Lachlan Smith indicates it went wide in Rochester’s win over LBU. Photos: Matthew Kappos.
After weeks tied together the Echuca sides were finally separated in the Campaspe Tennis Association in this week’s local derby.
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Echuca 1 broke the deadlock at the top of the table, just barely defeating Echuca 2 8-78 to 5-77.
Despite the three-set advantage, the games margin tells the story of a scrappy Echuca 2 which fought to tight margins in its defeats.
Darryl Squires parries on the backhand.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Things started evenly enough with both sides claiming a singles rubber, 1 through Jack Byrne and 2 via Hudson Jasper.
Things began to tilt towards 1 in the men’s doubles, the side claiming two of three but it was 2’s Shaun Trice and Chris Potter that earned the best margin of the section, 8-2.
Grant Humbert plays the forehand close to the body for LBU.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The women’s doubles were split 2-2, Echuca 2 again having the best set, and 8-2 win to Tanya Godfrey and Judy Poole, while Celine Bush and Mia Aston were best for 1, getting up 8-4.
The trend continued in the mixed doubles and while Echuca 1 claimed three of four, results of 8-7 and 8-6 resulted in the razor-thin final margin.
Nash Hocking drills one from the baseline.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Rochester vs Lockington-Bamawm United
Rochy prevailed 10-94 to 3-67, but there were several sets that could have swung either way.
The teams split the singles rubbers, both won by thin margins as Rochester’s Jacob Grieves prevailed over Harrison Condliffe 7-6, while LBU’s Darryl Squires downed Lachlan Smith by the same margin.
James Brentnall fires a rocket.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Rochy took control of the men’s doubles but even then, the battles were tight, two of three rubbers going to 8-7 while Grieves and Nash Hocking had the biggest win 8-4.
LBU secured one of four women’s doubles through Katie Condliffe and Lois Toohey, 8-6, but Rochester extended its margin in some dominant performances, Mandy Dingwall and Cadence Major sweeping to an 8-0 win, while Major and Kate Lee got up 8-1.
Simon Portwine returns.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The mixed doubles also finished three sets to one in Rochy’s favour, Hocking and Dingwall the victor’s best pairing with an 8-3 win.
The final round this Saturday sees both games at Echuca Tennis Club as Echuca 2 faces Rochester and Echuca 1 takes on LBU.