Tigers to take on Warriors in Div 1 GMLTA grand final

By Marcus Beeck

Mar 4, 2024

Killer forehand: Numurkah's John Brunner. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The grand finalists for the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association’s GM1 are set after the weekend’s finals.

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On Saturday, after finishing the season on top of the ladder, Velvet Tigers went down to Numurkah Warriors in a gripping qualifying final.

Both teams traded blows throughout the match, finishing on six sets apiece.

However, the Warriors claimed the victory as they won on games 70-68.

The match came down to the final set (mixed doubles), where Warriors’ Lucy Bassett and John Brunner won a match-deciding eight games to four against Hannah O’Brien and Joe Nihill.

Meanwhile, a fast-finishing Shepparton Lawn The Valley beat Shepparton Lawn Average Joes in the semi-final.

The Valley won 8-73 to 4-64.

Halfway through the final the sets were tied at four before The Valley stormed home to win the last four comfortably.

On Sunday, it was time for the preliminary final between the Tigers and The Valley, with the winner going on to play the Warriors in Saturday week’s grand final.

The preliminary final finished bizarrely as the Tigers won despite The Valley winning two more sets.

The match ended seven sets to five in The Valley’s favour, but due to the Tigers winning more games throughout the match (71-63), they are now through to play the Warriors in the GM1 grand final on March 16.

In GM2, Cobram Crocs will take on Tatura Quakes in the grand final also on March 16.

The Crocs defeated the Quakes in the qualifying final, winning 65-58 (seven sets to three).

Kyabram Bombers then eliminated Shepparton Lawn Demons in their semi-final before losing to the Quakes 68-49 (six sets to four) in the preliminary final.

In GM3, Numurkah Penguins dominated Kyabram Redbacks in the qualifying final 94-51 (11 sets to two), while Nathalia beat Tatura Quakes in the semi-final in a nail-biter 77-76 (eight sets to five).

However, Nathalia’s joy was short-lived as the Redbacks defeated them comfortably in the preliminary final 88-60 (10 sets to three) to book a spot in the grand final against the rampaging Penguins.