Tennis
11 February, 2025
Ladder tight heading into final rounds
Three points separate the top five sides at the conclusion of round 12 in the Dimboola and District Tennis Association.
Round 12 commenced on Friday night, February 7, with Arkona hosting Dimboola.
With the top five teams fairly close on points, every win now is like gold heading into the last three rounds of the season.
Dimboola is one of those teams that has climbed up the ladder and given itself a huge chance come finals time.
In the mixed, it was Dimboola who started well, winning four sets, 47 games, to Arkona's two sets, 38 games.
The men were completely dominated by the away side, claiming every set: six sets, 54 games to 0 sets, 23 games.
The women were also a convincing win to Dimbool, almost getting the maximum points with five sets, 52 games to one set, 19 games.
The overall score was Dimboola five match points, 15 sets, 153 games to Arkona, 0 match points, three sets, 80 games.
The next game of the round was a clash between the top two sides, Warrack and Antwerp at Warrack.
Antwerp won the points in the mixed, winning four sets, 42 games to two sets, 30 games.
The men easily defeated the Antwerp side, grabbing all the sets and giving them the upper hand in the contest with six sets, 54 games to 0 sets, and 21 games.
In the women, however, Warrack struck back and claimed the points with a decisive win while giving the team one point for the round, which could be valuable in the run home.
The overall score was Antwerp four match points,12 sets, 133 games, Warrack one match point, six sets, 99 games.
Warrack and Antwerp are now locked on 40 points each at the top, with only a percentage separating the two sides.
The last match of the round was between Jeparit and Hopetoun at the home of the Redbacks.
In the mixed, Hopetoun had a commanding win, taking the points in four sets, 36 games to 0 sets, 26 games.
The men's match was much closer, with two sets apiece and only two games the difference, with Hopetoun winning two sets, 26 games to 2 sets, 24 games.
The women was a good win to Hopetoun, rounding out a good day for the visitors, claiming a great win with four sets, 36 games to 0 sets, 23 games.
Although it was a good day for Hopetoun, plenty of games went down to the wire during the day.
The overall score was Hopetoun with five match points,10 sets, 98 games to Jeparit with 0 match points, two sets, 73 games.
Brim defeated Rainbow on forfeit.
At the end of the round, the top five teams had good wins, but now the gap between the top and fifth place has got considerably tighter, with only three points the difference. Brim, however, has a pretty high percentage, which could prove to be an advantage in the run home.
Next week, we have some big games that will affect the makeup of the top four, with Dimboola hosting Hopetoun and Antwerp to clash with Brim at Dimboola. The bottom three teams cannot make finals now.
Ladder: 1. Warrack 40 - 129.43%, 2. Antwerp 40 - 122.44%, 3. Dimboola 38.5 - 128.12%, 4. Hopetoun 38.5 - 107.89%, 5. Brim 37 - 140.40%, 6. Rainbow 23.5 - 87.73%, 7. Arkona 17 - 64.97%, 8. Jeparit 5.5 - 60.92%.
Jeparit v Hopetoun
Mixed: Jarryd Newcombe, Ebony Spokes lost to Evan Hunter, Remy George 6-9; Ben Inkster, Rebecca Schultz lost to Luke Hunter, Jonti George 8-9; Jason Hutson, Max Spokes lost to Timothy McCormick, Amanda Marshman 6-9; Josh Schultz, Liam Campbell lost to Anthony Scache, Lawson Hallam 6-9.
Men: J. Newcombe, J. Hutson def E. Hunter, A. Schache 9-7; B. Inkster, J. Schultz lost to L. Hunter, T. McCormick 6-9; J. Newcombe, B. Inkster def E. Hunter, L. Hunter 9-1; J. Hutson, J. Schultz lost to A. Schache, T. McCormick 0-9.
Women: E. Spokes, M. Spokes lost to J. George, A. Marshman 7-9; R. Schultz, L. Campbell lost to R. George, L. Hallam 4-9; E. Spokes, R. Schultz lost to J. George, R. George 5-9; M. Spokes, L. Campbell lost to A. Marshman, L. Hallam 7-9.
Warrack v Antwerp
Mixed: Mitch Greenwood, Sarah Spicer def Tim Jorgenson, Tahlia Avery 9-2; Chris Kellett, Lauren Kellett lost to Chris Avery, Alicia Albrecht 1-9; Karter Nitschke, Rikki Nitschke lost to Daniel Greig, Abbey Greig 3-9; Mark Peters, Jan Greenwood lost to Don Clarke, Heather Jorgenson 6-9; Campbell Mansfield, Lynley Clyne lost to Nathan Albrecht, Chloe Lehmann 2-9; Dan Hunter, Lachie Clyne def Simon Albrecht, Ant Toet 9-4.
Men: M. Greenwood, K. Nitschke lost to T. Jorgenson, C. Avery 7-9; M. Peters, C. Mansfield lost to D. Clarke, N Albrecht 0-9. M. Greenwood, C. Kellett lost to T. Jorgenson, D. Greig 5-9; M. Peters, D. Hunter lost to D. Clarke, S. Albrecht 6-9; C. Kellett, K. Nitschke lost to D. Geig, C. Avery 0-9; C. Mansfield, D. Hunter lost to N. Albrecht, S. Albrecht 3-9.
Women: S. Spicer, R. Nitschke def T. Avery, A. Greig 9-5; J. Greenwood, L. Clyne def C. Lehmann, H. Jorgenson 9-7; S. Spicer, L. Kellett def T. Avery, A. Albrecht 9-2; J. Greenwood, L. Clyne def C. Lehmann, A. Toet 9-5; L. Kellett, R. Nitschke lost to A. Albrecht, A. Greig 4-9; L. Clyne, L. Clyne lost to H. Jorgenson, A. Toet 8-9.
Arkona v Dimboola
Mixed: Woody Conboy, Courtney Ramsay lost to Ash Clugston, Breanna Eldridge 5-9; Evan Hunter, Ruth Addlem lost to Jesse Day, Jennie Hauselberger 6-9; Jonty Hunter, Rachael Boschen def Lenny Eldridge, Ashlee Morrish 9-4; Jonno O'Dwyer, Erin Hales def Benn Molineaux, Isy Clugston 9-8; Edward Boyd-Townsley lost to Isaac Eldridge, Lyla Barry 1-9; Russell Hunter, Ruby Simpson lost to Rob Barry, Tilly Barry 8-9.
Men: W. Conboy, J. Hunter lost to A. Clugston, L. Eldridge 0-9; J. O'Dwyer, E. Boyd-Townsley lost to A. Clugston, J. Day 2-9; J. O'Dwyer, R. Hunter lost to B. Molineaux, I. Eldridge 6-9; E. Hunter, J. Hunter lost to J. Day, L. Eldridge 8-9. E. Boyd-Townsley, R. Hunter lost to R. Barry, I. Eldridge 5-9.
Women: C. Ramsay, R. Boschen lost to B. Eldridge, A. Morrish 1-9; E. Hales, A. Boschen def I. Clugston, T. Barry 9-7; C. Ramsay, R. Addlem lost to B. Eldridge, J. Hauselberger 4-9; E. Hales, R. Simpson lost to I. Clugston, L. Barry 2-9; R. Addlem, R. Boschen lost to J. Hauselberger, A. Morrish 1-9; A. Boschen, R. Simpson lost to T. Barry, L. Barry 2-9.