PERFECT conditions greeted 58 players as they arrived in Forbes for the 1st round of Intertown matches for 2025. West Wyalong contributed 13 of these – and we’re hoping to push this beyond 20 in the next round at Cowra on the 27th July.
Grenfell chose to take the scenic route via West Wyalong looking for a practice hit, but still arrived at Forbes in the nick of time, very eager to stretch their legs on the court.
We had 12 players make their debut in this format, and this is wonderful to see - some new faces helping make a great day of tennis even better.
Cootamundra scraped up a full team this year with their 6 players combining to take out the day on 3.17 sets per player! A tremendous effort by Temeika Rolls to co-ordinate – she will be impressed with their team, but a couple will get a little handicap boost for next round to try to keep them in check and challenged.
Our hosts, Forbes were 2nd on the day with 3.05 sets, with Cowra claiming 3rd on 2.93.
Grenfell were unlucky to miss a podium position with 2.86 sets, while the defending champions, West Wyalong have it all to do with a quite pedestrian 2.54 sets per player.
There were some shining lights from West Wyalong however – Sally Russell topped the poll in the ladies top division with 4 sets, 32 games and 434 points. Fiona Boneham continued her rise in the game with 5 sets, 34 games for 434 points – an excellent performance, but only good enough for 3rd in Div 2 ladies as the competition was tight. Liz Daniher made her debut in the series and performed “above average” – 2 sets, 27 games for 413 points from a difficult draw.
Chris Haworth played brilliantly all day in the Men’s Div 1 section for 5 sets, 33 games and 432 points - enhancing his already stellar reputation. Caleb Boneham was our top Div 2 performer with 4 sets, 30 games for 404 points, with Bailey Boneham and Lindsay Cattle just a fraction back from there.
Mitchell Arndel from Forbes won the mens Div 1 with 5 sets, 34 games for 445 points, Chris Haworth 2nd on 432 points with Helen Garratt 3rd on 5 sets, 35 games and 428 points. Not a bad show from Mum – as her son Kye was 4th with 4 sets, 32 games and 423 points.
Charlie Mitton won Div 2 men on 4 sets, 34 games and 441 points, over Jayden Randall from Cowra on 5 sets, 34 games and 440 points. Mitch Bowden and Zac Mahon from Cootamundra were the other 2 standouts in the group – Mitch on 5 sets 34 games for 432, and Zac on 4 sets 30 games for 426.
Tiago Carmo from Forbes debuted with a win in Div 3 men – 6 sets (one of 2 players only to win all sets), 37 games for 461 points. Mostafa Bavafa was 2nd for a change – 5 sets, 36 games for 451 points while his son Karoush Bavafa was 3rd on 5 sets 32 games for 447 points. Lenny Iver was also on debut, and claimed 3 sets and 26 games for 421 – all achieved on a difficult match rating of (-15) for the day. All these players can expect a handicap nudge to keep them challenged.
Tiffany Skinner topped the Div 2 ladies – 6 sets (1 of only 2 on the day), 36 games for 457 points, followed by Fran Stead on 3 sets 33 games for 443 points. Fiona Boneham was 3rd as mentioned, with Leanne Livingstone 4th on 3 sets 29 games (same games and sets as Sally Mitton) for 426 points. Ivy Skinner, Emma Roach, Nicole Brindle and Liz Daniher all tied next (6th) on the list with 413 points.
All individual scores are based on games won per set according to match difficulty (handicap differential of players). It is interesting to note that Forbes were 2nd on the (more important) statistic of sets won (3.05), but last on games won per player (24.8). West Wyalong scored 26.2 games to nearly match Grenfell on 26.3, and out-do Cowra on 25.9 – but the conversion into sets is the “team factor” to count, and Forbes nailed more opportunities to secure 2nd.
Cootamundra as it tuned out won on both counts– 27.7 games and 3.17 sets. The series is very closely contested and with a couple of handicap massages it will hopefully tighten up even more for the Cowra round, and again for the culmination in West Wyalong on the 24th August.
Tennis – it puts years on your life, and life in your years! Can’t be better…
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