Shepparton North's Dean Pritchett wins when it matters most.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
For a third straight week, the back-to-back premier has fended off upset hopefuls at the final rubber.
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In a mouth-watering encounter for future match-ups to come, Shepparton North faced league newcomers Kialla Park Old Students Mavericks in an early top-of-the-table clash of the Goulburn Murray Tennis Association Friday Nights competition.
After two tense initial encounters determined by clutch performances in the final rubber, the North’s resilience and match-winning prowess was at the fore once again on Friday at Kialla Park Recreation Reserve.
A dynamic affair, the momentum between KPOS and Shepparton North ebbed and flowed in either direction.
But after five rubbers of tennis, one left to play, the North’s Dean Pritchett and Louise Dwyer were left in a familiar position.
The scores read 3-24 to 2-22 in favour of the Mavericks.
If the North’s close victories were to roll on, they would require a clinical, comprehensive sixth set win.
But if the rest of the GMTA clubs haven’t figured it out by now, the warning signs should be loud and clear.
Never write off the kings in the North.
A 6-2 final rubber went the way of Pritchett and Dwyer, reversing the two-game deficit while tying the sets ledger for a 3-26 to 3-28 result.
Kialla Park Old Students (KPOS) Mavericks' Jake Sprunt fires a return.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton North's Dean Pritchett wins when it matters most.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton North's Helen Jackson settles before serve.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Kialla Park Old Students (KPOS) Mavericks' Yvette Ambrosini lines it up down the T.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Kialla Park Old Students (KPOS) Mavericks' Wil Chong plans his next serve.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton North's Clark Pettigrew whips a forehand.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton North's Clark Pettigrew hustles to avoid conceding.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton North's Louise Dwyer makes a desperate swing.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton North is one of only two teams left unbeaten this season, while being the sole club to win three matches, after fellow undefeated side Lemnos settled for a draw in round three.
Stunned by McEwen Reserve Red in a gripping near-upset, Lemnos surrendered its advantage of 3-26 to 2-23 in the final rubber, as a prolific Tanner Hunter performance carried the Red to its first premiership points of the season via a 3-29-all tie.
Hunter was a part of all three rubber wins the Red reserved on Friday, boosting his team off the bottom of the ladder.
McEwen Reserve Gold is at last on the board after losing its first two matches narrowly by just four and two games, with a 5-32 to 1-18 dispatching of inter-club rival McEwen Reserve Green bumping the Gold up to fifth.
KPOS Commandos are fourth after a 5-33 to 1-15 rout of Shepparton Lawn, which has lost two games on the slide after its round one triumph.
Another top of the table encounter is set for round four, with Shepparton North and Lemnos fighting to keep their unbeaten streaks alive, while the Commandos face McEwen Reserve Green, Shepparton Lawn host the Mavericks, and Red and Gold clash at McEwen Reserve.
