Echuca Tennis Club is the host venue for the section one clash this year as minor premier Rochester looks to put the finishing touches on a dominant season with victory over Echuca 2.
Rochy has suffered just one defeat this season, coming in surprising fashion to season-long wooden-spooners Lockington-Bamawm United, but has remained the hot favourite throughout the competition.
“We’ve had a good season,” Rochester Tennis Club president Karen Taylor said.
“We’re quietly confident, but obviously, it will be a good strong battle between two teams that are both contenders.”
Coming in as the undisputed favourite is a far different situation for Rochy compared to 12 months ago, where the side entered the decider against undefeated two-time defending champions Echuca 1.
Echuca 1 would go on to complete the treble on that occasion, but this time it is Rochester with the pressure of expectation.
Taylor isn’t taking her side’s opponents lightly.
“They are very consistent players across the board,” she said.
“They’ve got a lovely mix of experience and youth, so it’s going to be interesting.”
For Echuca 2, an improved season saw the side rise above clubmates Echuca 3 and Echuca 1 into a definitive second place.
A gritty semi-final battle with Echuca 3 saw the side sneak into the decider by just two games.
“We came back from a little bit behind and finished on pretty strong,” Echuca 2 captain Phil Higgins said.
“We were down a bit, but never gave up.”
Echuca 2 lost just four matches for the season, three of those coming at the hands of their grand final opponents, and always looked to be the presumptive number one among the remaining sides.
The first two meetings between the grand finalists resulted in nine sets to four victories to Rochester, the final encounter a much closer seven sets to six with overall games finishing tied.
“The last one they probably didn’t have their full side, so we respect that,” Higgins said.
“We’ve just got to work our combinations and make those work better for us.
“In the pressure of finals, (we hope) the finals experience we’ve got can get us over the line.”
Plenty more action will take place at Echuca Tennis Club on grand final day with section two and the junior divisions also set to host deciders.
In section two, the unquestioned top two sides, Echuca 5 and LBU 2, will fight for the title.
Tongala has once again proved its quality in the junior A division and goes into a final with Elmore 2 undefeated.
B division will see Rich River look to complete its own undefeated campaign against top contender Echuca 11.
Finally, it will be an all-Echuca encounter in C division as Echuca 17 and Echuca 20 battle it out.
Barring potential heat disruption, the junior grand finals are scheduled for 9am on Saturday, while the senior grades will get under way from 1pm.
