16 November 2016 | Tennis Victoria

The 2016-17 Tennis Victoria Premier League season is set for a blockbuster opening weekend, with the Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre hosting the Country All Stars men’s team home round for the first time.

A stable of star players have assembled for Victoria’s highest level inter-club competition which begins on Friday November 18, with the Country All Stars featuring the best players from across regional Victoria including team captain Matthew Hicks (Geelong), who has led the Barwon Region to a total of 15 Inter-regional Country Championship titles.

Also returning to the team will be Traralgon’s Joshua Charlton, with the 17 year old ready to step up after recently being awarded a wildcard entry into the Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger men’s event in October.

Tennis Victoria Competitions Manager Jeff Downes believes a maiden finals berth is a distinct possibility for the team.

“This will be the fourth year the Country All Stars have participated in the League and they have formed a good core group of players who have improved each year. After narrowly missing out on a finals spot last season, there is no doubt they will be right there at the business end of the season again,” said Downes.

The season will commence on Friday 18 November, with the men’s round 1 to be played at the Dingley Tennis Club and the women’s round at Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club with play commencing at 6:30pm.

Round 2 will be played on Sunday 20 November, with the men’s round to be played for the first time at the Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre and the women’s round to be played at Liston Tennis Club. Both Sunday matches to commence  at 12:30pm.

In the men’s competition, Grace Park Hawthorn Club will be aiming for a rare four peat and in the women’s, MCC Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club will be looking for back-to-back titles. Last season’s runner up Liston is primed to erase the pain of a finals loss with a star studded line up.

More information including competition schedules and team lists here.

About the Country All Stars

The Country All Stars are an important part of the Tennis Victoria pathway in providing country players with an opportunity to compete and represent in the state’s higher level competitions.

Team Manager: Leon Retallick
Captain: Matthew Hicks

1. Adam Lasky (Belmont)
2. Mario Matejcek (Grovedale) Highton
3. Matthew Hicks (Geelong)
4. Erik Holt-Crossman  (Echuca)
5. Josh Charlton (Traralgon)
6. Curt Garwood (Bendigo) Kensington
7. Matt Moloney (Warrnambool)