After a delayed start last weekend following the bushfires around the region, the courts were filled with the first round of GMTA action in the back half of the season.
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GM2 Kyabram Bombers 6-67 d Shepparton Lawn Demons 5-59
In what shaped up as a finals shaping contest, the Bombers, with a weakened line-up, took on the Demons.
However, it was breakout star Rhiann Eddy that got the team up and running with a perfect day.
Eddy started with a strong 8-4 victory with Taylah Starling.
Eddy then followed this up with a dominant 6-2 victory in the number one ladies’ singles.
Eddy rounded out her perfect day with an 8-3 mixed doubles victory with Kade Starling.
The other standout on the day was David Starling. Anchoring the doubles on the men’s side he was able to secure two victories with Xavier Dodos and Kade Starling, 8-5 and 8-6, respectively.
Starling then rounded out his perfect day in the number one mixed doubles with Sheree Starling 8-5.
In the end, the Bombers were able to ride Eddy and Starling to secure what could be a season-defining eight-game victory.
The win cements the Bombers in second on the ladder, with a match-up looming against the Euroa Brumbies, who sit seventh.
GM3 Kyabram Bombers 7-64 d Tatura Custers 3-52
Taking to the courts in Kyabram, the Bombers were hoping to keep their undefeated season intact taking on an experienced Tatura side.
Mitchell Cox and Zane Sutton got the team off to a strong start with a resounding 8-0 victory.
Cox then followed this with a hard-fought 6-4 victory in the men’s number one singles to keep the momentum going.
Taylor Sutton was the standout on the day, winning all three of her sets.
Sutton with a hard-fought 8-5 victory with Rebekah Lawson.
Sutton then combined with Abby Prycroft for another strong victory 8-4.
Sutton then combined with brother Zane Sutton for an 8-6 victory.
The final undefeated player on the day was Greg Tarrant, who wound back the clock with a mammoth 6-5 victory in the second singles match.
Tarrant then combined with Rebekah Lawson for an 8-4 victory.
The Bombers recorded a well-earned 12-game victory to stay on top of the ladder.
GM3 Kyabram Redbacks 8-67 d Yarrawonga 1-48
The Redbacks hosted a Yarrawonga side that has been difficult to beat.
This was backed up with two very closely fought tiebreak sets in the first round of matches.
The Redbacks managed to get the best of both of these sets with Marg Haw and Justine McConnell as well as Sam McConnell and Jamie Cochrane both securing the close victories.
The Redbacks managed to gain hold of the momentum with these victories and went on to only drop one set for the rest of the day.
The highlight of the day was a strong 8-3 victory for Justine McConnell and Susie Bennett.
Marg Haw was the strongest performer, backing up her tiebreak victory with a pair of 8-4 victories with Sue Carral and Jamie Cochrane to steer the Redbacks to an emphatic 19-game victory.
The win keeps the Redbacks hot on the heels of the top two, with a match-up against Karramomus next week in a battle to secure second place on the ladder.
GM4 Open Kyabram Bombers 5-63 d Tatura Caesers 4-54
Reigning premiers in the division, the Bombers were looking to lock up their place in the top four with a match against one of the chasing pack.
Scott Hausler showed why he is one of the best players in the division.
Hausler combined with Cameron Heard for the strongest victory of the day 8-1.
Hausler followed this up with an 8-3 victory with team captain Michael Argeat.
Hausler then combined with Perry Jackson for the longest match of the day where they were able to outlast their opponents for an 8-7 victory.
Cameron Heard also backed up his strong victory with another handy result for the Bombers, gaining an 8-4 victory with Amy Harrison.
Despite these victories, the match was close all day, highlighted by there being three tiebreaker sets.
However, in the end the more one-sided victories went the Bombers’ way, helping them to secure a nine-game victory.
The Bombers hold on to third on the ladder with a match-up against Central Park to come in the next round.
GM4 Open Shepparton North 5-64 d Kyabram Redbacks 4-39
In the final match-up of the round, the Redbacks headed to the unfamiliar hardcourts of Shepparton North.
The Redbacks, who have shown plenty of promise this season, took the fight to a finals contender, with Rachael Costello again showing that she is a standout this season.
Costello won two of her sets, combining with Chloe Berner and Leah Dennis for a pair of 8-6 victories.
Dennis and Berner then combined for their own 8-6 victory.
However, it was Shepparton North that managed to gain the upper hand over the course of the day with the Redbacks eventually falling short by 25 games.
However, the match-up was closer than this, with the sets only just going Shepp North’s way 5-4.
The Redbacks continue to show signs of improvement with a team made up of players only playing their first season of senior tennis.
Next up, the Redbacks meet the Tatura Rommels.