Rochester is one step away from claiming the Campaspe Tennis Association trophy after qualifying for the grand final in dominant fashion.
The semi-final round, played at Rochester Lawn Tennis Club, brought about a 2023-24 grand final rematch, Rochy taking on defending champion Echuca 1.
The sides are in different places 12 months on from that title clash, Rochy improving into runaway league leaders this season, while Echuca 1 has been well below the devastating form it exhibited in its championship run.
That form sheet provided the guide for how the clash turned out, Rochester scoring a comprehensive 10-94 to 3-63 victory.
Rochester had complete control over the men’s fixtures, taking both singles and all three doubles rubbers in a dominant performance.
Jacob Grieves and Lachlan Smith scored the singles wins for Rochy, before Smith linked up with Tobie Woodfine for the largest win of the doubles section, 8-2.
Echuca held its own in the women’s doubles sets, splitting them 2-2, but Rochester continued to build its lead on overall games.
Rachael Major and Karen Taylor earned the biggest margin of the four sets, 8-2, while Taylor’s 8-3 win with Kate Lee was also stronger than either Echuca triumph.
The contest was all but decided before the mixed doubles, Rochy up seven sets to two, but the minor premier continued to extend its lead, winning three of the four sets.
A narrow 8-7 win to Todd Charnas and Roxanne Dicketts was the only bright spot for Echuca, while Woodfine and Major had the best win of the section 8-2.
Echuca 2 vs Echuca 3
Echuca 3 had shown improvement this season, and defeated Echuca 2 in the last regular season meeting between the sides.
However, Echuca 2 had been the more consistent of the sides throughout the year and came in with a superior record.
A close contest looked to be on the cards and that’s precisely what eventuated, Echuca 2 just managing to hold off 3 for a two-game win 7-76 to 6-74.
Hudson Jasper earned Echuca 3 an early advantage with a dominant 6-0 win in the singles, Shaun Trice countering for Echuca 2 with a 6-3 win in the other singles.
Echuca 3 gained a further lead in the men’s doubles, claiming two sets to one, although Echuca 2’s Phil Higgins and Chris Potter had the largest win of the section as they prevailed 8-2.
The women’s doubles were all hotly contested, but it was Echuca 2 that came out with a 3-1 advantage.
Jessica Cox and Judy Poole performed well, picking up an 8-4 win, as did Echuca 3’s Charlotta Groenewald and Megan Farrell.
Echuca 2 held a one-game advantage ahead of the mixed doubles, with every game crucial over the final stretch.
The sides split the sets 2-all, and it was Phil and Lucy Higgins that scored the widest margin, 8-2 in their set.
Two 8-6 results cancelled each other elsewhere in the grouping, and Hudson Jasper and Anthea Mathers concluded the tie with an 8-3 win to Echuca 3.
Over the four sets, Echuca 2 had extended its lead by just one game, giving a two-game overall win and a place in the grand final.
After a week off, Rochester and Echuca 2 will meet at Echuca Lawn Tennis club on March 15 to decide the championship.
Other grades
Elmore was eliminated by Echuca 5, 9-67 to 4-44, in division two.
Echuca will now play Lockington-Bamawm United which defeated Echuca 4 9-63 to 4-48.
In junior division A, Elmore 2 defeated Echuca 6 7-46 to 1-26 and will now take on Tongala in the final.
Tonny got by Echuca 8 5-41 to 3-24.
Division B had Rochester 4 eliminated by Echuca 5 1-21 to 5-32.
Echuca will now take on Rich River, who beat Echuca 16 4-33 to 2-19, in the final.
Elmore 6 was eliminated in division C, going down to Echuca 17, 1-14 to 5-35.
Echuca 17 will meet Echuca 20 in the grand final after the latter dispatched Echuca 21 3-27 to 3-23.