Per the association, a forecast top of 38°C or higher as of 6pm the night before the match results in the cancellation of play,
As the mercury was predicted to hit 39, the Section 1 and 2 deciders were postponed to this Saturday.
The juniors got an early jump on play to beat the heat, starting at 8am instead of the planned 9am, and there was plenty of exciting action in the offing as champions were crowned in Sections A, B and C.
Tongala 1 earned a second successive Section A title, getting the best of Elmore 2 5-37 to 3-26.
Elmore looked good early against the undefeated minor premier, Rory and Leo Hayes grabbing singles victories for a quick two-set lead.
Tongala fought back in the other two singles pairings to level the match, both on sets and on games after identical 6-1 and 6-2 margins in both sides’ victories.
There was plenty to play for as the teams rolled into the doubles and each side took one of the first two matches.
Rory Hayes and Tex Jones snatched a 6-4 win for Elmore, but Blythe Rayson and Tayah Milnes were dominant in their set, scoring a 6-0 result and putting Tonny in the lead.
The pair, along with teammates Logan Milnes and Kenzie Johnstone, continued the momentum over the final two rubbers, sealing the title with 6-3 and 6-2 wins.
Adding to the team’s dominance, Rayson and Tayah Milnes were recognised as the male and female aggregate winners for the section for the season, helping their side to an unbeaten record for the season.
In Section B, Echuca 11 was powerless to stop Rich River 1 from romping to an unbeaten year of its own, cruising to victory 6-36 to 0-14 in the final.
Team members Oliver Bowles, Vivaan Shenai, Max Johns and James Rush were in scintillating form throughout, four of the six sets wrapped up with the opposition logging two or fewer games.
The pairing of Connor Williams and Hunter Colless came closest for Echuca, pushing their opposition to a 6-5 result, but the day belonged to Rich River 1.
Max Johns added a male aggregate title to his team’s championship, while Ayala Berryman, whose Echuca 16 was eliminated in the semi-finals, was the female aggregate winner.
It was guaranteed to be three from three for unbeaten champions as Echuca 17 and Echuca 20 entered the Section C final without a loss.
Echuca 20, which went in with a lower table position after five draws or no results throughout the year, turned it on when it counted, defeating minor premier 17 4-28 to 2-23.
Angus Bray put in a starring performance in the final, winning all three sets he was involved in, while Billy Formosa, Clem Mahoney and Luke Murrells provided strong support.
Matilda Dicketts put in a good shift for Echuca 17, featuring in both of her side’s wins.
Despite going down in the final, Echuca 17’s Lucie Mastaing was the female aggregate winner for the section, while semi-finalist Echuca 21 boasted the services of male winner Brandon Dalziel.
The weather looks favourable for the senior grand finals to be held this Saturday at Echuca Tennis Club, with minimal chance of rain and highs forecast in the low 30s.
Should they go ahead, Rochester 1 will battle Echuca 2 in Section 1, while Echuca 5 and LBU will face off in Section 2.
