Simon Portwine picked up a useful doubles win as LBU snapped its losing run in the CTA. Photo: File.
After coming close on several occasions, Lockington-Bamawm United scored its maiden win of the Campaspe Tennis Association season on Saturday, compounding the pressure on former champion Echuca 1.
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LBU finally broke through on its home courts, earning victory 8-76 to 5-71.
The match began evenly, each side scoring a singles win.
Harrison Condliffe got the job done 6-1 for LBU, but was countered by Echuca 1’s Jack Byrne who earned a 6-2 victory of his own.
The men’s doubles saw Echuca grab an advantage, picking up two sets to LBU’s one.
Todd Charnas and Eli Kingma combined for the biggest win of the section, prevailing 8-1 for Echuca, while Grant Humbert and Simon Portwine scored LBU’s lone victory, 8-3.
LBU surged to the lead through the women’s doubles, taking three of four sets.
Narelle Bacon and Melissa Haines were the strongest performers, earning the best margin in their set, 8-2.
They were also successful separately, Bacon picking up a narrow 8-7 win with Katie Condliffe and Haines finding success, 8-3, with Lois Toohey.
Desperate to hold on to its advantage, LBU ground out some narrow results in the mixed doubles to get over the line.
Two sets went down to the wire, with the duos of Harrison and Katie Condliffe and Darryl Squires and Toohey each getting through their matches 8-7.
LBU picked up a third set in the section by a more comfortable margin, while Kingma and Amy Parker clawed back some games with a win in the remaining rubber.
Rochester vs Echuca 2
Jacob Grieves opened Rochester’s match with Echuca 2 with a strong 6-1 singles win.
Echuca 2 came closer than anyone to ending Rochester’s unbeaten run, but was edged out on sets after the game count finished level 7-74 to 6-74.
The singles rubbers indicated a much less even tie to come, Jacob Grieves and Tobie Woodfine each earning 6-1 wins for Rochester.
Echuca 2 established a lead after a sweep of the men’s doubles, Stephen Hope and Phil Higgins capping the section with a dominant 8-0 scoreline.
The pendulum continued to swing as Rochy got back on top in the women’s doubles, taking three of four sets.
Alyssa Moss and Rachael Major were the standouts of the grouping for Rochester, each picking up wins with other partners before combining for an 8-4 victory.
Although the mixed doubles were split two apiece, Echuca 2 was able to close the gap through superior margins in its wins, but ultimately fell just one game short of scoring the overall result and handing Rochy its first loss.
With two rounds to go, Rochester is well ahead on the table and guaranteed the minor premiership.
Echuca 2 is the next contender and is a near certainty to remain the second seed come finals.
Echuca 1 and 3 are jockeying for position in third and fourth, while LBU’s win this week came too late for it to hold any finals hopes.
LBU and Rochester are set to face off on Saturday in the penultimate round, while Echuca 1 and 3 will look to earn third place and avoid Rochester in the semi-final round.
