Rochester got on the board in round three of the Campaspe Tennis Association’s division one competition, while Echuca 1 continued to prove it would be a force to be reckoned with all season long.
A back-and-forth contest between Rochester and Lockington-Bamawm United was the highlight of the round, with both sides fighting for their first win of the season.
Harrison Condliffe got the ball rolling for LBU, taking down Jacob Grieves in the first men’s singles 7-5 before Rochester’s Rhys Holmberg answered, taking down Darryl Squires 6-2.
LBU took a strong overall lead after sweeping the three men’s doubles matches, as Condliffe and Grant Humbert defeated Grieves and Luca Barbon 8-5 to get things started.
From there Darryl Squires and Simon Portwine won their match 8-7 and finally Humbert and Portwine teamed up to cruise to an 8-4 rout.
Katie Condliffe and Narelle Bacon kept the good times rolling for LBU, defeating Kate Lee and Rachael Major 8-2.
From there, Rochester took over.
The combination of Karen Taylor and Cadence Major built some momentum for the host, besting Meagan Brentnall and Michelle Stone 8-4.
Lee and Taylor partnered to defeat Condliffe and Melissa Haines 8-3 before the pair of Majors went into battle together, coming out on top against Bacon and Brentnall 8-3.
The mixed doubles were split straight down the middle as LBU’s pair of Condliffes bested Grieves and Rachael Major in the opening bout 8-4 before Holmberg and Taylor corrected course for Rochester, defeating Squires and Stone 8-3.
Rochester nabbed the third 8-3 before LBU took the final match of the day 8-6.
Despite LBU winning more rubbers and sets, both 7-6, Rochester won more games 79-74, therefore taking the victory, its first of the 2025-26 campaign.
Round four will see Echuca 2 take on Rochester and Echuca 1 battle it out with LBU, both matches to be held at Echuca Lawn Tennis Club.
Division two
With Colbinabbin having the bye in round three, the other four sides were in action in division two.
Tiger Bloods suffered a loss at the hands of Echuca 5 8-5 and Echuca 4 had a similar fate, going down to Echuca 3 5-8.