Shepparton Lawn The Valley and Numurkah Warriors sewed up the top two spots and consequently the coveted double chance, but with The Valley holding the bye in the final round, the four-time reigning champions took the opportunity to tune up against Tatura Grasscourt Snippers at the weekend.
Honours belonged to the Warriors in the first three sets at Tatura Lawn Tennis Club with Jack Bassett (8-2), David Poole (8-3), Mark Mills (8-2), and Jack Forde (8-5) sweeping the men’s singles to create an early buffer.
Amra Fleming and Leanne More flipped the script in favour of the Snippers in the women’s singles, while the doubles rubbers were shared 2-2.
The Warriors remained well in front on the games tally, with Jack and Tess Bassett combining for victory in the penultimate set.
In their final set of their first season back in GM1, the Snippers finished on a high note, with an 8-4 win for Lorenzo Rigoli and Leanne More, narrowing the final score to 5-66 to 7-82.
Meanwhile, the Velvet Tigers and Shepparton Lawn Average Joes had plenty to play for on Saturday despite having their finals appearances locked in.
The two sides will play each other in next Saturday’s elimination final after finishing third and fourth, making the game at Nathalia a veritable finals preview.
The Joes took the opening set 8-3 thanks to fill-in Luke Dixon, though Pat Deery was swift with the reply for the Tigers in an 8-5 triumph.
Will Rohde extended the Joes early lead, but Tigers’ duo Eliza Long and Katie Ferguson tipped the fixture on its head with some scintillating tennis, notching 8-0 and 8-5 wins respectively.
Dixon and Rohde stole a set back, but Deery and Jayden Doyle extended the Tigers advantage before Long and Ferguson showed they were equally in tune in the doubles, earning an 8-2 result that all but assured the hosts of victory.
Long and Seb McKenzie-McHarg drove the final nail in the 6-64 to 4-54 triumph, and in doing so, claimed early bragging rights – for now at least.
Although GM1 finalists are set, the competition will pause as Labour Day weekend and its associated tournaments – including events at Euroa and Cobram Lawn Tennis Club – take place.
Next Saturday, The Valley and Numurkah will face off for a place in the grand final, with the loser to play the victor of the Joes and Velvet Tigers.
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