GMLTA | Numurkah stuns unbeaten outfit to claim back-to-back titles

Numurkah managed to pull off the win of the summer against unbeaten outfit Kyabram-Echuca as the Warriors defied the odds to pencil in a stunning eight-game win.

In hot and stifling conditions — which forced the association to change venues from Cobram to Kyabram — Numurkah fought back from the brink of defeat to claim back-to-back division one titles.

“It was a crazy day,” Mills said.

“Everyone was ecstatic. We obviously knew that we were up against it with them being undefeated, but we still had the belief we could get over the line if we put our best foot forward.

“And then throw in the fact the game was shifted to Kyabram, on the undefeated team’s home court, well I think that really fired us up more.”

Something special was needed from the Warriors to take down the all-star cast of the combined outfit and that’s exactly what happened across the dozen rubbers.

There were heroes everywhere for Numurkah in the 7-76 to 5-68 decider.

Lucy Bassett and Maggie Snowdon performed strongly to grab vital games, while John Brunner, Jack Bassett and Nick Fenaughty contributed with their own individual highlights.

The day began with Kyabram-Echuca gaining the upper hand until two pivotal rubbers.

Bassett and Fenaughty may have lost their men’s doubles rubber 5-8, but Mills said “every game counted” when it came to grand finals.

Mills highlighted the singles rubber between Brunner and Kyabram-Echuca’s Jordan Godfrey, followed by a men’s doubles win, as the two battles where the momentum began to shift in favour of the Warriors.

The level-headed and experienced Brunner claimed the rubber 8-6 and wrestled the match back within Numurkah’s grasp.

Until, that is, a brilliant fightback in the men’s doubles from Grant Chappell and Aaron Bruest (8-7) got the Warriors back in the lead ahead of the final three rubbers.

“At one stage we were 11 games down, but slowly the tide started to turn when John got the job done 8-6 over his opponent,” Mills said.

“Jack and Grant, to get an 8-2 win against high quality opponents, was terrific. They really couldn’t have played any better. After we got off to a slow start we really did finish off strongly — it was an impressive turnaround.

“We just kept believing in ourselves.”

The win caps Numurkah’s back-to-back GM1 premierships — a feat the club has not achieved in more than 40 years.

“The mood around the club is awesome. Winning is a bonus really, we’re all just out there having fun and playing with our mates,” Mills said.

“We’ll be trying to make it three straight for the first time and we’ll give it a red-hot crack.”

In the remaining divisions, there was a host of thrilling finishes.

Stanhope held on in a nail-biter against Cobram Crocs.

Despite securing eight rubber wins, Stanhope only just crawled over the line as the Crocs snapped up games late in the 8-68 to 3-57 contest.

Fleur Nurse was a standout for Stanhope and won all three of her appearances.

Teammate Margaret Haw was another to clinch all three of her rubbers.

The GM3 grand final had a mammoth turnaround from the semi-final encounter as Nathalia roared to victory against Tongala.

Nathalia recorded an extraordinary 60-game turnaround, following its 51-game defeat, to pencil in a stunning 9-85 to 4-70 triumph.

Nick Bakogianis scored a crucial 6-3 win for Nathalia, while teammate Corina McLeod was pivotal with three rubber wins.

In GM4 action, Tatura Tornados sailed home to clinch back-to-back premierships.

Tatura edged out Numurkah in the decider with a gritty and memorable 9-80 to 4-67 victory.

Jacob Liversidge got the Tornados off to a ripping start with a 6-0 win, before he went on to provide a helping hand in his 8-7, 8-6 rubber wins.

And lastly, the GM5 Open grand final went the way of Tongala.

Tongala fell over the line in a barn-burner of a final as it held off Tatura Lightning to clinch a 5-54 to 4-47 win.