With the pennant bout between Central Park and McEwen Reserve washed out, all eyes were on last season’s grand final rematch between Shepparton North and Old Students — and boy, did it deliver.
Reigning premier Students hit the front early, with Aaron Plant combining with Michael Telford and Brenton Kiel to steal the first two rubbers away from the Northerners.
The tide quickly turned, however, with the visitors biting back to win the next four on the trot.
Wendy Sidebottom was ruthless as she masterminded a 6-2 toppling of Fiona Wieland and Andrea Kiel, backing it up with another 6-2 in the following rubber.
Plant and Wieland sparked some hope for Students late in the piece thanks to a 6-3 result, but it was too little too late as North stormed home to finish 6-45 to 3-38 victors.
In the division’s other game, Karramomus was far too strong at home against St Brendan’s.
Despite dropping the opening tie, Karramomus was relentless with all of its contributors stepping up to produce a 5-34 to 1-16 result before the last three rubbers were called off.
Examining the A1 fixtures, Murchison held on by the skin of its teeth to topple McEwen Reserve by three games on Friday night.
The see-sawing affair had the visitors take an early lead, and though Andrew Richardson and Johnathan Hare were bagelled in the second rubber, a strong late-evening showing locking in a 5-39 to 4-36 win for Murchison.
A similarly close contest played out a few courts over, as McEwen Reserve Green rallied to a 4-44 to 5-36 victory over Lemnos.
Elsewhere, Shepparton North crashed past Old Students 8-52 to 1-24 while Bunbartha had the bye.
And in A2, Karramomus beat St Andrew’s by 14 games, Shepparton North was no match for Old Students and rain scuppered Central Park and McEwen Reserve’s match-up.
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