Sport
17 February, 2023
Horsham Lawn reclaims top spot
HORSHAM Lawn has reclaimed top position in Central Wimmera Tennis Association pennant ladder after a telling win over Central Park on Saturday. The battle for top billing went the way of Lawn on the Central Park courts to highlight round 14 which...
HORSHAM Lawn has reclaimed top position in Central Wimmera Tennis Association pennant ladder after a telling win over Central Park on Saturday.
The battle for top billing went the way of Lawn on the Central Park courts to highlight round 14 which also saw a thrilling win to Kalkee over a gallant Drung South.
Central Park started well when they claimed a tense tie break in the opening mens doubles when Justin Slade and Reece Harman outlasted Lachie Punchard and Patrick Hall but it would be one of only three sets to go their way as Horsham Lawn stamped their authority.
After four rubbers, nothing separated the teams with two rubbers each and only four games difference in favour of the visitors.
But the second round of doubles sparked Horsham Lawn as they reeled off the next five sets to one and put the match to bed with an unassailable seven sets to two lead.
Doubles wins to Punchard and Graeme Wood and Tahlia Thompson and Gemma Walker were followed by singles wins to Hall and Cherie Wood as the visitors produced some potent tennis to break the match open.
Central Park put a third win on the board when Sue Walter and Adele Joseph teamed for an 8-3 win before Lawn finished the job with singles wins to Punchard, 8-4 over Slade and Thompson who outlasted Willow Sainsbury 8-6 to claim the final set.
The final score saw Horsham Lawn finish nine sets, 87 games to three sets, 69 game victors.
The match of the day took place on the courts at Kalkee when the home team claimed a narrow six games victory.
Sets were locked together at six apiece and the final result came down to the final two singles matches which, despite going the way of Drung South, saw the visitors fall short by six games.
Early, it was Drung South who claimed the ascendency, skipping out to a four sets to two lead when they claimed wins in the second round of doubles.
Logan Casey and Benn Molineaux and Kate-Lyn Perkin and Marli Pymer claimed 8-2 and 8-6 wins respectively which had the visitors in front four rubbers to two with only game separating the teams.
But the Kees were able to show their talents as they reeled off the next four sets to reclaim the lead six sets to four with singles wins 8-2 to Steve Schultz and Mel Beddison and doubles wins to Schultz and Jordan Friberg and Beddison and Emily Polack.
The four set winning streak saw the Kees needing just one more game to secure victory and achieved their goal, despite losing the final two singles sets, had done enough to finish six rubbers, 72 games to six rubbers, 66 game victors.
A Special matches saw no major changes to ladder positions as leaders Natimuk and Horsham Lawn Thompson claimed strong wins and were joined by Horsham Lawn Dorman and Central Park.
The tightest finish to the day saw fourth-placed Brimpaen claim a narrow nine-game win over third-placed Telangatuk East, seven sets, 91 games to seven sets, 81 games as the final result came down the final set of the day.
In A Grade, Homer and Drung South produced the match of the round when just one game separated the teams after 12 sets.
Drung South claimed victory, six sets, 72 games to six sets, 71 games with a win in the final set of the day 8-4 going the way of Drung South.
Other winners were ladder leader Haven and third-placed Central Park who claimed victory over second-placed Horsham Lawn Bardell.
In B Special, Laharum and Horsham Lawn produced the match of the day when Laharum secured a six games win on the Lawn courts, while ladder leader Central Park claimed a clean sweep of Haven and St Michaels proved too strong for Natimuk.
results
Pennant: Kalkee 6 - 72 def Drung South 6 - 66; Central Park 3 - 69 def by Horsham Lawn 9 – 87
A Special: Horsham Lawn Thompson 8 - 90 def Kalkee 6 - 75; Horsham Lawn Dorman 9 - 91 def Haven 5 - 69; Central Park 10 - 92 def Drung South 4 - 63; Brimpaen 7 - 90 def Telangatuk East 7 - 81; Natimuk 10 - 101 def Homers 4 – 55.
A Grade: Homers 6 - 71 def by Drung South 6 - 72; Central Park 7 - 85 def Horsham Lawn Bardell 5 - 66; Horsham Lawn O’Connor 4 - 64 def by Haven 8 – 81.
B Special: Haven 0 - 30 def by Central Park 12 - 96; Natimuk 4 - 63 def by St. Michael’s 8 - 84; Horsham Lawn 6 - 66 def by Laharum 6 – 71.
Junior Open: Central Park 3 - 26 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 3 - 28; Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 19 def by Natimuk Blue 5 - 34; Natimuk Yellow 1 - 25 def by Homers 5 – 35.
Section 1 Boys: Natimuk 5 - 35 def Haven 1 - 12; Quantong 2 - 25 def by Central Park 4 – 31.
Section 1 Girls: Homers 0 - 19 def by Horsham Lawn 6 - 36; Haven Red 4 - 28 def Haven Purple 2 – 25.
Section 2 Boys: Horsham Lawn White 4 - 29 def Horsham Lawn Green 2 - 28; Central Park 6 - 36 def Homers Red 0 - 9; Homers White 5 - 34 def Haven 1 – 22.
Section 2 Girls: Homers 0 - 11 def by Haven 6 - 36; Horsham Lawn Gold 5 - 34 def Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 14; Horsham Lawn White 3 - 27 def by Central Park 3 – 31.
Section 3 Boys: Haven 1 - 14 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 5 - 33; Horsham Lawn White 2 - 29 def by Horsham Lawn Green 4 – 29.
Section 3 Girls: Natimuk 0 - 4 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 6 - 36; Haven 1 - 18 def by Horsham Lawn Green 5 - 30; Horsham Lawn White 6 - 36 def Homers 0 – 13.
Section 4 Boys: Horsham Lawn White 0 - 19 def by Horsham Lawn Red 6 - 36; Natimuk 5 - 35 def Haven 1 – 25
Section 4 Girls: Haven Pink 3 - 33 def Horsham Lawn White 3 - 31; Central Park 2 - 13 def by Haven Orange 4 - 30; Horsham Lawn Green 2 - 23 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 4 - 31
Match Play Section 5: Natimuk 0 - 7 def by Horsham Lawn Red 6 - 24; Horsham Lawn Purple 6 - 24 def Horsham Lawn Gold 0 - 9; Central Park 5 - 22 def Horsham Lawn Pink 1 - 13; Haven 2 - 14 def by Horsham Lawn Green 4 - 19; Horsham Lawn Yellow 0 - 15 def by Horsham Lawn White 6 – 24.
Match Play Section 6: Homers 5 - 23 def Horsham Lawn Orange 1 - 11; Natimuk 4 - 19 def Horsham Lawn Gold 2 - 17; Haven 2 - 16 def by Horsham Lawn Blue 4 - 20; Central Park 1 - 13 def by Horsham Lawn Red 5 - 20; Horsham Lawn White 3 - 17 def Horsham Lawn Green 3 – 13.