Rochester has established itself as the team to beat in the Campaspe Tennis Association this season, defeating remaining previously unbeaten rival Echuca 2 in round four.
Playing at home at Rochester Lawn Tennis Club, the competition leader got off to a strong start in the singles fixtures, with Jacob Grieves and Lachlan Smith each picking up singles wins to give their side an early lead.
It was four sets to none after a pair of men’s doubles triumphs for the Rochy contingent, before Echuca 2’s Chris Potter and Phil Higgins finally got their side on the board.
In the women’s doubles, Echuca was again dominated by Rochy, who took three of four sets for a commanding advantage.
Alyssa Moss and Kate Lee had the biggest win of the block for Rochester, coming out on top 8-3, while Jessica Cox and Hannah Poole managed the lone win for Echuca in a nail-biter, 8-7.
Rochester had already wrapped up the tie with seven sets but secured a comfortable margin after splitting the mixed doubles 2-2.
The final score read Rochester 9-89 to Echuca 2 4-59.
LBU vs Echuca 1
Both sides were looking for their first victory of the campaign, but it was defending champion Echuca 1 who recaptured some of its form from last season, logging a dominant victory over Lockington-Bamawm United 11-94 to 2-62.
A good start for the visitor to Lockington Bamawm United Tennis Club saw Ryan More and Jack Byrne each grab singles wins for Echuca.
The men’s doubles also favoured Echuca, who took two of three sets, LBU’s Paul Condliffe and Ian Haines finally stopping the rot 8-3 in the final match of the block.
Any hope of an LBU resurgence was squashed in the women’s doubles, with Echuca surging further ahead after taking three of four sets.
Roxanne Dickets and Lauri Melville had the strongest result of the block, winning 8-2, while Narelle Bacon and Monica Brereton were the lone winning pair for LBU.
Echuca locked in an impressive margin of victory with a clean sweep of the mixed doubles, all four sets going its way.
The focus is on local face-offs next weekend as Rochester takes on LBU in Lockington, while Echuca 1 and 3 will clash.
Division two
Echuca 4’s battle with Rochester 2 went down to the final set at Rochester Lawn Tennis Club, Echuca escaping with the win 7-58 to 6-53.
The story of the match was each side’s dominance in certain pairings.
After splitting the singles, Echuca took all three men’s doubles, before Rochester responded with victory in each of the four women’s doubles.
Echuca picked up two of the first three mixed doubles match-ups, levelling the tie at 6 sets and 52 games all.
It was Echuca’s Roger Kirchhofer and Lila Mahoney who stepped up in the final rubber, winning it 6-1 to break the deadlock and seal the win.
In the other fixture, Elmore flipped the script on LBU, picking up its first win of the season and handing its opponents a maiden defeat 9-61 to 4-53.
Elmore was quickly out to a lead, taking both singles and all three men’s doubles sets.
LBU picked up its first win in the opening two women’s doubles, clawing back to 5-2 down but Elmore reeled off another three straight to put the result beyond doubt.
A couple of strong wins in the remaining sets helped LBU reduce the games deficit, but it was comfortably beaten overall.
A bye for Echuca 5 was enough for them to move above LBU to the top of the ladder.
Next week Elmore will host Echuca 5, Rochester will travel to LBU and Echuca 4 has the week off.