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GMLTA Gallery | Average Joes make a big statement

Hat-trick: Average Joes’ Hope Curtis-McDonald triumphed in all three of her opening GMLTA sets. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Competition is under way across Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association after players completed their first round of fixtures on Saturday.

In a reduced four-team format in GM1 for season 2023-24, two fixtures were on court to kick off the season.

Shepparton Lawn’s two clubs, Average Joes and The Valley, had the opportunity to meet on home turf at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club.

Average Joes looked anything but, storming to a 10-93 to 2-70 victory.

Most individual rubbers were close, with only two of the 12 decided by more than three games.

Average Joes stood up in the biggest moments, though, with an emphatic 8-2 doubles victory to Hope Curtis-McDonald and Matilda Cameron securing the tie.

Elsewhere, an evenly poised set of games played out as Numurkah hosted Velvet Tigers.

The Tigers rode the efforts of Hannah O’Brien, who played a crucial role in steadying the ship with a part in two doubles wins.

The results contributed to a late three-game Velvet winning streak that had them snatch the overall victory 6-78 to 6-67.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit was at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club to snap the action.