Jessica Hartland and Lynda Gallagher scoring a strong win over Tova Penno and Michelle Rodwell. However, Bolton’s took the lead at the singles when Michael Smyth and Danny Watson combined to overcome Pete Valentine and Brad Booth.
The singles matches went tit for tat, with Boltons taking 4 singles through Miller, Smith, Watson and Rodwell. Jessica Hartland and Brad Booth ensured the match would be alive at the mixed, with wins for the Broughie.
With Bolton’s holding a 3 set lead, they would only need to win one of the last 3 sets to seal the days victory. However, the fast finishing Broughie put the match down to the wire with wins to Booth and Nolan in the last mens doubles, whilst Valentine and Gallagher also scored a mixed victory.
With Lawn Bolton’s holding a slender lead, a tiebreak loss to father-daughter combination Terry Smith and Tova Penno, ensured their team got enough games to snare a 4 game victory
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.
Section 2 Round 1
Spring Gully Sensation 77-7 df Epsom Scorpions 46-3
Phoenix New China 64-7 df Spring Gully Rockets 53-3
Spring Gully Spartans 45-2 lt Epsom Dragons 75-8
BLTC Boris 35-0 lt Spring Gully Racqueteers 81-10
BLTC Tsonga 56-4 lt BLTC Red 61-6
BLTC Rafa 38-2 lt BLTC Stoser 72-8
Section 3:
Will kick off from next week.