Just months on from its second straight unbeaten season, Shepparton North Tennis Club’s pennant side is about to go for broke in the big smoke.
The club has scored an invitation to Tennis Victoria’s State League Championships in Melbourne this weekend and will test its mettle against other premiership-winning clubs from across the state.
For North’s Dean Pritchett, even being on the invitee list is a win in itself.
“Anyone who won a senior grade premiership got an invite – you had to nominate your team to go too – and we were lucky to be picked out,” he said.
“You’re supposed to be matched up against people who are a similar standard, so it should be interesting.
“I think we actually do get to play at the National Tennis Centre around Rod Laver Arena on the Sunday. That’ll be a bit of an experience for us all.”
The championships pit flag-winning teams from affiliated competitions throughout Victoria against each other, grading on rating, regardless of gender of age.
Four venues play host to the blockbuster event, including Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, Royal South Yarra Tennis Club, East Malvern Tennis Club and even the hallowed clay courts of the National Tennis Centre.
Pritchett will be joined by fellow North guns Helen Jackson, Evan Cooknell, Clark Pettigrew, Louise Dwyer and Kellie Crosier, while Megan Carr won’t feature due to work commitments.
All had a hand to play in the pennant side’s 7-51 to 2-34 masterclass over McEwen Reserve in the March grand final and this added element of competition is the cherry on top for a club punching well above its weight class.
“It’s great for the club, we’re only a little club out the road,” Pritchett said.
“We’ve got four senior teams, two midweek teams and three junior teams and we had three of the senior teams make the grand final and we won two.
“For a little club which only has four courts out the road, it’s a pretty good effort.”