Busy time for top tennis players

New Marlborough senior residential doubles champions were crowned when the annual tournament was staged at the Forrest Winery tennis centre last weekend.

The two Hamishs, Morrow and McRae, added to their impressive collection of local titles with victory in the men’s draw, while youngsters Amber Lyons and Ella Sowman claimed their first women’s crown.

Lyons and Sowman dethroned long-standing title-holders Pauline Fudge and Donna Clark at the conclusion of the round robin format, winning their pivotal match 6-3, 6-4.

McRae and Morrow had a first-round bye then went on to down Daniel Riordan and Scott Walpole 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinal. In the decider, the vastly-experienced duo took care of runners-up Dan Clarke and Stephen Dempster 6-1, 6-3.

In the other semi, Clarke and Dempster downed Glen Cameron and Josh Joseph 7-5, 6-3, then Riordan and Walpole claimed third with a three-set win over Cameron and Joseph.

Premier play

The first week winners repeated the dose when the second instalment of the Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub was played on Wednesday evening.

Rapaura Wairau River Blanc defeated Marlborough Forrest Wines 2 in a very tight encounter, while Forrest Wines Marlborough 1 downed Rapaura Wairau River Noir 5-1.

The Blanc v MFW2 clash went down to the wire. Youngster Dan Clarke beat Ant Walkenhorst 7-6, 6-2 in the top men’s single, the first set tie-breaker going to 14-12, then Stephen Dempster downed Jared Bell 6-1, 6-3 in the No 2 tussle to get MFW2 off to a perfect start.

However Blanc roared back, Clyde Sowman getting the win over Daniel Riordan, who had to default with injury, and Donna Clark beating Mieko Kimura 6-2, 6-0 to level the tie before the doubles.

The combines were shared, Clarke and Dempster beating Walkenhorst and Bell 6-4, 6-2 in the men’s, while Sowman and Clark overcame Kimura and Riordan 6-2, 6-4 in the mixed.

This left the tie all square at 3-3 and six sets apiece, the eventual result being decided on countback of games, with Blanc prevailing 54-46.

The other match was more clear-cut, the only success for Noir coming at the top of the order, with Hamish McRae getting the better of his residential doubles partner Hamish Morrow 7-5, 6-4.

From then on MFW1 dominated, Chris Nott, Scott Walpole, Amber Lyons winning singles, then Morrow and Nott narrowly eclipsing McRae and Brendon Sutherland in the men’s double 1-6, 6-2, 10-8. To cap off a strong showing, Lyons teaming with Walpole to win the mixed over Glen Cameron and Katie Covell 6-1, 6-2.

In division two, wins were registered by Rapaura Wairau River Rose and Marlborough Falcons.

Rose defeated Marlborough Next Gen 5-1, Hiro Kishida and Scott Booth registering two wins, Kishida's super tiebreak tussle with Luke Marusaki a highlight. Next Gen’s point came from Theo Sandford-Jury who beat Max Soman 6-3, 6-0.

Falcons also prevailed 5-1, against Marlborough Mix ‘n’ Match.

WK+ Presidents Grade results, October 18.

Division 1: Renwick Racketeers 2 (26) Rapaura Masters 2 (23); Marlborough Power 2 (32) Rapaura Just Move 2 (34); Marlborough Accessman 1 Marlborough Chilli 3; MTC Townley Construction 1 Renwick Netsetters 3.

Division 2: Rapaura Newhawkes 3 Renwick Miss Hits 1; Marlborough Volleyeurs 3 Rapaura Pinot 1; Marlborough Swallows 2 (28) Renwick Mighty Four 2 (27); Renwick Rookies 2 (30) MTC Tennis the Menace 2 (24).

Division 3: Rapaura Blenheim ITM 3 Renwick Rebels 1; Renwick Raptors 0 Renwick Re-strung 4; Rapaura Chardonnay 3 G'town Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 1; Rapaura Hakinakina 1 Rapaura Matador 3.

Division 4: Renwick Racquets 2 (27) G'town Grove Tavern Platters 2 (24); Rapaura Syrah 1 Rapaura Shiraz 3.