Tennis leaders maintain momentum

Marlborough Forrest Wines continued their winning streak during round four of the Wine Brokers NZ premier tennis competition.

They accounted for their clubmates, Marlborough Forrest Wines 2 on Wednesday at Pollard Park, winning 5-1.

The only win for the losing side came at the top of the order, Joseph Sandford-Jury beating Hamish Morrow 7-6, 6-2 in the No 1 men’s single. The rest of the singles matches went the other way, Chris Nott beating Stephen Dempster 6-0, 6-3, Scott Walpole accounting for Daniel Riordan 6-4, 6-2 and Amber Lyons downing Mieko Kimura 6-3, 6-2.

In the doubles, Nott and Morrow took care of Sandford-Jury and Dempster 6-4, 6-2 while Walpole and Lyons overcoming Kimura and Riordan 7-5, 6-3.

The other division one clash was also a derby match, Rapaura Wairau River Noir easing past clubmates Rapaura Wairau River Blanc in difficult, slippery conditions on the grass courts.

The match ended tied 3-3, with Noir taking the honours by virtue of their 7-6 advantage in sets won.

The doubles were shared, Glen Cameron and McRae beating Ant Walkenhorst and Clyde Sowman 7-6, 6-3, then Donna Clark and Jared Bell getting the better of Ella Sowman and Eveline Apthorp 6-0, 6-2.

Blanc suffered a setback with Walkenhorst pulling out of the top men’s singles clash against Hamish McRae with a back injury. However, Bell levelled the scoreline with a super tie breaker 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 win over Ella Sowman. Cameron pushed Noir ahead with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Clyde Sowman, before Clark eased past Apthorp to draw the teams level, necessitating a countback.

In division two, Marlborough Next Gen scored a 5-1 win over Marlborough Falcons, Theo Sandford-Jury, Leon Marusaki and Ben Preece bagging both singles and doubles wins. The other tie was won by Marlborough Mix ‘n’ Match, who prevailed over Rapaura Wairau River Rose 7-6 on set countback after the matches were tied 3-3.

WK+ Presidents Grade results from November 1.

Division 1: Renwick Netsetters 1 Marlborough Chilli 3; Renwick Racketeers 3 Rapaura River Rats 1; Marlborough Accessman 2 (32) Rapaura Just Move 2 (32); MTC Townley Construction 0 Rapaura Masters 4; Rapaura Wairau River 2 (28) Marlborough Power 2 (23).

Division 2: MTC Tennis the Menace 1 Renwick Miss Hits 3; Rapaura Newhawkes 1 Renwick Mighty Four 3; Renwick Rookies 2 (29) Rapaura Pinot 2 (28); Marlborough Swallows 3 Marlborough Volleyeurs 1.

Division 3: Rapaura Matador 3 Renwick Rebels 1; Rapaura Blenheim ITM 2 (26) G'town Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 2 (22); Rapaura Hakinakina 0 Renwick Re-strung 4; Rapaura Chardonnay 2 (33) Renwick Raptors 2 (29).

Division 4: Grovetown Grove Tavern Platters 2 (27) Rapaura Syrah 2 (26); Renwick Rascals 0 Renwick Racquets 4; Rapaura Shiraz a bye.