Over the weekend Yarrawonga hosted the Victorian Seniors Grass Court Championships.
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It was fantastic to see the courts filled with high quality tennis players. Many in attendance were highly world ranked players for the respective age group. This is an International Tennis Federation sanctioned event and there were around 250 players in Yarrawonga.
Locals John Brunner and Ellen Bruce both played very well with John making the semi-finals of his singles event before losing in three sets.
Both John and Ellen had excellent doubles matches with their respective partners leaving the crowd in awe at the quality of the tennis.
Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club would like to thank Tennis Seniors Victoria for their support in once again bringing a top-class tournament to then local courts.
Everyone in attendance commented on the outstanding condition of the courts. This is testament to the dedication of the amazing groundsmen that look after the courts.
Thank you to Mike Sheahan, Garry Barton, Matt Prestage, Kaine Kerr and Peter Moulton for their ongoing efforts.
A massive thank you to Seona and her team from Sweet and Sour Sisters for catering for the event. Without their support events like this cannot run. Their food is always superb and more importantly Seona is a fantastic advocate of the club.
A final thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out over the weekend. The time they gave up was appreciated.
A final special thank you to Gert Brunner who barely left the complex for the entire tournament. Gert’s efforts were amazing.
Tennis Victoria coach visits
On Saturday morning Tennis Victoria Coach Jon Waston attended the Hot Shots and coaching program.
Jon looked at what the Saturday program involves, took a session and then worked with the junior coaches to develop new drills that will continually motivate the students.
Jon was amazed at the scale of the Saturday morning program and indicated that it would be the biggest of its kind in country Victoria.
He commended the coaches for their enthusiastic approach to assist the junior players.
Jon indicated he would be keen to return in the near future to offer more assistance.
Saturday juniors
It was the second round of the very popular Premier League. This is a three-week competition with four sides of the older Saturday morning players. Each player competes in two sets of doubles and a set of singles.
In the first match Bombers and Kangaroos played an absolutely thrilling encounter which eventually finished 15 sets all.
Three set winners for the Bombers were Sam Kennedy, Poppy Robinson, Thomas Lawrence. For the Kangaroos Tristan Meredith, Ernie Buerckner and Ed Withers didn’t drop a set.
The other rubber was a little one sided with the Eagles missing a number of players with illness.
The final score was Tigers 22 to the Eagles eight. For the Tigers Ollie Bridgeman, Tague Saunders, Finn Angwin, Ernie Inchbolf, Winnie Coooper, Lenny Robinson and Sophie Connell all won all their sets.
After round two the ladder is Tigers 38, Kangaroos 35, Eagles 29 and Bombers 25. This week the Eagles will play the Kangaroos and the Tigers will face off against the Bombers.
The younger match players completed round robins and there was some good rallies in these matches.
Group winners were Winter Clarke, Ziggy Clarke and Sam Hicks.
Wilby and District
Round six of the Wilby and District Tennis was played across the district on the weekend. There were a lot of good hitting during the matches.
Unfortunately, due to other commitments Savernake couldn’t secure a side so Telford were victorious.
On Friday night Mulwala hosted Wilby at Lonsdale Reserve. Wilby’s men proved very strong to win five sets to one with Max James and River Burns playing very well to win all of their matches. Mulwala bounced back in the ladies section to win four sets to two with Paula Mifka being best for Mulwala winning all of her matches.
The mixed section couldn’t have been any closer with each team winning two sets and 16 games to share the points for the mixed.
Overall, Wilby won on games by a slender margin 71 to 66. Wilby taking the points five to three.
Burramine travelled to Tungamah with an enjoyable night had by all. The mens section was close with Burramine winning the first three sets and Tungamah taking out the last three sets to see Burramine winning by two games.
The ladies was also very close with Burramine winning four sets but only winning by two games. Tess Bassett was the best for the night winning all of her sets.
In the mixed Tungamah played well to win three sets to one. At the end of the night a single game separated the teams with Burramine victors.
Overall Burramine six points to Tungamah two.
After round six the ladder is Telford 37, Tungamah 35, Savernake 30, Burramine 20, Wilby 13, Mulwala nine.
