Terip edges Euroa in blustery battle

Wild winds met players on the plateau for the top-of-the-table clash between Terip and Euroa. Thanks go to the many fill-ins on the day. In Mansfield, snatches of sunshine broke through to warm players as the wind picked up. Mansfield met rivals Wappan in a ding-dong battle, while Delatite met Creighton’s Creek beside them. Seven Creeks hosted Benalla in Euroa. At Terip, Euroa’s Lyndall Bigland, Ruth Nolan, Mary Dewis, and Robyn Johnson won two tiebreakers, but Terip took all the other sets in a blustery contest. Terip won 4/46 to 2/30, edging closer to the ladder leader. Seven Creeks were up against Benalla’s Kate Campbell, Claire Sharp, Maureen Jewell, and Deb Siggers. Rowena Ellis, Nicola Enright, Carmel Linehan, and Mary Kelly came close in two sets, losing a tiebreaker, but Benalla had all the answers and took all the sets 6/48 to 0/19. Creighton’s Creek found themselves again in Mansfield this week to play Delatite. Deb Seach, Chris Ellis, Ros Doxey, and Kerry Hewlett were feeling familiar and comfortably took both openers. Delatite’s Karyn Fraser combined superbly with Jo O’Brien and then with Deb Mims to win both sets in tiebreakers. The Creeks won the others in an entertaining day of tennis. Creighton’s Creek won 4/46 to 2/24. Mansfield hosted local rival Wappan and brought their competitive edge to the contest from the outset. Michelle Pigdon, Keira McDonagh, Clare Beecham, and Sophie Yencken won both opening sets in tiebreakers 7-1 and 11-9. Wappan’s Anna Speirs, Liza Karras, Rhonda Carpenter, and Carol Watts would need to lift. Anna’s classy ball striking, Carol’s chase down skills and Liza’s tenacity to overturn a deficit gave the team control. The pairs found form to take both second sets 8-3 and so the sets were tied at two all. Michelle and Sophie won yet another tiebreaker 7-2, but Liza and Rhonda were determined and, at 0-3 down, had to dig deep. Keira and Clare owned the net with power volleys and deft touch, but Wappan caught them, going game for game, then pulled away as Liza served strongly to clinch the set 8-6. Wappan defeated Mansfield on games to win 3/45 to 3/36 in a fabulously even contest. Moglonemby had the bye and picked up five points. Round 12 ladder: Euroa 86.5, Terip 76, Moglonemby 73.5, Wappan 68, Benalla 51.5, Mansfield 50, Creighton’s Creek 36.5, Delatite 27, Seven Creeks 26