Staging a thrilling comeback on enemy turf, the Tropics claimed back-to-back wins with a hard-fought 7-79 to 5-73 victory in Numurkah, asserting themselves as early frontrunners in season 2026-27.
Honours were split two-all in the men’s singles with David Poole (8-3) and Jack Forde (8-2) propelling Numurkah to an eight-game advantage after the opening four rubbers, despite Ben O’Brien and Robbie Mifka’s efforts tallying up the Tropics’ maiden set wins.
Tropics ace Hope Curtis-McDonald levelled proceedings with a sizzling 8-0 win over Lucy Bassett, though Warriors’ Yvette Ambrosini (8-5) was unfazed to keep Numurkah ahead of the game.
The men’s doubles couldn’t split the two clubs, with Hope Curtis-McDonald and Feixu Chang’s opening women’s doubles victory trumped by the trusty Warriors duo of Poole and Forde, who sent Numurkah into the deciding two rubbers with a four-game advantage.
Enter Robbie Mifka and Curtis-McDonald.
The mixed doubles pair nudged the Tropics into the lead for the first time with an 8-2 win in the penultimate set of the day, with O’Brien and Chang sealing the comeback with an 8-4 triumph in the last.
The Tropics now stand as the top grade’s sole unbeaten outfit, while neighbouring outfit Shepparton Average Joes notched their first win of the campaign.
The Joes were dominant throughout, posting a commanding 10-86 to 2-50 victory over Mooroopna, with Luke Dixon, Luke Tercato, and Lorenzo Rigoli all delivering convincing singles performances to set the tone.
Jaxon and Rhian Eddy stole a pair of rubbers back for the Stringlab Travellers, but Leanne More’s singles win set the tone for the Joes to claim the final half dozen stanzas and walk away a strong round two winner.
The Joes will look to double up against Numurkah this weekend, while Mooroopna will be hoping for renewed fortunes against the Tropics on their home court.
