Tennis leaders prosper

Marlborough Forrest Wines continue to show the way in the Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub tennis competition.

On Wednesday they took on Rapaura Wairau River Noir, who they lost to earlier in the season, and came away with a comfortable 5-1 victory.

The No 1 men’s singles battle was tight, Marlborough’s Hamish Morrow eventually getting the better of old sparring partner Hamish McRae 2-6, 6-3, 13-11.

Chris Nott won the No 2 tussle, beating Hugh Robinson 6-4, 6-2, and Amber Lyons downed Pauline Fudge 6-0, 6-1 to get Marlborough off to a strong opening. The fourth singles match, between up-and-comer Rapaura’s Ella Sowman and Stephen Dempster, went Sowman’s way 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 to give her side their only win of the evening.

Nott and Morrow beat McRae and Robinson 6-2, 6-2 in the men’s double, while Dempster and Lyons defeated Sowman and Fudge 6-3, 6-1 in the other match.

In the other division one tie, between Renwick and Rapaura Wairau River Blanc, Blanc prevailed 4-2. Due to Renwick being short of  a player, Rapaura won three matches by default, Eveline Apthorp’s straight sets win over Mieko Kimura their only win on the night. In the No 1 men’s single Ant Walkenhorst lost 7-6, 6-0 to Cameron Lyons, while Darin Herd and Kimura beat Apthorp and Jared Bell 3-6, 6-1, 10-7.

In division two action Marlborough Next Gen scored a 4-2 win over Renwick Jana. Luke Marusaki and Lauren Fisher both scored singles and a double win for the victors while Jason Bryant did the same for Renwick.

In the other clash, division two leaders Marlborough Nga Hau Wha were beaten 4-2 by Rapaura Wairau River Rose.

Just four matches were played, with two defaulted by Marlborough. Jaco van Hensbergen scored two wins for Nga Hau Wha while George Decken was unbeaten for the victors. Max Sowman’s 0-6, 6-3, 10-7 win over Ivan Fedoryshchev provided the crucial point for Rapaura.

WK+ Presidents Grade results from December 7:

Division 1: Marlborough Chilli (team withdrawn); Marlborough Power Rapaura Masters 2 (30) Rapaura River Rats 2 (20); Rapaura Just Move 1 Rapaura Wairau River 3; Renwick Netsetters 4 Renwick Racketeers 0 (defaulted).

Division 2: MTC Roger Townley Construction 4 Rapaura Newhawkes 0; Rapaura Pinot 1 Marlborough Volleyeurs 3; Renwick Mighty Four 3 Marlborough Swallows 1; Marlborough Tennis the Menace 3 Renwick Rookies 1.

Division 3: Renwick Rebels 2 (27) Renwick Restrung 2 (30); Renwick Miss Hits 4 MTC Boom Boom Time 0; Rapaura Matador 2 (22) Rapaura Chardonnay 2 (22).

Division 4: Grovetown Grove Tavern Platters 1 Renwick Racquets 3; Renwick Rascals 0 Grovetown Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 4; Rapaura Shiraz 2 (30) Rapaura Syrah 2 (21).