Tennis
6 October, 2025
Horsham Lawn, Central Park strong in tennis season opener
The first round of the Central Wimmera Tennis Association kicked off in warm and sunny conditions as Horsham Lawn and Central Park were the standout clubs across all grades.
In pennant competition, all teams played at Horsham Lawn, where Lawn took on Kalkee while St Michaels faced Central Park.
It was Horsham Lawn who prevailed in a tight encounter over Kalkee as the sides drew 7-7 in sets won but Horsham Lawn’s 82 games to Kalkee’s 71 proved the difference.
However, Kalkee got the better of the reigning premiers in each of the first three doubles encounters.
Jordan Friberg and Grant Schultz defeated Jae McGrath and Lachlan Punchard in a thrilling 8-7 encounter.
Meaghan Pohlner and Anna Exell were too strong for Ella and Paige Thompson 8-5, before Jeff Friberg and Luke Byrne extended Kalkee’s lead with an 8-3 set win over D’Artagnan Walls and Graeme Wood.
Emma Streeter and Sienna Wood put Horsham Lawn on the board with a commanding 8-1 set win over Emily Polack and Millie Friberg.
Lawn bounced back by winning three out of the four singles rubbers, as Jae McGrath defeated Jordan Friberg 8-6, Ella Thompson defeated Meaghan Pohlner 8-0 and Streeter defeated Polack 8-2.
Kalkee’s Jeff Friberg got a win for Kalkee as Walls was forced to retire with an injury.
Both sides had success in the last round of doubles, as Lawn’s Lachlan Punchard and Graeme Wood defeated Grant Schultz and Luke Byrne 8-3, Anna Exell and Millie Friberg defeated Paige Thompson and Sienna Wood 8-4, Jae McGrath and Grame Wood beat Jordan Friberg and Luke Byrne 8-3, Ella Thompson and Sienna Wood defeated Meaghan Pohlner and Millie Friberg 8-0, Jeff Friberg and Grant Schultz overcame Lachlan Punchard and Brett Thompson (filling in for Walls) 8-4, and Emily Polack and Anna Exell defeated Emma Streeter and Paige Thompson 8-2.
Central Park prevailed over St Michaels 8-6 in another tight opening-round contest.
St Michaels got the better of Central Park in the men’s doubles matches early as Peter Hayes and Nick Robertson defeated youngsters Harry Allan and Frazer Shurdington 8-3 and Chris Ellis and fill-in Mitchell Fromm got the better of Reece Harman and Yassasri Sumanapala 8-5.
But Central Park’s women dominated the early doubles: Willow Sainsbury and Tara McIntyre beat Mia Rees and Kassie Peachey 8-2 and Adele Joseph and Sharon Clough dominated Violet McGennisken and Ayva Robertson 8-0.
The single rubbers proved pivotal for Central Park as Harry Allan defeated Peter Hayes 8-4, Willow Sainsbury defeated Mia Rees 8-1, Adele Joseph defeated Violet McGennisken 8-0 and Fromm gave St Michaels their solitary singles victory, beating Reece Harman 8-3.
Central Park’s women continued their strong start to the season in the later doubles encounters.
Tara McIntyre and Sharon Clough overcame Kassie Peachey and Ayva Robertson 8-6 and Willow Sainsbury and Sharon Clough defeated Rees and Ayva Robertson 8-2, while Adele Joseph and Tara McIntyre defeated Violet McGennisken and Kassie Peachey 8-4.
In the men’s late doubles, Nick Robertson and Chris Ellis defeated Frazer Shurdington and Yassasri Sumanapala 8-3, Peter Hayes and Chris Ellis were pushed all the way before they overcame Harry Allan and Yassasri Sumanapala 8-7 and Mitchell Fromm and Nick Robertson defeated Reece Harman and Frazer Shurdington 8-2.
In highlights from the other grades, Homers and Natimuk opened their A special seasons with a thrilling contest, with Homers’ three-game advantage (84-81) the only difference between the sides as they drew 7-7 in the matches.
In B special, Horsham Lawn Savage and Central Park played out a rare draw.
Central Park established an early lead, winning four out of the first five rubbers, before Horsham Lawn Savage had an extraordinary finish, winning the final five sets as the sides finished 69-69 in total games won.
2025/2026 CENTRAL WIMMERA TENNIS ASSOCIATION
SENIOR TENNIS RESULTS
Pennant: Horsham Lawn 7 - 82 def Kalkee 7 - 71; St Michaels 6 - 67 def by Central Park 8 - 87.
A Special: Horsham Lawn O'Connor 12 - 103 def Drung South 2 - 50; Homers 7 - 84 def Natimuk 7 - 81; Horsham Lawn Dorman forfeited to Brimpaen
A Grade: Central Park 11 - 94 def Homers 1 - 47; Haven Red 3 - 58 def by Horsham Lawn McGennisken 9 - 81; Haven Blue 4 - 61 def by Horsham Lawn Ahern 8 – 85; St Michaels forfeited to Horsham Lawn Tigers
B Special: Natimuk 9 - 82 def Laharum 7 - 71; Haven 3 - 46 def by Horsham Lawn Bardell 13 - 86; Horsham Lawn Savage 8 - 69 drew Central Park 8 - 69
