Shepparton Lawn Average Joes picked up a second victory for 2023-24 after overcoming Velvet Tigers 7-81 to 5-74 in a tight tussle at Nathalia Saturday.
The Tigers, while not favourites going in, must have been wondering what it took to get over the line after managing to hold the often-dominant Tanner Hunter to one win from his three sets.
Hunter narrowly took his singles rubber, but both of his doubles sides fell short, with Hope and Darcy Curtis-McDonald again at the forefront to prevent Velvet Tigers from carrying momentum into the second half of play.
After three tight doubles affairs, Velvet Tigers needed all three remaining sets to draw level with a victory on points absolutely on the table.
They would take the 10th of 12 contests, but Average Joes mathematically secured the chocolates with one set in hand when Matt Carroll and Hope Curtis-McDonald breezed through their mixed doubles affair, completing a perfect day for the latter.
In Saturday’s other pennant match-up, Numurkah strolled to a comfortable 9-80 to 3-60 win over Shepparton Lawn The Valley.
The two sides split the opening four singles encounters and with all four delivering quite emphatic scorelines anything seemed possible.
The Warriors would thoroughly take the match away from The Valley shortly thereafter, rattling seven straight sets off between singles and doubles to assert complete control.
Association president Mark Mills, representing Numurkah at the weekend, carried an upbeat tone.
“(Numurkah has) had a bit of everything at the weekend, so it was good to break the duck on the winners’ list and get on the board for the season,” Mills said.
“We all came together and played good, solid tennis across the board.
“It was about just chipping away; we had a couple of 8-7 scores and an 8-6 as well, so a few vital points went our way.”
In terms of overall points the gap of 20 was the largest seen this season.
Though Mills would undoubtedly be keen to enjoy the winner’s circle more often, he doesn’t see the generally tough competition as a negative.
“The top grade has been close and we drew last time out,” Mills said.
“There have been really close matches all comp and that’s what you want.
“Close tennis makes for a much more enjoyable day.”
Complete scores in the GMLTA lower grades were unavailable at the time of print.
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