Tennis tussle looms for second final berth

The scene is set for a battle royal on the Rapaura tennis courts next week where the final qualifying spot for the Winebrokers NZ premier will be decided.

Rapaura sides Noir and Blanc will compete for a chance to take on top qualifier Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero in the final on December 15.

Currently Noir hold a four-point lead over Blanc, although the final game of their match against Renwick on Wednesday was not completed.

The tie, played at the Renwick courts, was won by Noir, 5-3, Ryo Kimura winning both his doubles and singles matches, along with Caroline Cornelius, for the victors. The top men’s double was a tight tussle, Chris Nott and George Guthrie beating Jared Bell and Darin Herd 5-7, 7-6, 10-7.

Whero ensured they would be top qualifiers with a 6-3 win over Rapaura Rose. One of the feature matches of the night saw Whero’s Joseph Sandford-Jury beat Dan Clarke 4-6, 6-3, 10-3 after Clarke had combined with Glen Cameron, who was unbeaten on the night, to down Sandford-Jury and Jaco van Hensbergen in the doubles. The women’s doubles were also a close affair, Mieko Kimura and Emily Preece beating Joey Beckett and Jo Richmond 4-6, 6-3, 10-4. Flynn Weaver, Callum Wells and Kimura went unbeaten.

The final match saw Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma eke out a 5-4 win over Rapaura Blanc.

The top men’s doubles saw a topsy-turvy tussle with Max Sowman and Stephen Dempster eventually getting the better of Clyde Sowman and Oscar Sandford-Jury 3-6, 6-0, 11-9.

Anna Simpson and Anna Knight went unbeaten for Ma while Stu Campbell did the same for Blanc. The singles were shared 3-3 with two of the doubles matches decided by a super tiebreak, underlining the closeness of the fixture.

In the final round, Whero play Renwick and Ma take on Rose although most eyes will be on the result of the Rapaura club derby.