Sport
21 March, 2026
Early lead seals ‘upset’ title
MINCHA West has denied fierce rivals Calvil North to win the Loddon Valley Tennis Association premiership.
Calivil North was seeking its 29th title in 38 seasons, but their rivals got out to an early lead and went on to win 12-111 to 6-81 at Serpentine last Saturday.
The surprisingly comprehensive victory was built on Mincha West winning five of the six men’s doubles games.
The women’s doubles were tied 3-3, while Mincha West won the mixed event, 4-2.
Mincha West captain Jeannie Wagner had special praise for James Ritchie, who stepped off a plane from Bali at 4am on the day of the final, dusted off his racquet and won all three of his sets.
Wagner said Calivil North deserved respect for selecting a side stacked with juniors.
“They would have had older players, but they decided to give the kids a go, and they played so well – they will be a powerhouse in the future.”
Calivil North’s captain Michelle Balic injured her shoulder during the mixed doubles in what turned out to be a 7-3 defeat, and their number one player Lloyd Maxted did not play.
Most matches were tightly contested, but Wagner and partner Teagan Stewart won 7-1 over Calivil North’s Gemma Maxted and Hollee Vinnicombe in the biggest margin of the day.
Donald and Nicolle Stewart won their mixed doubles 7-2 over Calivil’s Jake Smith and Penny Balic, while Lynley Strachan and Balic defeated Mincha’s Nicole Stewart and Claire Pickles by the same margin.
Calivil North 6-81 lost to Mincha West 12-111
MEN: Oscar Balic & Caleb Smith lost to David Mann & James Ritchie 3-7, Oscar Balic & Jarad Smith d David Mann & Colin Mann 7-6, Caleb Smith & Jarad Smith lost to James Ritchie & Colin Mann 2-7, Jake Smith & Kyen Maxted lost to Donald Stewart & Peter Gargan 6-7, Jake Smith & Alex Lister lost to Donald Stewart & Riley Wagner 5-7, Kyen Maxted & Alex Lister lost to Peter Gargan & Riley Wagner 3-7.
LADIES: Michelle Balic & Gemma Maxted lost to Emily Prout & Jeannie Wagner 3-7, Michelle Balic & Hollee Vinnicombe d Emily Prout & Teagan Stewart 7-3, Gemma Maxted & Hollee Vinnicombe lost to Jeannie Wagner & Teagan Stewart 1-7, Lynley Strachan & Penny Balic d Nicole Stewart & Claire Pickles 7-2, Lynley Strachan & Ava Maxted d Nicole Stewart & Christine Mann 7-5, Penny Balic & Ava Maxted lost to Claire Pickles & Christine Mann 3-7.
MIXED: Caleb Smith & Michelle Balic lost to James Ritchie & Jeannie Wagner 3-7, Oscar Balic & Gemma Maxted lost to David Mann & Emily Prout 4-7, Jarad Smith & Hollee Vinnicombe d Colin Mann & Teagan Stewart 7-5, Jake Smith & Penny Balic lost to Donald Stewart & Nicole Stewart 2-7, Kyen Maxted & Lynley Strachan d Peter Gargan & Claire Pickles 7-6, Alex Lister & Ava Maxted olost to Riley Wagner & Christine Mann 4-7.
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