An enthralling contest is on the cards for this year’s Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association GM1 grand final with Numurkah Warriors taking on Velvet Tigers.
The Tigers will be looking to continue their current giant-killing form on Saturday, with the side defeating third-placed Echuca Lawn and minor premiers Rich River Rebels to make the big dance.
Numurkah was just as clinical in its quest for a grand final berth, defeating Rich River in a nail-biting semi-final contest to sail straight through to the final.
The Warriors will definitely be the favourites for this contest, having finished second on the table, however, Numurkah captain Mark Mills and Velvet captain Jarrod Bingham said it could go either way.
“We’re excited to have made the grand final, it was a big match against Rich River a couple of weeks ago,” Mills said.
“I think it’s going to be our men who we’ll back in to beat their men, but the Velvet Tigers women are very, very strong, so it’s sort of a mismatch of a grand final if you look at it that way.”
Bingham shared Mills’ thoughts.
“They’re going to be very tough to beat, I think their men’s group is the strongest by far,” Bingham said.
“At the same time we’ve got two really good women’s players who should give us an advantage on the day.”
Both teams are looking forward to the contest, with Mills saying the Warriors are excited about the match.
“We sort of don’t know what the Velvet Tigers are going to throw at us,” Mills said.
“We’re just going to worry about us and put the best team we can out on the park and see how we go.
“It will be a good battle for sure, we’re going to have to play well to win, but that’s how you want it in a grand final.”
Velvet Tigers will be well dressed for the big occasion, with new uniforms organised for the grand final clash.
Unlike Numurkah, the Tigers are a combination side, with players from Shepparton Lawn and Nathalia joining forces under the Velvet banner.
“Probably half our team has come up from section two last year and they’re super excited,” Bingham said.
“We’re really getting around the Nathalia people that are in the team, they’ve been a big support for us, it’s good to have some of the smaller clubs represented in big events like this.
“We’re just hoping we can put in a good performance against a really tough team in Numurkah.”
The GM1 grand final will begin at 1.15pm on Saturday at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club.
This won’t be the only grand final action on the day, with six matches to be played, all starting at 1.15pm.
In the GM2 Mixed competition, Numurkah Raiders will be taking on Shepparton Blues, Shepparton Lawn Pelicans are set to face Avenel in the GM2 Open category, Tatura Tornados will battle Numurkah Penguins in the GM3 East, Tongala will play Tatura Storm in the GM3 West and Dhurringile will take on Tongala in the GM4 open.