Sport
27 November, 2025
Tight-contested battles highlight round six
Round six of the Ararat and District Tennis Association delivered excitement across both matches, with Landsborough and Elmhurst-Amphitheatre each securing crucial wins in tightly contested battles. The round ended with a shake-up at the top of the ladder, setting the stage for an exciting run into the second half of the season.
By Mel Murnane
Buangor-Ararat hosted Landsborough in the first match of the round, and from the first serve it was clear the teams were evenly matched. The men’s section finished locked at 22 games each after four competitive sets. The tension continued into the ladies’ section, where Landsborough edged ahead by just a single game to take a narrow lead into the mixed.
With only one game separating the sides, the match remained wide open. Both teams fought hard in the mixed sets, and even after three of the four sets were completed, the overall result remained on a knife’s edge. Everything came down to the top mixed pairing still on court, Buangor-Ararat’s Chris and Kim Hartwich up against Landsborough’s Aiden Lee and Courtney Ellen.
The deciding set was as gripping as they come, filled with long rallies and momentum swings before heading into a tense tie-breaker. Landsborough held their nerve, clinching the set, the section, and ultimately the match by the slimmest of margins. Just three games separated the teams in the end, with Landsborough defeating Buangor-Ararat 77–74 in games and taking 9–1 match points.
Across the Pyrenees, Elmhurst-Amphitheatre hosted Maryborough in a clash between two fierce rivals who met in last year’s grand final. The intensity was evident early, with the men’s section finishing tied at 19 games each.
The ladies’ section brought even more drama. The opening set between Elmhurst-Amphitheatre’s Lucy McLay and Mel Murnane and Maryborough’s Bianca Powell and Ally Ellis turned into a marathon contest, running well over an hour before going to a tie-breaker that Maryborough eventually claimed. Elmhurst-Amphitheatre bounced back strongly, taking the remaining three sets to win the ladies’ section 32–18 and build a handy lead heading into the mixed.
The mixed section featured plenty of great tennis across all four courts, with tightly contested rallies and strong teamwork on display. Elmhurst-Amphitheatre proved too consistent, sweeping all four mixed sets to secure the overall match 83–56 in games and 9–1 in match points. This result lifts Elmhurst-Amphitheatre to the top of the ladder, moving ahead of Maryborough on percentage.
Saturday, Crowlands will host ladder leaders Elmhurst-Amphitheatre, Maryborough will welcome Landsborough in another key match, and Buangor-Ararat will enjoy the bye.
RESULTS
Buangor Ararat (74-1) lost to Landsborough (77-9)
Mens
Tim Hartwich, Chris Hartwich (8) def Theo Browne, Aieden Lee (1)
Ross McGregor, Wayne Hoare (2) lost to Michael Mitchell, Karl Scott (8)
T. Hartwich, R. McGregor (8) def T. Browne, M. Mitchell (5)
C. Hartwich, W. Hoare (4) lost to A. Lee, K. Scott (8)
Ladies
Kim Hartwich, Sabaya Woods (8) def Courtney Ellen, Jade Ralph (6)
Katie Sanford, Isobel Leggett (3) lost to Laura Cameron, Hunter Newberry (8)
K. Hartwich, K. Sanford (8) def C. Ellen, L. Cameron (4)
S. Woods, I. Leggett (6) lost to J. Ralph, H. Newberry (8)
Mixed
C. Hartwich, K. Hartwich (8) lost to A. Lee, C. Ellen (9)
T. Hartwich, S. Woods (7) lost to T. Browne, J. Ralph (9)
R. McGregor, K. Sanford (4) lost to M. Mitchell, L. Cameron (8)
W. Hoare, I. Leggett (8) def K. Scott, H. Newberry (3)
Elmhurst/Amphitheatre (83-9) def Maryborough (56-1)
Mens
Josh Barker, Saku (8) def Riley Ford, Daniel Potter (1)
Marlow Edgar, Daryl Driscoll (2) lost to Lyndon Tait, Mark Christie (8)
J. Barker, M. Edgar (1) lost to R. Ford, L. Tait (8)
Saku, D. Driscoll (8) def D. Potter, M. Christie (2)
Ladies
Lucy McLay, Mel Murnane (8) lost to Bianca Powell, Ally Ellis (9)
Aimee Harrison, Sally Roberts (8) def Sophie McQuienn, Steph Lierich (2)
L. McLay, A. Harrison (8) def B. Powell, S. McQuienn (3)
M. Murnane, S. Roberts (8) def A. Ellis, S. Lierich (4)
Mixed
J. Barker, L. McLay (8) def R. Ford, B. Powell (5)
Saku, M. Murnane (8) def L. Tait, A. Ellis (6)
D. Driscoll, A. Harrison (8) def D. Potter, S. McQuienn (4)
M. Edgar, S. Roberts (8) def M. Christie, S. Lierich (4)
Read More: Landsborough, Elmhurst, Ararat, Buangor