Sport
22 February, 2026
Top side is served up big scare
BIRCHIP’S Wirrim team provided a massive fright for St Arnaud’s Kara Kara team in Round 15 of the North Central Lawn Tennis Association fixture on Saturday.
BIRCHIP’S Wirrim team provided a massive fright for St Arnaud’s Kara Kara team in Round 15 of the North Central Lawn Tennis Association fixture on Saturday.
No doubt expecting an easier match against the lower placed Wirrim, top of the ladder Kara Kara scraped home by a solitary game to record its victory.
With one set to play and two games down it was left up to Ben Greenaway and Kim Nevill, fresh from Tennis Victoria’s Country Week competition, to provide a nail-biting finish winning their set 8-5.
Earlier on the Men’s Doubles pairings had secured a comfortable win 46-28 with top players Will and Luke Jackson and Stephen Rodger on their way to three set wins.
The Ladies Doubles score line loss of 18-56 to Wirrim reversed the momentum gained by the men and set the stage for the torrid Mixed Doubles won by Kara Kara 55-34 for an overall victory 119-118 (8-2 points).
On the adjoining home courts St Arnaud was playing against Donald’s Avon team, intent on returning to second place on the ladder which it easily accomplished with a fine 160-86 (10-0 points) win.
The team secured wins in all sections with Jake and Sam Male, Jason Rowe and Rogan Hando standouts with three set wins each for the afternoon.
This Saturday Birchip challenges St Arnaud while Kara Kara enjoys a bye.
The club championships will be held over the next two Sunday while entries are now being received for the annual Easter tennis tournament.
Country week played in Shepparton and Mooroopna had competitors from across Australia, and from New Zealand and Britain competing in 33 sections.
One of the St Arnaud teams made the final of their men’s competition, lowering colours to Castlemaine by two games.
With the 106 courts and 258 teams, the 2026 edition of Country Week was the biggest yet.
Tennis Victoria says Country Week is the largest grass court tournament in the world.
It will be played in Albury-Wodonga in 2027.
LADDER
Kara Kara 100
St Arnaud 91
Birchip 82
Nullawil 79
Charlton 78
Richardson 59
Wirrim 52
Avon 44
Wycheproof 15
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