Gunnedah tennis septet shares the spoils at home

Seven Gunnedah-based tennis players claimed a top placing while another three were runners-up as Gunnedah hosted round three of the North West Regional Matchplay Series (RMS) on March 23.

The event was postponed for two weeks following erroneous weather forecasts in the lead-up to the scheduled March 9 event, with rain threatening but staying away on March 23 as conditions were warm and humid.

Nearly 100 competitors took part at Gunnedah, including 31 from the host town while visitors came from Armidale, Tamworth, Narrabri, Moree and Inverell.

This came after Armidale and Tamworth hosted a round each in February, with Gunnedah having one top placegetter in round one and three in round two.

For the third successive time, the U10 girls final involved two Gunnedah competitors. Following Belle Nichols’s victory against Charli Scott in Armidale and Millie Lyle’s win over Belle in Tamworth, Millie made it back-to-back wins as she overcame the gallant Charli.

Sophie Neilsen (U16 girls) also had back-to-back wins, and the U8 boys decider also involved two Gunnedah competitors as Jaxon Warren finished second to Jonty Nichols who was a runner-up in the first two rounds.

Gunnedah’s other winners at home were Zahra Scott (U8 girls), Louis Rouse (U10 boys), Molly Murphy (U14 girls) and George Corbett (open’s), while Harry Tudgey came second in the U14 boys division.

Having been a runner-up in the U14 girls division in round two, Allie Neilsen was somewhat unlucky in round three. She was in a three-way tie for first place but finished third on a countback, which was determined by percentage of games played versus number of games won.

Gunnedah-based coach Dale Martin, who was the tournament director on the day, said highlights included Sophie’s and Molly’s title wins.

“They’ve worked really hard on their tennis, and it showed on Sunday (March 23),” he said.

“All the kids really enjoyed the day.

“It was a good day’s tennis.”

Round four will be played at Narrabri on Sunday, April 6.