Young guns make their mark at RMS events ahead of Narrabri tournament

Dangar Park Tennis Centre will host the fourth tournament on North West Tennis’ 2025 Regional Matchplay Series circuit early next month, and several local young guns have been excelling in neighbouring towns in the lead-up to their home event.

Narrabri Tennis has been allocated two tournaments on the calendar this season, with the first of those to be held on Sunday, April 6, followed by the second on Sunday, August 17.

The first two RMS events of the 2025 campaign were contested in Armidale and Tamworth in February and then the third was held in Gunnedah on Sunday.

Narrabri youngsters Charlie Butler and Charlotte Murphy both returned home from Gunnedah with trophies after securing second-place finishes.

Fifteen-year-old Charlie lined up in the 16-years-and-under boys’ division and played some brilliant tennis on the day. He was the runner-up for the second time this season to Orlando York after the duo finished first and second at the season opener in Armidale back on Sunday, February 9.

Eleven-year-old Charlotte Murphy also placed second in Gunnedah as she finished runner-up to Olivia O’Neill in the 12-years-and-under girls’ division.

Charlotte’s tennis is getting better and better every week, which led to her being selected on the North West Tennis team that competed at the 12s State Teams event in Bathurst earlier this month.

Charlotte’s runner-up finish at the Gunnedah tournament was her second of the season after she placed second behind Olivia O’Neill at the Armidale event as well. She also placed fourth in Tamworth.

Fellow Narrabri Tennis youngsters Sophie Hartnett and Lucas Dowdell excelled in Gunnedah as well.

Fourteen-year-old Sophie played in the 16-years-and-under girls’ division and reached the semi-finals, while 12-year-old Lucas competed in the 14-years-and-under boys’ division, in which he reached the quarter-finals.

Narrabri’s Austin Murphy did not play at the Gunnedah tournament but was a standout in the 8-years-and-under boys’ division at Armidale and Tamworth. The eight-year-old was the winner at both of those events.

Narrabri’s Charlie Butler, right, was the runner-up in the 16-years-and-under boys’ division at the Gunnedah RMS tournament on Sunday. He is pictured with the division winner Orlando York. Photo: Supplied Narrabri’s Charlie Butler, right, was the runner-up in the 16-years-and-under boys’ division at the Gunnedah RMS tournament on Sunday. He is pictured with the division winner Orlando York. Photo: Supplied

Narrabri’s Charlotte Murphy, right, was the runner-up in the 12-years-and-under girls’ division at the Gunnedah RMS tournament on Sunday. She is pictured with the division winner Olivia O’Neill. Photo: Supplied Narrabri’s Charlotte Murphy, right, was the runner-up in the 12-years-and-under girls’ division at the Gunnedah RMS tournament on Sunday. She is pictured with the division winner Olivia O’Neill. Photo: Supplied

Narrabri’s Austin Murphy, left, was the winner in the eight-years-and-under boys’ division at the Tamworth RMS tournament last month. He is pictured with the division runner-up Jonty Nichols. Photo: Supplied Narrabri’s Austin Murphy, left, was the winner in the eight-years-and-under boys’ division at the Tamworth RMS tournament last month. He is pictured with the division runner-up Jonty Nichols. Photo: Supplied

Narrabri Tennis head coach Shane Murphy told The Courier that he was impressed with all of the local players’ efforts and achievements so far and he was looking forward to hosting the Narrabri tournament in April.

Murphy also advised that he attended a North West Tennis coaches’ meeting last week, at which a North West Hot Shots League was discussed. The league is only in its draft stages, but it is expected to include players aged 10-12-years-old.

Murphy said he expected Narrabri to host a tournament, after which the winners would travel to play against players from other towns in an intertown tournament.

“It sounds like a good little pathway to get kids into tournament play,” he said.

“This pathway will be a less scary one for the newer players, instead of jumping straight into an RMS event where they have to serve properly and score properly.”