The eight sets, 85 games to Echuca South’s five sets, 74 games may look like a whitewash, but Rich River division one captain Trina Godfrey said it was anything but as her club came out trumps on Saturday.
Getting out to an early lead, she said, was key to Rich River claiming the title as it eased pressure on the later games.
The opponents were on top of their own game, but Rich River lifted to ‘‘another level’’ to make light work of South.
‘‘I think everyone played really well, the nerves didn’t get on top of us, which helps. We were pretty happy at the end of the day,’’ Godfrey said of her team.
‘‘It was the fourth time in a row, yes. And half of the team has been there in all four. We’ve had a few of the same stay.
‘‘I won my three sets, but everyone played really well, they all lifted at the same time.’’
Godfrey said the celebrations after the final set were a bit quieter than usual, but that was because the club’s awards presentation night was being held last night.
‘‘We were up 17 games going into the mixed section, that was a big bonus,’’ she said.
‘‘In the past it wasn’t always that emphatic and that added to the nerves in the past, knowing you have to win the set to stay up.
‘‘It was a very subdued celebrations, with the club presentations we’ll present the team aggregate award and the club champs so that’ll be nice.’’
Godfrey thanked South and the rest of the CTA clubs for a fantastic season, and looked forward to coming back next season.
‘‘I think South’s players all played well too, we won well but every game they made us earn it,’’ she said.
‘‘There were no easy games throughout the day. For people looking on it looked even closer than it really was on court.’’
All other tennis grand final results will be printed in Wednesday’s Riv.