Premier tennis leaders stretch advantage

Both leading teams picked up victories to put some distance between themselves and the rest of their Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub tennis rivals on Wednesday evening.

Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero and Rapaura Wairau River Blanc bagged clear-cut wins, although several matches in both ties went all the way to super tiebreaks.

Whero came up against Rapaura Wairau River Noir, the return of number one Hamish Morrow helping the former score a 5-1 victory.

Morrow won his singles match 6-0, 6-4 over Ella Sowman, the teamed with Chris Nott to beat Sowman and Glen Cameron 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 in a see-sawing doubles clash.

Nott beat Cameron 6-4, 6-4 in the second single while Josh Harris came out on top of a battle royal with fellow youngster Max Sowman 1-6, 7-6, 10-5, to ensure Whero got the majority of the points. Max Sowman and Eveline Apthorp van der Linden scored a 6-0, 6-3 win over Harris and Mieko Kimura to score Noir’s only victory.

The other match was tighter. Blanc did battle with Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma and forged a 4-2 win.

The doubles were shared, Clyde Sowman and Heidi Stenhouse Allen getting up 6-4, 6-0 to put Blanc on the board, while Jaco van Hensbergen and Dan Clarke beat Ant Walkenhorst and Jared Bell 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in a nail-biter to grab a point for Ma.

Clarke continued his good form to bag a 6-2, 7-6 singles win over Walkenhorst, then Bell downed van Hensbergen 6-0, 6-4 to bring the scores level. However, wins to Stenhouse-Allen and Sowman ensured Blanc were able to bag the win and maintain pressure on Whero at the top of the table.

Points: Whero 48, Blanc 44, Noir 24, Ma 12.

WK+ Presidents Grade results, November 28

Division 1: Marlborough Chilli 3 Rapaura Wairau River 1; Rapaura Masters 4 Renwick Four Strung 0; Rapaura Just Move 2 (29) Renwick Racketeers 2 (25); Rapaura Triple Fault 3 Marlborough Power 1.

Division 2: Renwick Miss Hits 1 Marlborough Swallows 3; Rapaura Pinot 3 Rapaura Mavericks 1; Marlborough Volleyeurs 3 Rapaura Matador 1; Rapaura Newhawkes 2 (25) Renwick Rookies 2 (29).

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

Division 4: Rapaura Spring Creek 4 Square 0 Grovetown Grove Tavern Platters 4; Rapaura Mainfreight 2 (29) Rapaura Shiraz 2 (29).