GMLTA | Gallery | Average Joes upset Rebels in division one boilover

By Zac Standish

Jan 31, 2022

The king: Cobram Cobras’ Jordan Bovalina. Photo by Megan Fisher

Shepparton Lawn Average Joes pulled off one of the upsets of the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association division one season at the weekend, toppling second-placed Rich River Rebels 8-72 to 4-55.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Nicholas Gattuso got the ball rolling for the underdogs, dominating the first rubber 8-0, before joining forces with Kyle Andrews to deliver an 8-5 victory for his team.

Andrews was also impressive for Average Joes, adding another two victories to make it three wins on the day.

Eye on the ball: Kialla Park’s Lachlan Fisher. Photo by Megan Fisher

Isabella Crossman was the standout for Rich River, triumphing 8-0 in her singles rubber, before partnering with Leanne Moore and Deagan Tomkins to deliver an 8-1 and 8-2 victory to give her side hope of stealing the win.

But Shepparton Lawn held firm in the closing stages to register its second win of the season.

Echuca Lawn solidified its position atop the division one ladder with a comfortable 9-85 to 3-64 win over Shepparton Lawn Tropics.

Jordan Godfrey was the star for Echuca, comfortably winning his singles rubber 8-1, before contributing to a pair of wins in the doubles to create a strong early buffer for his team.

Seasoned campaigner: Kialla Park’s Michael Frizzell. Photo by Megan Fisher

Curtis-McDonald duo Hope and Darcy battled gallantly to produce an 8-5 victory in their doubles match, but it was largely one-way traffic as Echuca Lawn proved why it remains a premiership fancy.

Velvet Tigers rounded out the winners’ list, triumphing over cellar-dwellers Shepparton Lawn Phoenix Suns 8-85 to 4-64.

Division two mixed action had Numurkah Raiders triumph in a 6-57 to 5-55 thriller on the road against Cobram Crocs.

Concentration: Cobram Cobras’ Jackie Vogal. Photo by Megan Fisher

Liam Williams and Jai Harrington were the standouts for Numurkah, delivering dominant 6-1 and 6-0 wins in the singles, before winning both their doubles match-ups to get their side over the line in a thrilling finish.

Jodie Wastell and Kate Bird were superb for Cobram, winning their singles matches to love and prevailing in the doubles to keep their side in the contest.

Locked in: Cobram Cobras’ Erin McKinnar. Photo by Megan Fisher

But an 8-5 win for James Murray and Tamara Bate in the final rubber would be enough to get the Raiders over the line.

Shepparton Lawn Blue would triumph 7-70 to 4-40 over Shepparton Lawn Demons in the other division two mixed clash, while in the open competition Kialla Park secured a 7-66 to 4-54 win over Cobram Cobras.

Ready to serve: Cobram Cobras’ Marika Newey. Photo by Megan Fisher

In division three east action, Tatura Tornados emerged victorious 6-78 to 7-67 in a thrilling contest against Shepparton Coyotes.

Despite losing the rubber count six to seven, Jack Henry was able to turn the tide for Tatura, delivering a 6-3 win in singles and an 8-1 win in doubles to give his side an early lead it would end up holding on to.

Other winners in the east included Nathalia and Dhurringile, while in the west it was Tongala and Tatura Hurricanes that saluted.