It was another cracking weekend for tennis on the Limestone Coast, with Southern Ports Tennis Association matches played on the hard courts at Kingston, Penola, Naracoorte and Robe.
It was great to see Penola take the court again, hosting the Robe Roosters for their first home game of the season.
Kingston also made the most of their hometown advantage against the Koalas.
As predicted, match of the round went firmly to the Robe Rebels and Frances-Lucindale Eagles who battled some windy conditions at Robe.
Strong performances by the Rebels top men and ladies saw them secure the win, 15 sets to 9.
Kingston 17-137 defeated Lucindale Koalas 7-102 Kingston played Lucindale Koalas at home for their second game of the season, a beautiful day with gentle sea breezes.
Kingston started the day well winning four of the six mixed doubles, Chandler Smart and Casey Weaver playing very well to get the win over Matt Menz and Lou Leidig in the top doubles.
Smart backing up his form and playing very well in the top men’s singles to beat Matt Menz 6-4 after a 5-0 lead.
Shaun Mules and Duncan Ogilvie also had a long match that went the way of Shaun 6-4.
Over in the ladies, match of the day was Alex Menz and Leanne McCarthy, with some great shots by both and a marathon game, McCarthy coming out as the winner 6-4.
Kingston won two of the three men’s doubles and all of the women’s doubles to finish off a great day.
Kingston won in the end 17 sets to 7.
Penola 8-94 defeated by Robe Roosters 16-137 Robe Roosters defeated Penola in another wind-filled day for tennis.
Robe had a strong start, winning 5/6 mixed doubles.
Jake Fletcher debuted in his first match for the Roosters and demonstrated his skills in a great performance across the day.
But it was very mixed results across the singles with the Roosters ladies helping to secure many sets.
Tracey Bainger (RR) defeated Millie Wilkinson (P) 6-3, and Sarah Lawrie (RR) had a dominant performance, defeating Sarah Ballantyne, 6-0.
For Penola, Lachlan Heysen, James Gosse and Manyy Singh all took home singles wins, keeping their team in the hunt.
Robe responded strongly in the doubles, wining 5/6 with some very entertaining matches.
McKay/Domaschenz started proceedings with a 9-5 win, followed by comfortable wins by the Roosters top men Rains/Obst, 9-4.
Penola pair Heysen/Redman gave it one last crack and were only just too good for Ling/Kokiousis, winning 10-9.
Naracoorte – 15-119 defeated Lucindale Wombats 9-105 Abeautiful afternoon in Naracoorte saw some great tennis.
Naracoorte started strong in the mixed doubles, taking a 5-1 lead.
Two of these sets could have gone either way, with Grundy/A Buckett pushing Biggins/K Moyle-Read all the way to 7-5 in a great display of top level doubles.
Meanwhile, Wende/Lush just snuck home 7-5 over Legoe/Johns.
Again, the singles were dominated by Naracoorte’s ladies.
Kelsie Moyle-Read had a fight on her hands against Andrea Buckett.
Buckett started the match strong with a 3-1 lead, which Moyle-Read fought back to win 6-4.
In the men’s, Steve Biggins and Jack Grundy both fired out some brilliant shots for spectators, Grundy winning 6-4.
The juniors are certainly making themselves at home in the senior comp with six players under 16 across the two teams.
For the Wombats, youngsters Vander Maywald and Harry Robinson both secured themselves singles victories, while Naracoorte’s Max Lush had another comfortable win in both singles and ladies doubles.
With some of the doubles set to go either way, the Wombats were looking to secure some last few sets.
Top men’s pair Hocking/Grundy were able to gain one over Menzel/Biggins 9-3, in addition to bottom ladies K. Legoe/Robinson who won 9-1.
Naracoorte was just too strong.
M. Moyle-Read/Lush produced a dominating performance to win
9-0.
The final double of the day saw a tough battle between M Buckett/Wende (Na) and Crocker/T Legoe (LW).
Naracoorte took the set 9-7.
Naracoorte would like to thank Mark Buckett for filling in, ensuring everyone was able to get a hit.
Robe Rebels 15-133 defeated Frances/Lucindale Eagles 9-101 With another windy day in Robe, it was once again a tough day for tennis.
The mixed doubles saw both teams come away with three wins each.
The number 6’s had a tough tussle, Robe’s Brown/Warren coming away winners, 7-5.
Robe dominated in the men’s singles, winning 5/6.
Craig Jones was the only man to take the win for the Eagles 6-1 over George Pretlove.
The women’s singles saw an even split.
Robe’s Lisa Hall and the Eagles’ Tyler Atkinson having a good battle in number 1, Hall coming away with the win 7-5.
Hayley Crossling (Eagles) went down with a calf injury and had to forfeit the rest of the day.
Each team won three doubles each to finish off the day.
The Rebels came away winners 15 sets to 9.
In Round 4, it is back out to Lucindale.
The Wombats will be looking to regain top spot with a win over the Eagles.
The Koalas will be on the hunt for their first win over Naracoorte, who play their first grass court match for the season.
Penola will host top side Kingston and after gaining their first win in Round 3, the Robe Roosters will be looking to upset Beachport.
