Star Border team leading the way in top division at Country Week

The Wodonga Wicks, featuring Jade Culph, Mark Shanahan, Cam Meagher, Brock Dixon, Andrew Healy and Patrick Landy, are currently undefeated in the men's open division after six matches.

A comprehensive 4-0 victory (32 games to 10) against Maff-Island Raiders yesterday morning was backed up by a hard-fought 2-2 (26-20) victory over Lecontes in the afternoon.

Culph and a number of his teammates this year took out the Country Week title at Wodonga back in 2013 and are hopeful of repeating that success having not contested the event since then.

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"Things are going well," Culph said.

"We've rotated a few guys through.

"Last time when we played this event when it was held here in 2013, I don't think we had many rotations.

"I think I played every match and a couple of guys played every match, so it's been good to share it around a bit and it's a good team vibe. Everybody is having a great time.

"I have played a fair bit of tennis with these guys and they're all from the area.

"I spent a bit of time with Brock as a junior coaching him, so it's good to have him in the team.

"We're enjoying it, there's been a lot of laughs."

Culph returned from an extended period in the US in 2013 and had never experienced Country Week before entering a side in the top grade.

"The first time I'd seen it was here in Wodonga and I was blown away. There's so many players, so many courts and the vibe of the whole event was great," he said.

"It's a social week, so people are here to play tennis and have some fun, but it's competitive as well.

"Were fortunate enough to win the whole thing in 2013 in the open division, which was a big thrill.

"We're sitting on top at the moment and there's a morning match tomorrow (Thursday) and a semi-final in the afternoon.

"We're ticking along nicely, we just need to maybe save the petrol tickets a little bit for the finals.

"That's the beauty of having a few that can step in and play, it gives them some play and you're not having to play every match.

"It's important not to be sore when it comes down to the finals."

Wodonga Wicks take on Dubbo Demons in their final pool match at Wodonga Tennis Centre this morning, with victory securing them top spot and a clash against the team in fourth in the afternoon's semi-finals.