First loss for tennis leaders

Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero tumbled to their first loss of the Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub tennis competition on Wednesday - albeit by a very narrow margin.

Whero have set the pace this term, but came up against a tenacious Rapaura Wairau River Blanc side, who eventually came out on top on a countback of games after honours in both matches and sets were even.

The doubles were both closely fought and shared, Whero’s Dan Riordan and Mieko Kimura beating Stu Campbell and Heidi Stenhouse-Allen 6-4, 1-6, 10-6, then Blanc’s Ant Walkenhorst and Jared Bell replying with a 6-7, 6-3, 10-2 win over Oscar Sandford-Jury and Dan Clarke.

Both teams picked up two singles wins, Walkenhorst beating Sandford-Jury 6-2, 6-0 and Stenhouse-Allen downing Kimura 6-3, 6-3 for Blanc. Clarke overcame Bell 6-4, 6-3 and Riordan got the better of Campbell 6-1, 6-4 for Whero to send the match to a countback. With both sides having won seven sets, it came down to games won, with Blanc having an edge 58-49.

The evening’s other encounter was not as tight, Rapaura Wairau River Noir making it a double for the country club with a 5-1 win over Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma.

All the matches were decided in straight sets, Noir’s Ella Sowman and Glen Cameron beating Koos Richter and Stephen Dempster 7-6, 6-3 in the top double, then claiming singles wins, along with Max Sowman and Eveline Apthorp van der Linden to wrap the tie up.

Ma’s sole win came from Anna Simpson and Jaco van Hensbergen in the second doubles clash.

Points after six rounds:Whero 35, Blanc 32, Noir 21, Ma 8.

President’s tennis

WK+ President’s grade results from November 14.

Division 1: Rapaura Triple Fault 3 Renwick Netsetters 1; Marlborough Power 2 (30) Rapaura Wairau River 2 (27); Renwick Racketeers 4 Renwick Four Strung 0; Rapaura Masters a bye.

Division 2: Renwick Rookies 0 Marlborough Swallows 4; Rapaura Newhawkes 2 (33) Marlborough Tennis the Menace 2 (22); Marlborough Volleyeurs 4 Renwick Miss Hits 0; Rapaura Pinot a bye.

Division 3: Renwick Raptors 1 Renwick Rebels 3; Grovetown Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 2 (29) Renwick Re-strung 2 (28); Renwick Racquets 2 (23) Renwick Chardonnay 2 (33); Rapaura Floorpride Interiors 2 (31) Renwick BTL 2 (28).

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