by Leon Retallick
Bendigo Lawn Bolton's 77-6 dw Spring Gully Bigpond 77-6
Top placed Bendigo Lawn Bolton's had to settle for a draw with fifth placed Spring Gully Bigpond in the tightest Premier League match this weekend. After twelve sets, the teams couldn't be split, sharing the 2 points with a 6 set 77 game tie.
The Bigpond team got off to a flying start, with opening men's and ladies doubles combination wins to Eliza Long and Heather Robbins (pictured) over Rebecca Tweed and Tova Penno. Whilst the Jack Baker and Kevin Derix had their best doubles win for the season, accounting for the highly rated Bolton's pair of Leroy Miller and Terry Smith in a tiebreak.
Michael Smyth and Greg Guy combine to bring up Bolton's first points, with a strong 8-5 win over Leigh Campbell and Zach Storer.
The Bolton's team moved up a gear in the singles claiming 4 of the six matches through Leroy Miller, Terry Smith, Greg Guy and Tova Penno. Bigpond's Leigh Campbell and Eliza Long, made sure their team was alive at the mixed, with solid singles performances, and leveling the match at 57 games all with three sets to play.
With the match on a knife edge, the Bigpond team were the first to strike, with two 8-6 mixed doubles wins through Long and Derix over Miller and Tweed, whilst Campbell and Robbins accounted for Smyth and Penno.
The final set of the day went to the Bolton's team, with the experienced Terry Smith and Greg Guy having too much guile for Jack Baker and Zach Storer, wining the match 8-4 and tying the match up.
Best players for the day included Eliza Long and Greg Guy, both whom won their 3 sets.
Spring Gully Brougham Arms 65-7 df Bendigo Lawn National 59-5
Spring Gully Brougham Arms sent a warning to the competition, with a hard team fought win over last years champions Bendigo Lawn National. It was a great team effort for the Broughie, who have kept themselves within 3 points of the top of the ladder.
The Broughie got off to a flying start, with 3 opening doubles wins. Jamie Brown and Travis Toner was a highlight of the three matches, defeating the National's opening doubles pair of Curt and Ward Garwood 8-6. The loss was the first defeat of the Garwood combination for nearly 2 years.
The news wasn't all good for the Broughie, with Andrew Lethlean appearing to pull a calf muscle going back for a smash on match point, in his opening doubles with Craig Nolan. Whilst the veteran pair got the result 8-1 over young guys Sam Storer and Tom Metherall, Lethlean's unusual injury forced him to forfeit his singles match, with Brad Booth substituted in for the final doubles.
The forfeit gifted the National team their first points, and follow up singles wins to Curt Garwood and Mandy Connors-Butson, kept the National's hopes alive at the mixed. However, wins to Craig Nolan, Jessica Hartland and Travis Toner ensure the Broughie would have a handy lead.
National captain Curt Garwood fought to keep his side alive, combining with Sam Storer to overcome Toner and Nolan 8-2. Whilst Mandy Connors-Butson and Tom Metherall gave the National a fifth set with a strong win over Brad Booth and Lynda Gallagher.
However, it would be the Broughie's day with the experienced pair of Jessica Hartland and Jamie Brown proving too strong in the final set of the day to recorded their team's third win of the season.
Epsom Butterflies 58-2 lt South Bendigo 92-9
South Bendigo kept in touch with the top 3 teams, proving far too strong for the Epsom Butterflies by 9 sets to 3. It was the
Butterflies 5th loss of the season and almost eliminates any chance of the team making this years finals.
South opened strongly, taking the first two men's doubles sets through the pairs of Pat McMillan and Michael Nhill, and Frank Ryan and Simon Kelly.
Epsom hit back in the ladies, with Danielle Bowles and Jayne St Clair continuing their good doubles record in defeating the highly rated Ashlea Baker and Alyssa Cole.
At the singles the Butterflies looked to be coming back into the match, with Matt Hartland outlasting Pat McMillan in a tiebreaker, whilst Shane Burke proved too strong for a fired up Michael Nhill 8-6. However, South regrouped with singles wins to South's Frank Ryan, Simon Kelly, Ashlea Baker and Alyssa Cole giving the bloods a handy lead at the mixed.
The last three sets of the afternoon were all one way traffic, with South claiming a clean sweep to record a 6 set win.
Best players for the winners included Frank Ryan and Simon Kelly, both whom won their 3 sets for the afternoon.
Section 2 Round 7
Spring Gully Sensation 63-5 df BLTC Rafa 60-5
BLTC Stoser 67-7 df BLTC Tsonga 38-3
BLTC Red 41-2 lt BLTC Boris 76-8
Spring Gully Racqueteers 75-8 df Spring Gully Spartans 45-2
Epsom DCK 54-4 lt Phoenix New China 61-6
Spring Gully Rockets 51-4 lt Epsom McCarthy Homes 70-6