SPRING Gully Butterflies were back in form as they beat Bendigo Lawn Rising in Saturday’s eighth round of the Bendigo Tennis Association’s Premier League season.
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A hard-fought contest between the pacesetters in the Quest Apartments-backed league was played at Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club in Barnard Streeet.
The Butterflies won the opening three doubles matches, but Rising hit back as Eliza Long and Jordan Hicks scored 12-6 wins in the number one and two singles clashes with Matt Hartland and Ryan Leader.
After nine rubbers, Rising led 6-60 to 5-65.
Rising’s run in the singles included a 9-7 win by Jayd Davis against Jake Grieves, and an 8-6 win by Marcus McDougal against Dominic Barton.
Butterflies kept the pressure on through wins by Danielle Bowles and Greg Guy against Simon Kelly and Bree Smith.
A 9-8 victory by Hartland-Jake Grieves and 8-5 win by Danielle Bowles and Greg Guy clinched a 7-90 to 7-82 result for Butterflies.
South Bendigo won a thriller against Strathfieldsaye.
After the final rally had been played, South led 7-87 to 7-86.
Strathfieldsaye’s Michael Smyth defeated Sam McHarg, 12-7, but South struck back as Frank Ryan fought on to beat Terry Smith, 13-10.
With the final three doubles matches to be played, South Bendigo led the sets-games tally, 6-68 to 5-66.
The Smyths won 9-7 against Sam McHarg and Grant Leader.
An 8-4 win by Terry Smith and Jack Armstrong against Ryan and Slava Paskins put Strathfieldsaye up by four games.
Ryan Brook and Bronwyn Osborne beat Chris Chiappazzo and Rashelle Blencowe, 8-3, to seal South Bendigo’s victory.
South’s best were Ryan, Osborne and Brook.
Michael and Easton Smyth and Jack Armstrong played well for Strathfieldsaye.
Epsom scored a 12-game win against Bendigo Lawn Quest.
Highs for Epsom included a 13-8 win by Travis Johnston in the No.2 singles match against Jayden Baber.
Epsom’s Michael Nihill, Heather Robbins and Jason Osewald won their singles matches.
Quest captain Isaac Watson was unbeaten in all three matches, but it was Epsom which earned the premiership points, 8-88 to 6-76.
A superb run by Watson in this season’s Premier League included a 12-4 win against Jack Baker.
The number one doubles ended in an 8-5 win by Watson-Baber against Baker and Johnston.
The section one duel between Spring Gully clubmates Phoenix and Racqueteers was locked in a 5-55 draw.
Stingers thrashed Blue in the all-BLTC match, 10-80 to 0-25.
Six of the 10 sets ended in an 8-1 or 8-2 win by the Stingers line-up.
Spring Gully Panthers scored a 7-71 to 3-52 victory against BLTC Sensation.
The Butterflies are now within four points of Rising at the top of the Premier League ladder.
Premier League standings after nine rounds: BLTC Rising 74 points, 113 per cent; Spring Gully Butterflies 70 120; BLTC Quest 55.5 98; South Bendigo 52.5 96; Epsom 49 89; Strathfieldsaye 47 85.
Next Saturday’s ninth round is at Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club.
South Bendigo take on Spring Gully Butterflies, Epsom play Strathfieldsaye, and Quest meets Rising.