J Ward is equal top of the Ararat City Tennis Club's ladder following a closely fought second round of the winter competition last Wednesday.
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J Ward's victory over Fisher's IGA maintained its perfect start to the new season, with Watson Auto also on eight points courtesy of the bye.
It was much better weather conditions for players this week, with little wind and a steady five degrees.
J Ward's Phil Hartwich fired for two good sets, while he was unable to make it three straight wins with Sam Gason (IGA) standing up well.
As both teams finished locked on two set wins apiece the victory was decided on points, with J Ward prevailing 32 to 28.
Will Flamstead was a very consistent contributor, helping guide Molloy Bros to the win over Carey Covers.
Flamstead was strong from the baseline to win all three of his contests, while Ben Hartwich drove and volleyed well to peg two sets back for Carey Covers.
The clash went down to the wire, with neither team able to be separated on games. It came down to set wins, with Molloy Bros victorious 4-31 to 2-31.
It was a good night for McDonalds winning four out of its six sets against First National to come away with the win.
The match started promising for both teams, with number ones Mike Connellan (McDonalds) and Garry Hurst (First National) going head-to-head and finishing eight all.
After that it was all one way traffic McDonalds way, with Connellan teaming with Jim Zwar in the fifth set for a massive 10-0 smashing.
The final match of the night saw Ararat RSL mount a good comeback but ultimately fall short to Ricky Ralph Painting 2-40 to 3-38.
Ricky Ralph looked to be in control when Genevieve Bush and Keenan Hurst put the side a set up in the fourth, but RSL produced two convincing wins in the final two sets, but came up short by two games.
Nick Spinks moved up to number three for RSL and looked comfortable with his good court movement and reading of the play.
Nick Bush's team were acknowledged on the night for their win in last season's competition.
Results
Fisher's IGA 2-28 lost to J Ward 2-32
S Gason, J Nyikos drew with R Richardson, R McKay 5-5; D Rowe, A Ives lost to A Marx, P Hartwich 4-8; S Gason, D Rowe def R Richardson, A Marx 7-5; J Nyikos, A Ives lost to R McKay, P Hartwich 2-7; S Gason, A Ives def R Richardson, P Hartwich 6-3; J Nyikos, D Rowe drew with R McKay, A Marx 4-4.
Carey Covers 2-31 lost to Molloy Bros 4-31
R Thomas, M Verdon lost to A Wills, S Barr 2-6; B Hartwich, T Ives lost to D Wood, W Flamstead 4-7; R Thomas, B Hartwich def A Wills, D Wood 7-3; M Verdon, T Ives lost to S Barr, W Flamstead 4-5; R Thomas, T Ives lost to A Wills, W Flamstead 5-6; M Verdon, B Hartwich def S Barr, D Wood 7-4.
McDonalds 4-43 def First National 1-30
M Connellan, A Drosg drew with G Hurst, W Gason 8-8; B Doery, J Zwar def S Payne, C Hartwich 7-6; M Connellan, B Doery lost to G Hurst, S Payne 4-6; A Drosg, J Zwar def W Gason, C Hartwich 7-4; M Connellan, J Zwar def G Hurst, C Hartwich 10-0; A Drosg, B Doery def W Gason, S Payne 7-6.
RSL 3-38 lost to Ricky Ralph Painting 2-40
G McInnes, P Melenhorst def N Bush, K Hurst 6-5; N Spinks, B McInnes lost to W Jerram, G Bush 5-9; G McInnes, N Spinks drew with N Bush, W Jerram 7-7; P Melenhorst, B McInnes lost to K Hurst, G Bush 5-8; G McInnes, B McInnes def N Bush, G Bush 8-6; P Melenhorst, N Spinks def K Hurst, W Jerram 7-5.