Windy start for comp

By Benalla Ensign

May 15, 2023

Moglonemby: Lyn Johnston, Marlene Hanrahan, Judy Sands and Robyn Johnson welcomed the return of winter tennis. Photo: Rhonda Carpenter

The first round of the winter tennis competition began on a windy, wintry day last Monday.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Euroa hosted two matches in the gusty conditions with players nearly blown away at the beginning.

Moglonemby’s Judy Sands and Marlene Hanrahan were in fine form all day for the home side against Mansfield Black. The pair put on a masterclass of court-craft, running down balls and bedazzling the visitors with expert placement.

Robyn Johnson and Lyn Johnston needed time to warm up in their opener as Di Bergelin and Rhonda Carpenter raced to 4-0 lead. At 7-2 up the pair was unable to serve out the set, and the tenacious locals clawed back game after game to reach the tie-break. Seizing momentum, the Euroa women won the tie-breaker.

Mansfield Black: Jenny Bell, Liza Karras, Rhonda Carpenter and Di Bergelin. Photo: Marlene Hanrahan

Mansfield Black’s Liza Karras and Jenny Bell enjoyed lengthy baseline rallies and high-quality shot making all day, but ultimately couldn’t match their classy opponents. Winning shots were applauded in the enjoyable contest. Bell and Carpenter combined with determination in the final set to win it 8-3 for the visitors.

Newcomer Seven Creeks took on the reigning premiers Terip and were right in it from the outset. Rowena Ellis and Rosie Cameron began brilliantly racing to a 6-0 lead, but seasoned campaigners Cindy Hayes and Frances Lawrence stopped them in their tracks and took the set 8-6.

Kerrie Hewlett and Ruth Nolan overcame Terip’s Phoebe McDermid and Melissa McDowell 8-3. In an entertaining and lengthy contest, the sets were shared three all, but Terip secured the win 37 games to 35. Welcome to winter comp Seven Creeks.

Benalla and Mansfield Red: Deb Siggers, Helen Chetuti, Maureen Jewell, Bev Gill, Karyn Fraser, Carolyn Murray, Jo O’Brien, and Loretta Armitage in Benalla. Photo: Wendy Maxwell

Benalla hosted Mansfield Red on their magnificent lawn courts, enjoying good tennis mostly in sunshine and Wendy Maxwell took photos. Benalla won every set 48 games to 20.

Mansfield Blue hosted Euroa’s Chris Ellis, Sue Vaughan, Lyndall Bigland and Julie Harrington who weren’t taking any prisoners in the contest. Blue’s Michell Pigdon, Belinda Cipa, Clare Beecham, and Sophie Yencken worked hard but Euroa took every set, 48 games to 19.

Euroa 10 took top spot on the ladder, followed by Benalla 10, Moglonemby 9, Terip 7, Seven Creeks 3, Mansfield Black 1, Mansfield Red and Mansfield Blue.