Sport

All-Echuca affair in division one decider

By Josh Huntly

Mar 16, 2023

Brotherly love: Ben Potter (left) of Echuca 1 will line up against brother and Echuca 2 opponent Chris (right) in this Saturday’s CTA division one grand final. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Whatever the result of the 2022-23 division one Campaspe Tennis Association grand final on Saturday, the Dolly Christie Memorial Shield will remain at Crofton St.

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That’s because the match will be an all-Echuca affair as clubmates Echuca 1 and 2 battle it out for top-grade honours on their home courts.

Echuca 1 will come into the clash against their clubmates as favourites to lift back-to-back trophies, with Rich River the last team to accomplish the feat in 2019.

While Echuca Tennis Club president Chris Potter will be lining up for Echuca 2, it will be a win either way.

“We’re pretty pumped to get one side in let alone two,” Potter said.

“Echuca 1 finished top and won it last year so they’ll be the favourites on the fact they’ve kept the team pretty solid.

“We’ll be up against it but that’s all right. With the hot weather the way it is, who knows what could happen.”

Both teams enjoyed big semi-final wins over Rochester and Lockington-Bamawm United respectively, but the win-loss ledger between the two stands at one win apiece.

Echuca 2 struck the first blow in round seven, but in round 14 the reigning premier responded with a 26-game win.

If Echuca 2 can spring an upset, it will be the second team's first title since 2019-20.

It will be a busy day for the club with its division two and junior A sides also in grand finals, but after a flood-affected season Potter recognised the entire league for its effort in keeping the campaign afloat.

“It was a very shortened season with the floods but the amount of tennis we got in was good tennis,” Potter said.

“We had three section one sides this year, four section two sides and we had a hell of a lot of juniors — tennis is growing really well.

“Club-wise, I’m ecstatic; there’s been a hell of a lot of work put in by Sarah Byrne in the junior department.

“But there’s just been a whole lot of work done across the board to keep the season going from all clubs.

“Especially Rochester and the guys down there.”

Meanwhile, the undefeated Echuca 4 will feature in the division two grand final against Elmore 1 in what shapes as a blockbuster encounter.

Elmore has only dropped one game this season, falling at the hands of this Saturday’s grand final opponent, and their only meeting for the season resulted in a 17-game win to Echuca.

In the junior ranks, Echuca 8 are shooting for back-to-back titles in the division A decider against LBU 3, while LBU 6 will be hoping to cause an upset over Elmore 6 in division B.

Rochester 5 and LBU 7 will contest the division C grand final.