A FULL bank of courts at the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club were used in the start of Sunraysia District Tennis Association’s winter pennant held on Saturday.
A generous sprinkling of new and returning players added some real spice to the Division 1 matches, and while some were a little one-sided, the general opinion was that this year’s competition would be hotly contested.
Jack Burford continued his excellent summer form into his first singles match for the season when his Nichols Point Guns and Roses took on Alcheringa Avengers.
Burford played newcomer and tennis academy coach Cameron Phillips in a very entertaining and skilful match, but Burford’s grasscourt prowess won out.
Hannah Smith showed fabulous first-up form beating Lali Rigby 8-1 to give the Pointers a good lead, which they maintained throughout the afternoon.
The Nichols Point Legends had a tougher afternoon against Red Cliffs Rebels with only eight games separating them at the end of the day.
Nathan Swaeney and Nat Thomas were both unbeaten on the day and were instrumental in getting the Pointers over the line.
Sacred Heart Guns drew five sets all with Sarnia Sloggers but just got over the line, 65 games to 62.
Sarnia welcomed back Ryan Samaris, who began the season with a singles win over Sacred Heart’s Jack Wilson.
Tess Robinson played a very consistent game against Sarnia’s Alana Wall to split the points after the first two sets.
The first two women’s doubles were tiebreakers, both going the Guns’ way, Jenny Gathercole proving to be a very handy last-minute emergency.
Sacred Heart were two sets up going into the mixed, which both went to Sarnia but games deficit couldn’t be overcome.
This Saturday’s second-round matches will also be played at the lawn courts.
RESULTS
WINTER pennant round 1:
Division 1
Sacred Heart Guns 5 (65) d Sarnia Sloggers 5(62). Vaughan Marshall 24/16 (Sarnia), Tess Robinson 24/12 (Sacred Heart)
Nichols Pt Guns n Roses 7(66) d Alcheringa Avengers 3(57). Kym Braun 24/16, Hannah Smith 24/15 (Nichols Point).
Nichols Pt Legends 5(62) d Red Cliffs Rebels 5(55). Nathan Swaeney 24/9 (Nichols Point), Eliza Hill 24/13.
Division 2
Alcheringa All Stars 5(52) d Nichols Pt Pointers 4(52).
St Andrews Slammers 5(59) d Wentworth Webels 4(43). Craig Pratt 24/9 (St Andrews), Caitlin Hancock 24/13 (Wentworth).
Division 3
Nichols Point DI’s 5(60) d Sacred Heart Braves 4(55). Ayaka Kirirua-Gill 24/15 (Nichols Point).
St Andrews Spartans 5(62) d Sarnia Saints 4(50). Chris Pattinson 24/10, Antony Parakkal 24/9 (St Andrews), Layla Searle 24/16 (Sarnia).
Red Cliffs Ratbagz 6(61) d Alcheringa Almighties 3(52). Brent Byrnes 24/11, Jarrod Keys 24/13 (Red Cliffs), Louise Higgins 24/13 (Alcheringa).
Nichols Point Diamonds 8(66) d Wentworth Wascals 1(32). Thomas Moore 24/7, Cheryl Collis 24/11, Corina O’Callaghan 24/9, Sandra Slatter 24/6 (Nichols Pt).
Division 4
St Andrews Almost Skilled 6(62) d Alcheringa Alfrescoes 3(38). Dale Irvin 24/1, Carrick Sammon 24/7 (St Andrews), Maz Valentino 24/14 (Alcheringa).
Kenny Park Magpies 9(72) d St Andrews Saints 0(18). Russell Walder 24/8, Stephen Bennett 24/2, Terry Hanson 24/5, Kristen Wade 24/6, Mandy Bone 24/8, Andrina Mitcham 24/7 (Kenny Park).
LADDERS
(Team, points, percentage)
Division 1
Nichols Pt Guns n Roses 9 115.79
Nichols Point Legends 6.5 112.73
Sacred Heart Guns 6.5 104.84
Sarnia Sloggers 5.5 95.38
Red Cliffs Rebels 5.5 88.71
Alcheringa Avengers 3 86.36
Division 2
St Andrews Slammers 7 137.21
Alcheringa All Stars 6.5 100.00
Nichols Point Pointers 4.5 100.00
Wentworth Webels 4 72.88
Sacred Heart Starters 0
Division 3
Nichols Point Diamonds 10 206.25
Red Cliffs Ratbags 8 117.31
St Andrews Spartans 7 124.00
Nichols Point DI’s 7 109.09
Sacred Heart Braves 4 91.67
Sarnia Saints 4 80.65
Alcheringa Almighties 3 85.25
Wentworth Wascals 1 48.48
Division 4
Kenny Park Magpies 11 400.00
St Andrews Almost Skilled 8 163.16
Alcheringa Alfrescoes 3 61.29
St Andrews Saints 0 25.00
