Warriors indeed: Numurkah Warriors got the early jump and rode it to premiership success.
Another season is in the books at Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association after five teams achieved premiership glory at the weekend.
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Heading the charge was Numurkah Warriors, who met Velvet Tigers at Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club in the GM1 pennant decider.
What initially had the billing of a down-to-the-wire thriller on the cards quickly resembled anything but.
The Warriors’ men blew away their Nathalia-based adversaries, sweeping all four sets to assume a commanding 32-15 advantage before the women fired off a shot.
Though Eliza Long salvaged something for the under-siege Tigers with a thumping win over Sabrina Lewicki, regular programming resumed as the Warriors ticked off the next three rubbers to take an unassailable position.
Once doubles action came around the Tigers saved face by scooping three of the four team events, but it was far too late.
Numurkah’s latest premiership triumph comes off an 8-77 to 4-69 scoreline that, in the end, does little to reflect the dominant spell that broke this contest open in the early going.
Unity: Numurkah Warriors and Numurkah Penguins celebrate their respective premierships. (Photo: Supplied)
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Done it again: Numurkah Warriors earned another GMLTA pennant title in grand fashion. (Photo: Supplied)
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Crocs up: Cobram Crocs celebrating the GM2 premiership featuring best on court Daryl Bennett. (Photo: Supplied)
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Dominant force: Tongala claimed the GM2 Open title with the greatest of ease. (Photo: Supplied)
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Did the double: Numurkah Penguins bringing a second premiership to the club with the GM3 title. (Photo: Supplied)
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Rounding it out: Tatura Monsoons brought home the GM4 Open flag over its cross-club rivals. (Photo: Supplied)
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All smiles: GM2 Open best on court Tom Horne-Okano of Tongala. (Photo: Supplied)
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Happy camper: GM3 best on court Matt Cason of Numurkah Penguins. (Photo: Supplied)
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Running the show: GM4 Open best on court Ashley Battiston of Tatura Monsoons. (Photo: Supplied)
Elsewhere, Cobram Crocs prevailed in GM2’s decider over Tatura Quakes — but not without an almighty scare.
Much like Numurkah, the Crocs raced out to a substantial early lead by taking the first four sets, but Tatura rallied strongly to level proceedings before Cobram held its nerve to see out the final two rubbers for a 6-57 to 4-50 triumph.
However, no breath-holding was necessary at Stanhope Lawn Tennis Club for the GM2 Open decider.
The host quickly found itself outgunned by challenger Tongala, with the visitor romping its way to a massive 10-78 to 1-53 grand final win.
Numurkah was not done assembling the silverware with the pennant title after the Penguins also collected the GM3 premiership with a win over Kyabram.
Remarkably, this was another case of the first four sets falling one way, only to give rise to a contest later as Kyabram levelled it after eight.
The Redbacks faded out late, though, with the Penguins powering home again to win 8-86 to 5-69.
Though the Quakes had fallen short in the GM2 decider, the western club was assured a GM4 Open flag as the Monsoons met the Lightning in an all-Tatura showdown.
This contest reflected much more of an arm-wrestle than most of the others early on, but much as they did in the semi-final, the Monsoons turned it on at the right time with some big late wins to scamper home 6-64 to 3-45.
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