Tennis
28 October, 2025
Horsham Lawn, Central Park win tight contests
Central Park and Horsham Lawn continue to separate themselves as the top two teams in the Central Wimmera Tennis Association pennant competition, as both teams recorded close wins.
Playing at home, Central Park overcame a competitive St Michaels side 7-5.
This round saw the removal of singles matches and the total matches played reduced from 14 to 12, with each side’s eight players playing three double encounters each.
The teams were tied 2-2 after the first four matches.
For St Michaels, Steve Schultz and Eli Bailey defeated Matt Jones and Harry Allan 8-3 and Peter Hayes and Chris Ellis beat Fraser Shurdington and Yassasri Sumanapala 8-4, while Willow Sainsbury and Adele Joseph beat Mia Rees and Violet McGennisken 8-2 and Sienna Nitschke and Tara McIntrye defeated Kassie Peachey and Barb Crough 8-3, allowing Central Park to tie it up.
The second segment of matches saw Central Park edge ahead as Harry Allan and Yassasri Sumanapala defeated Chris Ellis and Eli Bailey 8-6, Willow Sainsbury and Sienna Nitschke defeated Mia Rees and Kassie Peachey 8-2 and Adele Joseph and Tara McIntrye defeated Violet McGennisken and Barb Crough 8-2, while Steve Schultz and Peter Hayes gave St Michaels a win as they defeated Matt Jones and Frazer Shurdington 8-5.
The final four set of matches saw Central Park hold on with two additional wins.
Willow Sainsbury and Tara McIntyre defeated Mia Rees and Barb Crough 8-5 while Adele Joseph and Sienna Nitschke defeated Violet McGennisken and Kassie Peachey.
For St Michaels, Steve Schultz and Chris Ellis handily defeated Matt Jones and Yassasri Sumanapala 8-0 and Eli Bailey and Peter Hayes overcame Harry Allan and Frazer Shurdington 8-3.
At Kalkee, Horsham Lawn had a tight 7-5 victory over the home side but it was Kalkee who got the better start.
Jordan and Jeff Friberg defeated Jae McGrath and Lachlan Punchard in a thrilling 8-7 set, Luke Byrne and Grant Schultz overcame D’Artagnan Walls and August Koch 8-4 and Meaghan Pohlner and Emily Polack defeated Gemma Walker and Lydi Boyd 8-6, while Elal Thompson and Daniella Gillespie produced Horsham Lawn’s first victory, an 8-4 defeat of Anna Exell and Keeley Schultz.
Horsham Lawn managed to tie things up in the next four matches as Jae McGrath and D’Artagnan Wall beat Jordan Friberg and Luke Byrne 8-2, Gemma Walker and Ella Thompson just overcame Meaghan Pohlner and Anna Exell 8-7 and Lydi Boyd and Daniella Gillespie defeated Emily Polack and Keeley Schultz 8-3.
Kalkee’s Jeff Friberg and Grant Schultz defeated Lachland Punchard and August Koch 8-5 to bring the scores level at 4-4.
In the last four rubbers, Jeff Friberg and Luke Byrne overcame Lachlan Punchard and D’Artagnan Walls 8-7 but Horsham Lawn won the other three sets: Jae McGrath and August Koch defeated Jordan Friberg and Grant Schultz 8-6, Gemma Walker and Daniella Gillespie beat Meaghan Pohlner and Keeley Schultz 8-4 and Lydi Boyd and Ella Thompson defeated Emily Polack and Anna Exell in an 8-7 thriller.
The results see Central Park remain at the top of the ladder, followed by Horsham Lawn, St Michaels and Kalkee.
In the other grades, Drung South recorded their first win in A special as the defeated Natimuk in an 8-6 thriller in which they won 78 games to Natimuk’s 76.
Matthew Hill was a key player for the side, winning all three of his sets played, including an 8-4 singles win over Matthew Lee.
Additionally, Haven Blue won their first A grade contest of the season, also winning a thriller over Central Park.
The sides drew 6-6 in sets won but Haven Blue ultimately prevailed with a 77-70 game advantage.
Seniors – round 4
Pennant: Kalkee 5 - 73 def by Horsham Lawn 7 - 85; Central Park 7 - 71 def St Michaels 5 - 60
A special: Brimpaen 5 - 79 def by Central Park 9 - 86; Natimuk 6 - 76 def by Drung South 8 - 78;
Horsham Lawn Dorman 9 - 85 def Horsham Lawn O’Connor 5 - 71
A grade: Horsham Lawn Ahern 4 - 54 def by Horsham Lawn Tigers 8 - 76; Haven Red 9 - 88 def St
Michaels 3 - 44; Horsham Lawn McGennisken 10 - 91 def Homers 2 - 47; Haven Blue 6 - 77 def Central Park 6 - 70
B special: Central Park 12 - 87 def Horsham Lawn Bardell 4 - 55; Haven 5 - 51 def by Laharum 11 - 74; Horsham Lawn Savage 12 - 80 def Natimuk 4 - 45
Juniors – round 3
Junior open: Central Park Yellow 2 - 19 v Central Park Blue 3 – 23 (incomplete – washout); Central Park White 5 - 33 def Horsham Lawn Gold 1 - 8; Horsham Lawn Green 4 - 31 def Central Park Orange 2 - 24
Section 1 boys: Horsham Lawn Green 3 - 31 def Central Park 3 - 26; Haven 5 - 31 def Horsham Lawn Gold 1 - 18
Section 1 girls: Horsham Lawn Gold 2 - 19 def by Haven 4 - 31; Horsham Lawn White 4 - 30 def Horsham Lawn Green 2 - 23
Section 2 boys: Central Park 5 - 34 def Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 24; Haven 6 - 36 def Horsham Lawn Gold 0 - 14
Section 2 girls: Homers 1 - 16 def by Natimuk 5 - 31; Horsham Lawn Gold 5 - 31 def Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 13; Haven 3 - 26 def by Horsham Lawn Red 3 - 29; Horsham Lawn Black 3 - 22 def by Horsham Lawn White 3 - 26
Section 3 boys: Haven Green 3 - 27 def Central Park 3 - 26; Haven Blue drew Natimuk ; Horsham Lawn Green 6 - 36 def Horsham Lawn Gold 0 - 13
Section 4 girls: Central Park 1 - 18 def by Homers 5 - 33; Horsham Lawn 0 - 15 def by Natimuk 6 - 36
Match play section 5: Central Park White 4 - 24 def Horsham Lawn Gold 0 - 8; Central Park Blue 3 - 23 def Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 13; Haven Yellow 3 - 21 def Homers White 1 - 16; Homers Red 4 - 24 def Haven Orange 0 - 8
Match play section 6: Horsham Lawn Green 1 - 53 def by Horsham Lawn White 5 - 68; Central Park 2 - 28 def by Horsham Lawn Gold 4 - 46
