Melissa Haines won all three of her sets as LBU stunned Rochester in round 15. Photos: Oliver Shedden.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
After only earning its first win seven days earlier, Lockington-Bamawm United has discovered unprecedented form, becoming the only team to defeat Rochester in the Campaspe Tennis Association.
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Already safe in the minor premiership position with two rounds remaining and having won by big margins in two previous meetings, Rochy wouldn’t have expected what it got from LBU in round 15.
Nash Hocking chases down a forehand.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
After a balanced start, LBU built a lead in the middle sets and clung to it for an 8-90 to 5-75 victory.
Harrison Condliffe earned a hard-fought LBU win in his singles rubber, 7-6, but Tobie Woodfine got Rochy an early lead after the section with a 6-1 victory.
LBU started to build momentum in the men’s doubles after taking two of the three sets.
Grant Humbert and Ian Haines combined well, earning the largest win of the section, 8-4.
Harrison Condliffe gets in position for a vicious serve.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
The match really began to swing in LBU’s favour following the women’s doubles, three of the four rubbers going the way of the underdogs.
Lois Toohey and Melissa Haines’ performances defined the grouping, earning an 8-6 win as a duo before separating to feature in LBU’s other two wins.
Needing to make up ground in the mixed doubles, Rochy was only able to score two of the four mixed doubles rubbers, LBU holding on to its lead to score the win.
Cadence Major eyes up the incoming forehand.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
LBU’s run has come too late for the side to make finals, with only one round remaining.
Echuca 3 vs Echuca 1
Echuca 3 broke ahead of the former champions Echuca 1, laying claim to third position with a 7-85 to 6-78 win.
Karen Taylor prepares to make a return.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
The singles encounters didn’t give much away about the future result of the match, Hudson Jasper’s 6-3 win for Echuca 3 almost cancelled out by Eli Kingma’s 6-4 mark for Echuca 1.
The men’s doubles saw a slight edge earned by 3, two of three sets going its way.
Lois Toohey gets on the move.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
Steve Rawlings performed well in the section, featuring in both Echuca 3 victories.
Neither side could earn the advantage in the women’s doubles, splitting the grouping 2-2.
Jenny Townrow and Anthea Mathers earned a useful 8-1 win for Echuca 3, but Roxanne Dicketts and Mia Aston had a similarly dominant win for Echuca 1, getting up 8-2.
Heading into the mixed doubles, 3 held a one-set advantage, and 1 couldn’t pull it back over the final four sets, the sides splitting them 2-2.
Lachlan Smith goes through his pre-serve ritual.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
While the rest of the sets ended 8-6, Jasper and Carly James earned a minor advantage for Echuca 3 with an 8-4 result.
The final regular season round will be held on Saturday. Rochester will host Echuca 3 and LBU will visit Echuca 2.
Division two
LBU 2 scored a win over Rochester 2 9-69 to 4-50, keeping its hopes for the minor premiership alive.
Echuca 5 got by Elmore on games despite winning fewer sets, 6-61 to 7-56. Echuca 4 had the bye.
The final round sees leader Echuca 5 visit Rochester and second-placed LBU host third-placed Echuca 4 in what could be a semi-final preview.
