No Avengers could stop the four-time reigning premier Numurkah from booking its spot in the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association GM1 grand final again.
The Warriors are aiming to earn a historic fifth-straight flag in the competition, and has fired a warning shot over the net in its Saturday semi-final against minor premiers Shepparton Lawn The Valley.
The Valley’s Hope Curtis-McDonald was a beacon for the Shepparton Lawn outfit, with her two rubber wins coming at scorelines of 8-0 and 8-1 - but that was the end of The Valley’s good fortune.
In the 12-set match, Numurkah would claim 10 in a ruthless thumping - the Warriors’ biggest margin of victory all year - as The Valley was stunned without answers at Cobram lawn tennis courts, losing 10-81 to 2-49.
The elimination final between the Velvet Tigers and Shepparton Lawn Average Joes was a breezy win for the latter also, despite the Tigers producing a late season upset against Average Joes a fortnight ago.
The third-placed Average Joes claimed three of the four men’s singles sets to start strongly, before Ellie Mifka pipped Katie Ferguson 8-7 in the first ladies singles rubber to extend the Average Joes’ advantage.
Average Joes’ Leanne More consolidated the lead with an 8-2 set win, and while the Velvet Tigers notched two more wins in the doubles, a forfeited 11th rubber saw Average Joes continue its ascendancy, claiming a 9-87 to 3-49 victory.
The win set up a Shepparton Lawn club rivalry preliminary final on Sunday to determine Numurkah’s opponent, and it was a tug-of-war thriller that determined this year’s decider.
The Valley and Average Joes served up a classic in a bid for a chance at redemption, the Averages Joes specifically vying for a grand final rematch after last year’s defeat to Numurkah in the finale.
However, it was The Valley that would take advantage, volleying the Average Joes into the off-season after a doggedly fought match, defeating its Shepparton Lawn rivals by a mere 10 games in a gripping knockout bout.
Now, a blockbuster qualifying final rematch is set to take centre stage at Shepparton Lawn tennis courts this Saturday afternoon.
The Valley can look to avenge its disappointing efforts from the weekend and return serve to the Warriors, but its task is much easier said than done.
Numurkah will enter with a world of confidence for a plethora of reasons.
Most recently, its latest destruction of The Valley. Most notably, its plentiful experience in the last match on the GMLTA calendar.
Entering the decider for a fifth straight season, it’s hard to deny the Warriors will feel comfortable in the presence of the GM1 flag - but The Valley are minor premiers for a reason, and may find one more ace up its sleeve when it matters most.
Final scores for The Valley v Average Joes preliminary final were not available at time of publication.
21°C