by Leon Retallick
Men to battle for Wild Card.
The three best players in Bendigo Tennis will battle it out over the next 3 weeks for the opportunity to represent Bendigo in the upcoming William Loud Bendigo International. With only 1 male and 1 female wild card available into the December event, the cream of Bendigo Tennis will play-off over the coming weeks to get their opportunity to strut their stuff in the $50,000 International.
The men in contention include Curt Garwood, Leroy Miller (pictured) and Corbin Fleming, with the trio to play each other over the next 3 weeks, to decide who gets the wildcard. The playoff will start tomorrow, with Garwood and Miller facing off when their teams Bendigo Lawn National take on Bendigo Lawn Bolton’s.
As a result of the playoff idea, their will be a change in the premier league draw, with round’s 6 and 8 being swapped. This will see Corbin Fleming’s South Bendigo to play Lawn Bolton’s Leroy Miller next week, with the final match between Fleming and Garwood to be played on Thursday 18th November, at 6pm at the Bendigo Bank Tennis Complex.
The make up of the women’s wild card playoff will be announced next week.
Bendigo Lawn National vs Bendigo Lawn Bolton’s @ BBTC 1, 5 & 6
As a result of the playoff, all sections will be hosted at the Complex in Nolan St. The match between the two Lawn teams, Lawn Bolton’s and Lawn National, promises to be a cracker with both teams unbeaten after 4 matches.
The match will be highlighted with the best of three set battle between Curt Garwood and Leroy Miller, who will both desperate to secure both a win for their team, but also edge themselves closer to the Pro Tour Wild Card.
In their last meeting, in the Association Championships in September, Miller snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Letting a 40-15 and 4 games to 1 advantage in the deciding set slip through his grasp. He will be keen for redemption today.
The other men’s sets should also be tight, with Alistair Baker, Nick Bath and Tom Metherall likely to play for National. They will have an arduous task in curbing Terry Smith, Michael Smith and Dean Harris, who have displayed supurb form for the Lawn Boltons team thus far.
In the ladies, Tova Smith and Rebecca Tweed will have a tight battle with Tamara Wright and Mandy Connors-Butson.
Verdict: In a changing of the guard, Leroy Miller to establish himself as the no 1 man in Bendigo Tennis and lead the Lawn Bolton’s team to victory.
Epsom Butterflies vs Spring Gully Bigpond @ BBTC Crts 2, 7 & 8
Epsom Butterflies and Spring Gully Bigpond will be both desperate to get their seasons off and racing. Following 3 tough weeks, neither team is yet to score a win and will be hoping for improved fortunes after this week.
The Butterflies have made wholesale changes for the match, with Matt Conroy and James McArthur joining the line up in a bid to life the team off the bottom of the ladder. The pair will join Matt Hartland and Jono Guy, Danielle Bowles and Jayne St Clair, in what looks on paper as the strongest Epsom team thus far this year.
The Bigpond team have also made a few changes, with Barry Green and Fraser McCarthy set to join Jack Baker, Zac Storer, Eliza Long and Heather Robbins.
These teams last met in the first semi final last year, where Bigpond came from a 3 sets down in the mixed to win on games difference.
A highlight of this match will be between Jack Baker and Matt Hartland, who have had some heated clashes in recent years.
Verdict: Spring Gully Bigpond to win 7 sets to 5.
South Bendigo vs Spring Gully Brougham Arms @ BBTC 9, 10 & 11
Spring Gully Brougham Arms and South Bendigo will round out the final matches in round 5. With the 3rd and 4th placed teams both looking to pressure the top two Lawn sides.
South Bendigo will welcome back Corbin Fleming and Ashlea Baker for the clash. Fleming has missed the last two matches with other commitments, whilst Baker makes her return from Bendigo Tennis following an illness which kept her out for the first 4 weeks.
The Brougham Arms team will look to its men of Jamie Brown, Andrew Lethlean, Craig Nolan and Travis Toner to give their team the edge at the mixed. Whilst South’s strong women’s line up of Ashlea Baker and Alyssa Cole could prove too strong for Jessica Hartland and Lynda Gallagher.
This match should be evenly poised at the mixed, with South’s superior fire power likely to give them the edge.
Verdict: South to win 7 sets to 5
Section 2 Round 5
Spring Gully Sensation vs BLTC Boris @ BBTC 16 & 17
BLTC Tsonga vs Spring Gully Spartans @ BBTC 18 & 19
BLTC Rafa vs Phoenix New China @ BBTC 14 & 15
BLTC Stoser vs Epsom Scorpions @ BBTC 21 & 22
BLTC Red vs Spring Gully Rockets @ BBTC 23 & 24
Spring Gully Racqueteers vs Epsom Dragons @ PM BBTC 12 & 13