Darren Slater for Royal Kings Park
Camera IconDarren Slater for Royal Kings Park Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Dolphins drown Royals in State League tennis

Warren HardingWestern Suburbs Weekly

IN a top of the table clash, the Dalkeith Dolphins left Royal Kings Park Tennis Club (RKPTC) floundering on Saturday with a six rubbers to zero win to move into second spot in the Men’s State League tennis competition.

With Tom Fancutt, a touring pro playing at number one, Dalkeith Tennis Club (DTC) were too strong for an undermanned Kings Park who played without regulars Jake Robinson and Sam Ashendon.

Darren Slater for RKPTC faced up to a rampant Tristan Schoolkate who showed no jet lag from his recent US College visit to win 6-4, 6-0 to get Dalkeith off to a great start.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

DTC still face a tough run home with three matches against all top four contenders.

League leaders Hensman Park Tennis Club (HPTC) were pushed to the line by Cottesloe with brothers Mitch and Joel Pleydell holding on for two great wins over HPTC’s Ashby Farrell and Brendan Malarkey respectively.

A 7-5, 6-1 doubles win by HPTC’s number one touring pro Brydan Klein and Zach Iztstein secured the tie three rubbers, seven sets, 58 games to 3-6-56.

Sitting in fourth, Alexander Park had a 6-0 win over Mt Lawley winning all four singles.

Mt Lawley’s Evan Manso put up a credible 3-6, 6-7 performance against touring pro Harry Bourchier.

With three rounds to go, APTC can not afford a loss with Cottesloe in fifth, seeking yet another finals season.

In the women’s top of the table clash, Cottesloe secured top spot as it just eased past reigning premiers RKPTC with a tight 3-7-64 to 3-6-53 win.

Extraordinarily, with Cottesloe’s Ruby Culley out, younger sister Jessie Culley made her debut and after a nervous start played beyond her 13 years to grab an all-important set against RKPTC’s Shanelle Iaconi.

But it was the match winning “experience and youth” combination of Fed Cup captain and former world number eight Alicia Molik with the national under-12 claycourt champion Culley that secured the tie 6-0, 6-2.

A match for the ages.