Sport

Echuca 1 earns edge in title race

By Matthew Kappos

Feb 23, 2026

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.