Reigning back-to-back premier Shepparton North survived an early scare from league newcomer Kialla Park Old Students Commandos, with a clutch final rubber win determined by a single game securing North the premiership points.
KPOS claimed the first rubber by three games, but Shepparton North’s Louise Dwyer and Kellie Crosier rebounded the early blemish with a 6-1 second set win.
However, the third set would go the way of Commandos’ Declan Plant and Fiona Wieland, before reaching 3-19 to Shepp North’s 1-17 after the fourth rubber.
Requiring both rubbers to steal victory from the jaws of defeat, the illustrious Shepparton North talent proved it hasn’t lost its winning ability despite the Commandos’ ferocious round one challenge.
Clark Pettigrew and Crosier claimed a mammoth 6-2 fifth rubber win to put the games tally in North’s favour, meaning no matter the margin, a sixth set win would secure the reigning champs the chocolates.
A back-and-forth final set between Dean Pritchett and Dwyer and KPOS’ gun duo of Plant and Wieland ensued, but it was the North that won the 11th tie-breaking game of the rubber to edge ahead 6-5, resulting in a 3-29 to 3-26 win for Shepparton North.
Similarly, McEwen Reserve Gold tied the rubbers ledger at three-apiece after trailing three to one after four sets, however its opponent Lemnos had done enough damage in the early game to secure victory.
In its three rubber wins, Lemnos defeated McEwen Reserve Gold 6-1, 6-2 and also bageled Gold 6-0 to extract a 3-19 to 1-9 lead after four rubbers, with Thomas, Peter and Viv Jeffrey, as well as Jennifer Smith, doing just enough in the last two sets to secure a Lemnos triumph, 3-25 to 3-21.
Shepparton Lawn has begun its Friday Nights venture with a 4-27 to 2-20 win over McEwen Reserve Red, while KPOS Mavericks are the early ladder leaders after pulverising McEwen Reserve Green 6-36 to 0-13.
The Mavericks will look to continue their form into round two against the Red from McEwen Reserve, while the Commandos will aim to bounce back from their promising effort in defeat against McEwen Reserve Gold.
McEwen Reserve Green face round one winners Lemnos, while Shepparton North and Shepparton Lawn will be pitted against one another in a bid for a 2-0 start to the GMTA Friday Nights campaign.
