Benalla winter tennis report

Benalla’s Maureen Jewell and Claire Sharp took their opening set in a tiebreak against Mansfield Blue’s Michelle Pigdon and Jill Breadon, but Mansfield’s Sophie Yencken and Clare Beecham made much shorter work of theirs defeating Deb Siggers and Wendy Maxwell 8-2. Siggers and Sharp took their final set 8-5, but Blue was too strong in the other sets.

Mansfield Blue 4/44 defeated Benalla 2/23.

Mansfield Black hosted seasoned campaigners Euroa with Julie Harrington, Chris Ellis, Mary Dewis and Jenny Tehan showing the newcomers how to get the job done.

Euroa’s Chris Ellis and Julie Harrington defeated Di Ellis and Jenny Bell 8-5 in their opening set, while Mansfield’s Di Bergelin and Rhonda Carpenter were right in it against Mary Dewis and Jenny Tehan, going down 8-6.

In top form Bergelin won all her service games except the last.

In the second set Bell and Carpenter stayed with their more experienced opponents, even leading 7-5 in the lengthy set.

Harrington and Dewis held their nerve though, fighting against several crucial set points, and going on to take the set tiebreak.

When everyone was feeling enough tennis had been played, the third sets began.

Euroa proved too strong and won both convincingly.

Euroa 6/48 defeated Mansfield Black 0/24.

The warmth of the clubhouse, great food and conversation kept the four teams fully engaged after their match.

Terip hosted Moglonemby and convincingly defeated the visitors in the opening sets.

Cindy Hayes, Frances Lawrence, Phoebe McDermid and Jenny Martin combined superbly all day.

Deb Seach, Marlene Hanrahan, Lyn Johnston and Robyn Johnson battled bravely and were unlucky to lose in a tiebreak, and an 8-6 set.

Terip 6/48 defeated Moglonemby 0/28, and Mansfield Red had the BYE.

Terip jumped out to 20 points on the ladder, Euroa 18, Moglonemby 10, Mansfield Blue 10, Benalla 2, Mansfield Black 0, Mansfield Red 0.

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