In-form Valley dispatch Tatura, Average Joes newcomer’s step up to tame the Tigers

Valley captain Luke Dixon maintained his perfect singles record with a tone-setting 8-2 victory over Nathan Broad but, not to be outdone, Tatura’s Jack Bassett returned serve with an identical scoreline to get the Snippers on the board.

Ben O’Brien (8-3) and Matt Carroll (8-1) tipped the scales right back in The Valley’s favour, and Darcy Curtis-McDonald further inflated the margin in an 8-4 result over Georgia McKellar.

Amra Fleming pulled a set back for Tatura, but a winning streak of three doubles matches proved crucial during the middle stages for The Valley.

Broad and Bassett snatched a late set, but it was all Shepparton as an unblemished 8-0 result for O’Brien and Curtis-McDonald underscored The Valley’s superiority on the day, securing them a comprehensive 9-83 to 3-50 victory.

The Valley, 3-1 after five rounds, overtook the Velvet Tigers to claim top position on the ladder, made possible by Shepparton Lawn Average Joes’ hard-fought victory against the Nathalia Lawn Tennis Court natives.

The Joes saw a strong start through Zach Ranson (8-1), while newcomers Kade Madigan and Tristan Baldi were victorious in their sets to cancel out Eliza Long’s 8-7 defeat of Robbie Mifka.

Leanne More (8-2) and Ellie Mifka (8-5) swept the ladies singles, though the men’s doubles combinations, headlined by Tiger’s duo Pat Deery and Ned Nihill’s 8-1 result over Madigan and Baldi, left the match perfectly balanced after eight sets.

Jarrod Bingham and Nihill notched a crucial five-game win, but that was sandwiched between convincing triumphs to More and Mifka, before More teamed up with Ranson to deliver the game-clinching win and third on the ladder.

The Average Joes will have a well-earned rest, while The Valley will prepare for a rematch against reigning champions Numurkah.

Tatura’s chance for a second win will come against the Velvet Tigers.