Semi-final outings are now complete, and the Shepparton District Tennis Association will this weekend crown its A1 and A2 premiers for season 2024-25.
The competition staged its last stop on the road to the big dance last weekend, and the numbers and scores thrown our way were intriguing, to put it one way.
A2 had the primary dose of bizarre, but in the higher A1 division, we saw the continuation of a season-long run of dominance.
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St Andrew's Nathan Boulino. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 6
Shepparton North's Kathy O'Neil. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 6
Shepparton North's Amy Lees. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 6
St Andrew's Daniel Lovell. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 6
St Andrew's Liz Nolan. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 6
St Andrew's Anneleise Benfold. Photo by Rechelle ZammitIt always looked like it was going to be tough going attempting to rein in runaway leading outfit Shepparton North, and Karramomus had the opportunity to stunningly snatch a grand final spot for itself.
North had been unable to totally blow Karramomus away in three regular-season meetings, only just scraping through to collect the points in their last renewal of acquaintances before Saturday’s play.
Nonetheless, the rampant North contingent put the foot down from the word ‘play’ and never looked back as Kade Madigan and Evan Cooknell played a role in two early set wins apiece, with their side putting four straight on the board in the blink of an eye.
The next two would fall the visitors’ way, but the margin of victories proved especially damaging as the top seeds resumed normal business from there, Madigan and Cooknell completing three-for-three outings in a 7-44 to 2-29 rout.
It was a genuine nail-biter in the second semi at McEwen Reserve, though, as McEwen and Lemnos fought right to the end over the other spot.
Another typically mighty Tim Comer outing had the hosts’ noses in front with two rubbers left in the day, but Arjen Kop and James Smith swept the penultimate tie to set up a barnstorming finish.
With everything to play for, Will Kop and Julie McLelland held firm by the barest of margins to give Lemnos a shot at the title in a 5-39 to 4-37 epic.
There was better news for Karramomus’ A2 squad, though, following a 6-44 to 3-27 victory over Central Park where Scott Lucas led the line, sewing up one of two grand final places.
The other semi, though, produced another instalment of the ‘games versus sets’ anomaly.
St Andrews and Shepparton North collided in a tooth-and-nail affair which saw the visitors claim four of the first seven sets.
However, despite two late salvos fired by St Andrews to claim five of nine encounters on the day, North’s fine margins allowed for its safe passage to the grand final in unusual circumstances, the strange final scoreboard reading 4-44 to 5-41.
Both divisions’ deciders are set for a 1.30pm start this Saturday, March 1 at Central Park Tennis Club.