Tennis returned to the Limestone Coast with Round 1 of the Southern Ports Tennis Association season.


Last year’s Div 1 winners Kingston Crays were stung by the earlier season start, forfeiting to the Lucindale Koalas.


Naracoorte were dominant at home against the Lucindale Wombats, as were the Frances/Lucindale Eagles who came up against Penola.


Match of the week goes to the Beachport Pirates and Robe Rebels, who battled out a tight contest on the coast.


Robe Roosters had the bye.


Penola Rangers 7-79 def by Frances/Lucindale Eagles 17-130


Penola hosted the Eagles with perfect weather conditions for tennis.


Both teams enjoyed sitting on the lawn, allowing for good viewing and socialising.


Penola provided a highlight with a young visiting player Astrid White putting on a display of first-class tennis.


Both teams had some strong winners on court, but the Eagles had four players winning all three sets which made the difference.


Well done to Craig Jones.


Flo Burgwin, James Crossling and Mon Van Dyk.


Beachport Pirates 14-135 defeated Robe Rebels 10-114


The weather set the scene for a brilliant start to the opening round and both Robe Rebels and Beachport Pirates had strong sides fielded.


With a change of format, the men’s and women’s top and bottom doubles hit the courts first with it being three apiece going into singles.


All the singles were quite one sided throughout the day with exception to the top one and two ladies.


Allana Mueller returned to the courts for Beachport Pirates after having her second baby, to have a great match against Robe Rebels’ Kimberley Austin, with Austin sneaking over the line for a 6-4 win.


The match of the day would have been the top lady’s singles with Pirates’ new recruit Jorja Mitchell taking on Rebels’ Lisa Hall.


Mitchell took an early lead but with Hall’s never say die attitude she pushed Mitchell to a tiebreaker and eventually came out on top 9-7 in the tiebreaker.


The overall match was still anyone’s at the conclusion of the singles with both teams winning six singles each.


The mixed doubles did not disappoint with each game being a great tussle.


The top double saw Beachport Pirates young couple Cade Kelly and Mitchell sneak over the line against Egan Regnier and Hall while the Pirates husband and wife duo of Todd and Emily Watson could not quite get there over Rebels Tim Malone and Alana Domaschenz, leaving it still square.


The other match ups for the Pirates managed to all get over the line however giving the Pirates a 14 sets to 10 win.


A great start to the season with some great tennis.


Three set winners for the day were Ben Lang, Lucy Corman and Ryan Bateman for Beachport Pirates, with no three set winners for the Rebels.


Naracoorte – 17-131 defeated Lucindale Koalas 7-84


Lovely spring weather greeted players from the Naracoorte and Lucindale Wombats teams for the first round of season 2024/25 played at Naracoorte over the weekend.


The day provided the opportunity for many players to dust off the cobwebs and swing a racquet for the first time since last season.


The first round did however prove a bit challenging for some teams, resulting in many pre-game line-up changes.


A format change being trialled in the Southern Ports competition saw ladies and men’s doubles to nine to be the first games played.


Naracoorte came out strong in the doubles, winning four of the six matches, giving away only a forfeit and the top men’s double.


The Wombats combination of Adrian Maywald and Tom McKinnon won a competitive match against Daniel Menzel and Darcy Blaker, 9-5.


A strong performance in the singles from Naracoorte included a good win for Samuel Birchard, and some enjoyable hitting for all.


Special thanks goes to Ryan Castine who answered the call for a very late call up to fill in for Naracoorte.


Naracoorte came away with the win 17-7.


Round 2 will see the first matches on grass with the Wombats taking on the Eagles, while the Koalas host the Beachport Pirates.


Naracoorte will pop up the highway to play Penola, but the action will be at Robe where the Rebels and Roosters go head-to-head in their first clash of the season.


It’s not too late to join in the tennis action.


If you’re looking for a chance to play this season whether it be each week or as a fill-in, please contact your local club.