SEPARATED by five per cent on the premier league ladder, Bendigo Lawn Quest and Strathfieldsaye face crucial matches in Friday night’s 16th round of the Bendigo Tennis Association season.
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Last week’s victory against clubmates Rising has put Quest back in the top four of the Quest Bendigo Central-backed competition.
Quest and Strathfieldsaye are on 57 points apiece.
Percentages are 101 and 96 respectively.
In Friday’s play, Quest takes on the third-placed South Bendigo on courts one and two in the match of the round at the Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club in Barnard Street from 5.15pm.
When these teams last met, South Bendigo won by 19 games.
A key to Quest’s chances will be the play of number one Isaac Watson.
Unbeaten in 12 singles matches this season, Watson has a sets win-loss tally of 37-16.
South Bendigo’s most consistent is Peter Somerville, 29-19 in 11 matches.
Jordan Hicks, Grant Leader, Mick Mulgrew, Ryan Leader, Cameron Allison and Brett Mulgrew are also in South’s squad.
• It will not be an easy task for Strathfieldsaye against Spring Gully Butterflies.
The ladder-leading Butterflies have home-court advantage in this clash, which hits off at 6pm.
In round 11, Strathfieldsaye played brilliantly to almost take the points.
Gully fought on to win 8-52 to 6-50.
Jamie Brown, 45-16 in 13 matches, is likely to lead the Gully’s charge.
Butterflies’ clubmates Danielle Bowles and Matt Hartland joined forces to win the number one doubles match last round.
The play of Michael Smyth and Nick Bath will be crucial to Strath’s chances.
Tova Penno, Terry Smith, Michael Nihill and Jeremy Abel are other players who could take to the court for Strathfieldsaye.
• The second-placed Epsom faces a danger game against Bendigo Lawn Rising on courts three and four at the Barnard Street complex.
The latest showdown between these line-ups was one of the season’s best.
Rising won more games, 58-53, but Epsom led the rubbers tally, four-two, and the sets, nine-seven.
Epsom will be determined to rebound from last week’s one-game loss to South Bendigo.
A talented Epsom squad includes Jono Guy, 31-18 in 10 matches, as well as Jack Baker and Ben Bailey.
Heather Robbins and Brad Slingo have also played well for Epsom this spring/summer.
Lawn Rising’s Rashelle Blencowe and Michael Jude were victorious in their singles matches against Quest last Friday night.
