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BENDIGO Lawn Quest needs a miracle to stretch its season beyond Friday night’s 19th and final round in the Bendigo Tennis Association’s premier league action.
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The fifth-placed Quest takes on the ladder-leading Spring Gully Butterflies on courts one and two at Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club.
All matches in the Quest Bendigo Central-backed premier league are at BLTC from 5.15pm.
Not only must Quest beat Gully, but rely on Bendigo Lawn Rising outpointing the fourth-placed Strathfieldsaye.
The Gully has won all meetings this season with Quest by 24, 30 and 25 games.
The play of Isaac Watson in the number one singles berth will be crucial to Quest’s hopes.
A strong Butterflies squad includes Jamie Brown, Matt Hartland and Danielle Bowles.
Strathfieldsaye has responded to the heat by beating Quest and South Bendigo the past two rounds.
The Michael Smyth-led Strathfieldsaye won its most recent showdown with Rising by 26 games.
In round 19 they clash on courts three and four at Rising’s home.
Second and third on the ladder, Epsom and South Bendigo will tune-up for finals on courts five and six.
Epsom was stung by a 24-game loss when it met South Bendigo just five weeks ago on the grass.
Premier League ladder:
S. Gully Butterflies – 90
Epsom – 83
South Bendigo – 79
Strathfieldsaye – 71
Lawn Quest – 68
Lawn Rising – 41
………………………..
Section one ladder:
S. Gully Phoenix – 142
S. Gully Panthers – 133
Lawn Stingers – 116
Racqueteers – 101
Lawn Sensation – 99
Lawn Infants – 57