Tennis
3 February, 2025
Horsham Lawn take top spot in tennis return
Horsham Lawn's blistering win over Central Park has moved them outright to the top of the ladder in their return to competition for 2025.
With the temperature high and the threat of smoke from the Grampian's bushfire, matches were a chance to be called off, but all got played.
Central Park led the ladder until round 13 when Horsham Lawn emerged and made a statement.
Central Park's only three sets for the day came in the doubles, with Harry Allan and Shaun Alexander, Adele Joseph over Tahlia Thompson in the singles, and Matt Jones and Shaun Alexander in the late doubles.
The first three winning doubles sets were tight, with Graeme Wood and Jae McGrath defeating Matt Jones and Brendan Nitschke 8-7. Tahlia Thompson and Cherie Wood enjoyed a tough 8-5 win over Adele Joseph and Sienna Nitschke, and Ella Thompson and Gemma Walker had a tough 8-6 victory over Tara McIntyre and Courtney Cameron.
In the singles, Jae McGrath defeated Matt Jones 8-5, Lachlan Punchard defeated Harry Allan 8-4, and Ella Thompson defeated Tara McIntyre 8-5.
In the last round of doubles, Graeme Wood and Andrew Dorman had an 8-6 success over Brendan Nitschke and Shaun Alexander, Cherie Wood and Gemma Walker defeated Sienna Nitschke and Courtney Cameron 8-5, Tahlia Thompson and Gemma Walker defeated Adele Joseph and Courtney Cameron 8-3, Lachlan Punchard and Graeme Wood defeated Harry Allan and Brendan Nitschke 8-0 and Ella Thompson and Cherie Wood defeated Tara McIntyre and Sienna Nitschke 8-3.
At Drung South Tennis Club, Drung South had a tight 9-5 win over St Michaels.
Sets were even after the first four doubles matches. Steve Schultz and Peter Hayes defeated Logan Casey and Aaron Jennings 8-2, and Eli Bailey and Chris Ellis defeated Mathew Hill and Harrison Daniell 8-7 for St Michaels.
Drung South's wins came through Kate-Lyn Perkin and Hayley Reid, who defeated Mia Rees and Yolly Francis 8-4, and Sandra Casey and Yolly Francis, who defeated Kassie Peachey and Barb Crough 8-6.
In the singles, Drung South moved ahead 5-3. Mathew Hill defeated Eli Bailey 8-3, Kate-Lyn Perkin defeated Mia Rees 8-5 and Yolly Francis defeated Kassie Peachey 8-0. St Michaels win came through Steve Schultz, who defeated Logan Casey 8-0.
Drung South then finished the match in the last round of doubles. Hayley Reid and Sandra Casey defeated Barb Crough and Keely Schultz 8-0, Logan Casey and Harrison Daniell defeated Steve Schultz and Chris Ellis 8-5, Kate-Lyn Perkin and Sandra Casey defeated Mia Rees and Barb Crough 8-2, and Yolly Francis defeated Kassie Peachey and Keely Schultz 8-2.
St Michaels's wins came through Eli Bailey and Peter Hayes, who defeated Mathew Hill and Aaron Jennings 8-2, and Peter Hayes and Chris Ellis, who defeated Harrison Daniell and Aaron Jennings 8-5.
Next week, Central Park will look to bounce back when they host Kalkee, and St Michaels and Horsham Lawn will battle in an intriguing match.
SENIOR TENNIS RESULTS Round 13 – 1/2/2025
Pennant: Horsham Lawn 11 - 96 def Central Park 3 - 73; Drung South 9 - 88 def St Michaels 5 - 67.
A Special: Brimpaen v Central Park (abandoned); Horsham Lawn Thompson 5 - 83 def by Horsham Lawn Gillespie 9 - 91; Haven 6 - 90 def by Homers 8 - 72.
A Grade: Central Park 5 - 68 def by Drung South 7 - 71; Haven 3 - 56 def by Horsham Lawn O'Connor 9 - 78; St Michaels 10 - 86 def Horsham Lawn McGennisken 2 - 44.
B Special: Natimuk 6 - 59 def by Drung South 10 - 80; Horsham Lawn Bardell 9 - 72 def Central Park 7 - 70; Laharum 3 - 43 def by Horsham Lawn Tigers 13 - 88.
JUNIOR TENNIS RESULTS Round 11 – 31/1/25 and 1/2/2025
Open: Central Park Blue 0 - 8 def by Central Park White 6 - 36; Natimuk 2 - 18 def by Homers 4 - 29; Horsham Lawn Green 4 - 29 def Quantong 2 – 26.
Section 1 Boys: Horsham Lawn Green 4 - 31 def Haven 2 - 25; Central Park Blue 5 - 33 def Central Park White 1 - 20; Homers 0 - 20 def by Horsham Lawn White 6 – 36.
Section 1 Girls: Haven Red 2 - 18 def by Central Park Blue 4 - 33; Homers 3 - 27 def Horsham Lawn Green 3 - 22; Horsham Lawn White 4 - 33 def Central Park White 2 - 25; Haven Blue 1 - 20 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 5 - 33.
Section 2 Boys: Central Park White 5 - 33 def Central Park Blue 1 - 20; Horsham Lawn Gold 2 - 21 def by Horsham Lawn White 4 - 33; Natimuk 0 - 9 def by Horsham Lawn Green 6 - 36; Haven 4 - 30 def Horsham Lawn Red 2 - 24.
Section 2 Girls: Central Park 4 - 28 def Horsham Lawn White 2 - 26; Haven 6 - 36 def Homers Red 0 - 0; Horsham Lawn Green 5 - 31 def Natimuk 1 - 14; Homers White 1 - 12 def by Horsham Lawn Yellow 5 - 30.
Section 4 Boys: Central Park 5 - 34 def Haven Purple 1 - 22; Haven Yellow 6 - 36 def Haven Brown 0 - 13; Horsham Lawn Gold 1 - 17 def by Horsham Lawn White 5 - 32.
Section 4 Girls: Haven Gold 2 - 21 def by Horsham Lawn Green 4 - 33; Horsham Lawn Gold 3 - 22 def by Horsham Lawn White 3 – 27.
Match Play 5 and 6 – abandoned, no matches played.