This week on Friday night Telford host Mulwala. On Saturday Burramine will make the trek out to Savernake and Wilby will play Tungamah.
Tuesday Mens Tennis
The second round of Tuesday mens was played last week. It was fantastic to see some returning players acting as fill-ins.
There was some good tennis played during the night. The night finished with a debriefing over pizza and refreshments with all in attendance leaving in good spirits.
Laver had a good battle with Federer with the final score four sets to two. Corey Beggs again proved the dominant player winning all of his sets.
There was a similar score in Edberg against Nadal with Edberg the victors four sets to two. Returning player Brendan Foran hasn’t lost any of his skill being undefeated.
Agassi and Connors had a great battle with the sets shared three all. Agassi were declared the victors by two games. No player won all of their sets.
Borg and McEnroe battled out as they did during the early 1980s. Borg was the winner on this occasion four sets to two. Youngster Anthony Nieuwenhout debuting in this competition won all of his matches.
Djokovic won four sets to two against Wilander although Wilander won by two games. This type of result is rare but certainly showed how even the sets were.
For Djokovic Daryl Bennett was best on court not dropping a set.
Rounding out a night of close tennis Lendl defeated Sampras four sets to two. Mitchell Moore was hitting the ball very nicely to not lose a set.
The ladder after round two is Borg 13, Lendl 13, Laver 12, Agassi 11, Becker 10, Connors 9, Edberg 8, McEnroe 6, Djokovic 5, Wilander 5, Nadal 4, Federer 4, Sampras 4.
Thursday Ladies Tennis
The Thursday Ladies played round five of their season last week in great conditions. The standard of the tennis continues to be high.
With 12 players being away the fill-in list was well and truly exhausted. Thanks to the players who filled in.
Fruity Bites and Nutri Grains had a close battle with Fruity Bites winning four sets to two. Loz Wallace was best on court winning all of her sets.
Special Ks and Cornflakes had a fantastic battle with the sets being shared three apiece with Special Ks winning by a single game. Indicating how close it was no one won all of their matches.
It was also extremely close between Fruit Loops and Coco Pops with three sets each but this time Fruit Loops won by two games. Donna Head was in good form winning all of her matches.
Weeties were all in great form to take a five sets to one win over Just Right. Sarah Govan and Laura Nunn combined very well to not drop a set.
There was the same scoreline in the last match of the night with Rice Bubbles winning five sets to one. Michelle Narayan and Zoe Jones were the stars winning all of their sets.
The ladder after round five is Rice Bubbles 33, Weeties 24, Coco Pops 23, Fruit Loops 21, Fruity Bites 20, Special Ks 19, Cornflakes 18, Nutri Grains 17, Cheerios 16 and Just Rights 9.
Goulburn Murray Tennis
The Goulburn Murray Tennis Association continued throughout the northeast of Victoria on the weekend.
This competition is fantastic as it allows players to compete against people from other clubs.
Yarrawonga’s Division Three team hosted the second placed Kyabram. Despite the Seniors tournament being on the Division Three players were looked after and they play on courts one to three.
Kyabram proved too strong winning eight sets to two although a 20 game deficit indicated there were many close sets.
Debutant Damian Cook showed his class with a 6/1 singles victory. The other victory came in the ladies doubles with Renee Byrne and Danielle Lawrence playing well together to win 8/3.
The Division Two Numurkah team travelled to Tatura. The home side were too strong to win seven sets to four.
Tess Bassett had a good singles win and a tie break win in her doubles match. Hayley Bennett played really well to win 6/0 in her singles match.
Numurkah’s Division One team had the bye.
North Eastern Association Challenge
This Saturday the Lawn Tennis Club will host the North Eastern Association Challenge. This involves players from Shepparton, Bendigo and Albury.
Each association will bring their absolute best players. Commencing at 1pm, the action will be superb. Spectators are welcome.
Rock up and play sessions
The YLTC holds social aggregate style tennis on Tuesday morning commencing at 9am for ladies and Wednesday at 1pm for mens social hit.
There is no compulsion to attend each of these on a weekly basis although once you have tried it once it will be hard to not keep going back.