Derby time for premier tennis contenders

Two closely-fought club derbies marked round seven of the Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub tennis competition on Wednesday.

On the Marlborough club courts at Pollard Park Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero got back to winning ways after slumping to their first defeat last week, while Rapaura Wairau River Blanc came out on top of the grass-court match-up against Rapaura Wairau River Noir.

Whero accounted for Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma 4-2, their doubles combinations setting the tone with two wins. Josh Harris and Mieko Kimura beat Koos Richter and Taylor Keen 6-1, 6-4 but Chris Nott and Stu Campbell were pushed all the way by Stephen Dempster and Jaco van Hensbergen before prevailing 7-5, 4-6, 10-3.

Nott got the better of Dempster 6-1, 6-3 in the top singles match, then Kimura won by default to ensure Whero took overall honours.

Van Hensbergen, who beat Campbell 7-5, 6-4, and Richter, who outlasted Harris 4-6, 6-4, 10-7, picked up consolation wins for Ma.

The other clash also ended 4-2.

Once again, a couple of doubles wins were key to the final outcome. Blanc’s Ant Walkenhorst and Oscar Sandford-Jury beat Ella Sowman and Glen Cameron 6-3, 6-4, before Clyde Sowman and Issy O’Brien combined smartly and held their nerve to beat Max Sowman and Eveline Apthorp van der Linden 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.

Walkenhorst backed up his doubles win with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ella Sowman in the top single, then Sandford-Jury beat Cameron 6-2, 6-3 to wrap up the tie.

Max Sowman claimed family boasting rights with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Clyde Sowman, then Apthorp van der Linden beat O’Brien 6-3, 6-3 to gain some consolation points for Noir.

Points after seven rounds: Whero 41, Blanc 38, Noir 23, Ma 10.

WK+ Presidents Grade results, November 21.

Division 1: Rapaura Masters 4 Renwick Netsetters 0; Rapaura Just Move 3 Rapaura Wairau River 1; Rapaura Triple Fault 3 Renwick Four Strung 1; Marlborough Power 0 Renwick Racketeers 4.

Division 2: Rapaura Pinot 3 Marlborough Tennis the Menace 1; Marlborough Volleyeurs 4 Marlborough Swallows 0; Rapaura Newhawkes 2 (26) Rapaura Mavericks 2 (27); Renwick Rookies 2 (31) Rapaura Matador 2 (28).

Division 3: Grovetown Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 4 Renwick Chardonnay 0; Renwick Raptors 0 Renwick Re-strung 4; Rapaura Floorpride Interiors 3 Renwick Rebels 1; Renwick Racquets 0 Renwick BTL 4.

Division 4: Rapaura Shiraz 3 Rapaura Spring Creek 4 Square 1; Grovetown Grove Tavern Platters 0 Rapaura Hākinakina 4; Renwick Rascals 1 Rapaura Mainfreight 3.