A Shepparton Lawn derby between Average Joes and The Valley made for exciting viewing as the two rivals duelled it out at Cobram Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday.
The battle between first-placed Average Joes and second-placed The Valley was to decide who would be sent straight through to the grand final and the match lived up to expectation.
Onlookers would have loved watching the two talented sides fight it out in the high-stakes game.
Average Joes got off to a strong start as the men won three out of the first four sets.
Nicholas Gattuso was particularly impressive for the top-ranked side as he won the second set 8-0 in dominant fashion.
As the qualifying final reached the doubles section of the match, the score was 4-2 in Average Joes’ favour.
The Valley fought back hard during the next five sets to bring the score back to 6-5 with one rubber remaining.
In the final set of the match, Average Joes’ Ellie Mifka and Will Rohde outlasted The Valley’s Luke Turcato and D’Arcy Curtis-McDonald in a thrilling climax.
The final rubber finished 8-6, handing Average Joes a 7-73 to 5-67 victory and a ticket to the grand final.
For The Valley, the weekend only got worse as Sunday rolled in.
Numurkah Warriors defeated Velvet Tigers 7-82 to 5-68 in its elimination final on Saturday to advance through to the preliminary final on Sunday.
The Warriors’ momentum continued into the following day as they upset The Valley in the penultimate match of the season.
Numurkah won the fixture convincingly 5-55 to 7-75 to qualify for the grand final.
The division one decider will be held on Saturday, March 15, at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club.
In division two, McEwen Reserve defeated Tatura Monsoons 6-61 to 5-54 to reach the grand final.
The Monsoons then followed the same trajectory as The Valley as Tatura was wiped out by Euroa Blue in the preliminary final, with the grand final also scheduled in a fortnight at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club on March 15.
