The Valley's Darcy Curtis-McDonald plays a powerful stroke.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The race for the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association’s minor premiership is not just heating up – it’s piping hot.
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While Shepparton Lawn The Valley currently sits atop the prized position, it shares its season points (94) with Shepparton Lawn Average Joes, ahead by only percentage – and following the weekend’s results, The Valley’s latest win may prove to be crucial.
Taking on Tatura Grasscourt Snippers, The Valley’s experience proved all too strong for its opponent.
Jeremy O’Brien and Luke Dixon claimed cruisy rubber wins (8-3, 8-4) to begin the match, as Jayden Doyle (8-2) and Matt Carroll (8-5) ensured Tatura’s sets figure remained at love.
Snipper Chelsea Evans scored a tight set win in rubber five to get Tatura on the board, before The Valley’s ladies would claim the final two singles sets.
The six doubles sets would fall in favour of The Valley four to two, seeing the new ladder leaders claim a 9-91 to 3-59 victory.
Tatura Grasscourt Snippers Peter Pocheddino backhands the ball.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tatura Grasscourt Snippers Amra Flemming uses all her force.
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Rechelle Zammit
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The Valley's Luke Dixon shone with experience.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tatura Grasscourt Snippers Lorenzo Rigoli offers a drop shot.
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Rechelle Zammit
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The Valley's Hope Curtis-McDonald gets set to serve.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Tatura Grasscourt Snippers Chelsea Evans scored the first set win for her team.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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The Valley's Darcy Curtis-McDonald plays a powerful stroke.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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The Valley's Jeremy O'Brien whips it back.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
While The Valley would leave Welsford St more than satisfied with its commanding victory, the Average Joes may reflect upon its match as an opportunity gone begging percentage-wise, despite claiming the points on offer.
The fourth-placed Velvet Tigers took it right up to the Average Joes in a captivating thriller, with the result coming down to the final rubber.
The Velvet Tigers had a sets lead of six to five, but the games ledger was squared at 63-apiece, meaning the final mixed doubles rubber would determine the outcome.
As was the action all match long, the final set lived up to the hype in a tense, back-and-forth affair, with the Average Joes’ Ellie Mifka and Will Rohde recording an 8-6 rubber win to score an overall result of 6-71 to 6-69.
Breathing a sigh of relief after avoiding the boilover, the Average Joes will be watching on intently in round 11 as The Valley travel to play Tatura, while Numurkah, behind second place by only two points, clash with the Tigers.
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