Sport

Gallery | Numurkah thumps Shepparton Lawn to maintain unbeaten GMLTA run

By Aydin Payne

Dec 5, 2022

Out of the middle: Shepparton Lawn’s Ella Rohde. Photo by Megan Fisher

Numurkah Warriors have continued their sublime unbeaten run in the Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association top-flight division following a powerful performance on Saturday.

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The Warriors brushed aside Shepparton Lawn The Valley to run out 10-92 to 2-50 winners at Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club.

Win number four keeps the Warriors locked in an equal share of the lead alongside fellow powerhouse Kyabram-Echuca.

“Yeah, we’re going along nicely at the moment. The whole team have been playing well,” Numurkah captain Mark Mills said.

“We’ve got some real nice depth this year and we’ve showed each week we can perform well against anyone. It’s been a great start to the season.”

In the zone: Numurkah Warriors’ John Brunner. Photo by Megan Fisher

Under dry and hot conditions the Warriors began the contest in sizzling fashion.

The first four men’s rubbers went the way of the home side and it was clear that once the women’s singles rolled around the visitors would need a miracle.

And the turning point in the match looked to have come in the first of the women’s singles.

The Valley’s Hope Curtis-McDonald held on to clinch an enthralling contest against Numurkah’s Maggie Snowdon.

Mills said the 8-7 tiebreak was a “high quality” duel between the pair, which ultimately went the way of the left-handed Curtis-McDonald.

Focused: Numurkah Warriors’ Maggie Snowdon. Photo by Megan Fisher

In the next rubber, Curtis-McDonald’s sister Darcy was able to get the job done over Lucy Bassett 8-5.

All of a sudden The Valley looked to have worked their way into the contest.

But like all good sides do, Numurkah responded with a classy 8-0 win in the first doubles encounter thanks to Nick Fenaughty and Jack Bassett.

The following five rubber sets went the way of Numurkah, clinching it a resounding 42-game win.

“In the singles matches I thought Shepp Lawn performed really well. It was a pretty tight day and we were made to work hard,” Mills said.

“There was some high-quality tennis being played and it wasn’t like we were gifted anything.”

Winding up: Shepparton Lawn’s Luke Turcato. Photo by Megan Fisher

Meanwhile, there was no surprise to see Kyabram-Echuca pull out a blistering effort over Shepparton Lawn Tropics.

One of this year’s GM1 premiership fancies the combine recorded an emphatic 12-96 to 0-46 performance to remain at the top of the table.

Lastly, Velvet Tigers held on to salute by 11 games over a gallant Shepparton Lawn Average Joes.

Jarrod Bingham kick-started the day with an 8-7 win for the Tigers and it wasn’t until the fourth rubber that the Average Joes clinched a set thanks to Tom Ranson (8-1).

The contest ended with the Tigers running out 8-75 to 4-64 winners at Nathalia.