Rochester picked up where it had left off before the break, earning its eighth win from as many attempts, taking down Echuca 3 9-84 to 4-63 at Echuca Lawn Tennis Club.
Lachlan Smith and Tobie Woodfine started the fixture on the front foot for Rochy, each grabbing singles wins to give their side an early lead.
Echuca 3 pulled one back to kick off the men’s doubles, Ryan More and Steve Rawlings pairing for an 8-4 win, but Rochy proved too strong in the other two sets, going up four sets to one.
The trend continued through the women’s doubles, as Rochester won three of four sets, Kate Lee and Rachael Major each featuring in two wins.
Echuca 3 managed to stem the tide in the mixed doubles, splitting the section 2-2 but Rochy had done more than enough to earn another comfortable win.
Rochester club president Karen Taylor spoke to Campaspe News over the new year break about her club's dominance in the association so far this season.
“Another season playing as a team has helped gel our side and make us play a better team game,” she said.
The major addition to the side has been Alyssa Moss, who linked up with Rochester after her previous club Rich River wasn’t able to field a section one side this campaign.
Moss had only dropped one set in the 2024-25 season before the break.
Rochester is in a healthy position as a club across the CTA, also fielding a side in section 2 and four junior sides, one each in A and C-grades and two in B-grade, although none are showing the dominance of the section one outfit.
“We're well-supported with Milo (Paul) Condliffe as our coach,” Taylor said.
“He's here twice a week offering private coaching to the community, which has been well-supported over many years now.
“He adds just another layer to our club which is great, helping us bring up the juniors.”
If Rochy goes on as it has been this season, 2024-25 could be the year they get their hands on the championship.
“(The plan is to) keep everyone fit and healthy and, hopefully, we can make it to the grand final and bring home the championship shield,” Taylor said.
LBU vs Echuca 2
Echuca 2 was dominant coming out of the break, dismantling LBU 11-98 to 2-57 at Lockington-Bamawm United Tennis Club.
The singles rubbers were hard-fought, but Shaun Trice and Logan Milnes were able to snatch them 7-5 and 7-6 respectively.
In the men’s doubles, the Echuca pairings had their LBU counterparts’ numbers, taking all three sets by a combined 24 games to nine and stretching their side's overall lead.
The streak extended to seven straight sets to start the women’s doubles, before Katie Condliffe and Lois Toohey finally ended the drought with an 8-6 result for LBU.
Echuca 2 already had the points locked up but continued to add to their total over the mixed doubles section, taking three sets to one, including an impressive 8-0 shutout from the pairing of Stephen Hope and Jessica Cox.
This week's fixtures did little to alter the makeup of the table, Rochester remaining on top, with Echuca 2 the chief contender.
Next week’s matches will see Rochester host Echuca 1, and Echuca 2 and 3 face-off, while LBU has the bye.
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