SPRING Gully Butterflies stung like a bee as they beat Premier League rival Epsom in Friday night’s start to the Bendigo Tennis Association’s finals series.
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Although Epsom had won all three previous contests with Spring Gully in the regular season, Butterflies were too strong in the second semi-final.
Spring Gully’s Jamie Brown and Matt Hartland made a great start to the clash at Bendigo Lawn Tennis Club in Barnard Street as they teamed for a 6-3 6-3 win against Jack Baker and Jono Guy.
Epsom’s Brad Slingo and Mark Semmens scored a 7-5 3-6 10-7 win against Craig Nolan and Bronwyn Osborne.
In the singles, Guy beat Hartland in straight sets, and Baker triumphed in two tie-breakers against Brown.
The Butterflies struck back as Nolan beat Slingo, 6-2 6-0; and Danielle Bowles defeated Semmens, 6-4 6-2.
Spring Gully won the match, 7-68 to 5-51.
• Epsom will now fight to stay in the title race when it faces South Bendigo in next Friday evening’s preliminary final.
The Jordan Hicks-led South Bendigo played great tennis to score a 9-68 to 6-50 win in the first semi-final clash with Strathfieldsaye.
Three of the six rubbers were decided by tie-breakers.
Hicks and Ryan Leader teamed up for a 6-3 6-3 win against Michael and Easton Smyth.
Grant Leader and Peter Somerville achieved a 6-0 victory in the first set against Nick Bath and Tova Penno.
The Strathfieldsaye pair struck back to win the next set, 6-1, and then won a thrilling tie-breaker, 14-12.
In the number one singles, Michael Smyth fought back from a 6-2 loss in the opening set to reel off 7-6 and 10-5 wins against Hicks.
Ryan Leader scored a 6-3 7-6 win against Easton Smyth, and Grant Leader defeated Nick Bath, 6-2 6-4.
After a 7-6 loss in the first set, Penno hit back for a 7-6 victory in the second set of her match against Somerville.
The tie-breaker went 10-7 in Penno’s favour.
• Saturday’s section one semi-finals were closely-fought.
Phoenix beat Panthers in the all-Spring Gully clash by a game, 5-63 to 5-62.
Bendigo Lawn Stingers scored a 5-54 to 5-51 victory against Spring Gully Racqueteers.
The Stingers’ best included Paul Henshall, Polly Barnett and Tayla Hayton.
