Top tennis teams prevail
Dan Clarke scored two premier grade wins on Wednesday. File Photo
The three leading sides in the Winebrokers NZ premier tennis competition all scored 6-3 wins on Wednesday evening.
Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero, beat clubmates Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma to stretch out to a 13-point lead on the table with two rounds remaining before a 1 v 2 final.
Ma’s top men’s double of Max Sowman and Stephen Dempster did their best to keep their side in the tie, winning their combined clash plus their respective singles, but Whero took out the other two doubles and four of the six singles, including three matches by default.
Whero’s Flynn Weaver and Callum Wells won two from two in the matches that were played.
With Whero all but confirmed for the final, the tightest tussle is for the second berth, with Rapaura Blanc holding a two-point edge after beating Renwick last week.
Clyde Sowman, Stu Campbell and Matt Sutherland all scored double victories for Blanc, Sowman and Oscar Sandford-Jury combining for a 6-2, 6-7, 10-6 victory in the top double against Chris Niott and Theo Sandford-Jury. Sarah Dillon won twice for Renwick.
The evening’s final match saw Rapaura Noir down Rapaura Rose.
The top doubles match turned into a battle royal, Rose’s Dan Clarke and Glen Cameron eventually getting the better of Ella Sowman and Jared Bell 7-5, 1-6, 10-8.
Clarke won twice, as did Jane Davidson for Noir.
Points: Whero 113, Blanc 100, Noir 98, Ma 86, Renwick 85, Rose 63.