Rochester secures third consecutive win in CTA top flight

Jaycob Dingwall got the hosts off to a flyer, claiming his singles match-up 6-1 over Josh Boyd, before Rich River hit back through Hudson Jasper, who claimed his rubber 6-3 over Lachlan Smith.

Rochester dominated the men’s doubles match-ups, winning all three to take a commanding lead in the overall standings, with Smith and Jacob Grieve’s 8-1 triumph over Jasper and Matthew George the most resounding of the wins.

Charlotta Groenewald stole some ground back for Rich River, steering a doubles win over Kate Lee and Rachael Major, although Rochy’s Michelle Winchcomb and Karen Taylor returned serve with an 8-0 win of their own.

Another 8-0 win followed as Taylor combined with Major to further extend Rochester’s margin, wrapping up all four women’s doubles sets as the lead ballooned.

Boyd and Groenewald pinched back an 8-5 mixed doubles win for Rich River. However, the damage was done, as Rochester won all three remaining sets to walk away with the points.

Rochester will face LBU next week as it continues to occupy a top-two spot on the ladder, while Rich River will look to hand Echuca 1 its first defeat.

Echuca 2 vs LBU 1

Echuca 2 crushed LBU at Echuca Lawn Tennis Club, claiming a 10-91 to 3-66 win.

The two sides split the men’s singles rubbers, with Ryan More claiming a 6-2 win for Echuca 2, while Darryl Squires won 6-4 to put LBU on the board.

Ryan More and Chris Milnes won 8-5, as did Shaun Trice and Chris Potter, to establish a big lead for Echuca 3, before Milnes and Potter claimed the final set to sweep the men’s doubles for the home side.

Katie Condliffe and Nacelle Bacon claimed the first women’s doubles rubber for LBU 8-3, before Echuca 3 hit back with an 8-0 win through Judy Poole and Tanya Godfrey, wrapping up the final two women’s doubles rubbers to take a commanding lead into the mixed doubles matches.

Noah Condliffe and Bacon claimed a win for LBU in the mixed doubles. However, it was the final success for the visitors, as Echuca claimed the remaining sets to secure a big overall win.

Echuca 2 will face club mates Echuca 3 next week, while LBU will host Rochester 1.

Division 2

LBU 2 vs Elmore 1

Lockington-Bamawm United 2 secured a comfortable win over Elmore 1 at the weekend, earning a 9-65 to 4-40 triumph at home.

Ryan Byrne got the visitors off to a solid start, beating James Brentnall 6-1, before LBU’s Stuart Newton beat Bryce Niven 6-2 to ensure the two sides were evenly matched following the singles rubbers.

Brentnall and Ashley Portwine teamed up to hand LBU the first doubles victory, winning 6-3, before Simon Portwine played a hand in the next two wins for LBU, winning both his doubles rubbers 6-2, first alongside Newton and then pairing with Ashley Portwine.

Taylah Pratt and Meg Howlett would give Elmore some success, winning 6-1 over Fiona Newton and Meagan Brentnall, but it would be short-lived, as Chelsea Newton and Cindy Portwine gave LBU a big boost with a 6-0 doubles win.

Pratt won twice more for Elmore, pairing successfully with Katherine Jamieson and then Craig Skeers to help her side to a respectable overall score, yet it wasn’t enough to halt the LBU momentum, as the home side ran away with the contest.

LBU 2 will take on the ladder leaders in Echuca 4 next week away from home, while Elmore will hunt for its first win against Echuca 6.

Echuca 6 vs Rochester 2

Rochester 2 enjoyed a solid win away from home at the weekend, proving too good for Echuca 6 with a 8-65 to 5-51 victory at Echuca Lawn Tennis Club.

Justin Coghill and Shane Bywaters established an early lead for Rochester with 6-4 and 6-1 wins respectively, before Coghill and Riley Armstrong reinforced that advantage with a 6-3 triumph in the first of the doubles rubbers.

Jack and Greg Byrne earned Echuca’s first success with a 6-4 win over Bywaters and Howard Armstrong, before Greg Byrne linked up with Peter Gronow to take a 6-3 win.

Mandy Dingwall and Christine Hooppell earned a 6-2 win for Rochy, which was immediately replied to with a hard-fought 7-6 win for Echuca’s Dusk Gronow and Ann Higgins.

Rochy pairings of Dingwall and Trudee Leahy, as well as Hooppell and Jenny Crockett, claimed the next two sets to give the visitors an advantage, which they wouldn’t let go as the final four sets were split evenly between the two sides.

Rochester 2 moves into second spot following the win, and will face Echuca 5 next round, while Echuca 6 drops to third, and will take on Elmore 1.