Tennis leaders tipped over

Things are tightening up at the top of the Wine Brokers NZ premier tennis competition.

Renwick CPR have led all the way so far in 2020, but closest pursuers Rapaura Wairau River Blanc narrowed the gap on Wednesday with a countback win.

The doubles were shared, Rapaura’s Owen Dodson and Donna Clark beating Meiko Kimura and Daniel Riordan in straight sets, then Renwick replying through Oscar and Joseph Sandford-Jury, who downed Hugh Robinson and Glen Cameron. This match went to three sets, a result that proved vital in the final wash.

The singles were also shared, both Sandford-Jury brothers, Dodson and Clark notching victories to level the tie at 3-3, Rapaura winning 7-6 on countback to hand Renwick their first loss.

The other match on Wednesday was more decisive. Marlborough Forrest Wines overcame Rapaura Wairau River Noir 5-1. Cameron Lyons, Jay Geris, Stephen Dempster and Amber Lyons scored singles wins for Marlborough, Lyon and Geris combining for a doubles victory. Rapaura’s point came from Jared Bell and Ella Sowman who beat Dempster and Lyons in the mixed.

The current points table sees Renwick holding a slender lead on 68 points, from Blanc on 66, Marlborough on 43 and Noir on 38. The final round robin match is next week.

Marlborough Nga Hau Wha lead the division two table on 82 points and have wrapped up the round robin in that division. They beat Rapaura Wairau River Rose 4-2 on Wednesday, while Marlborough Next Gen defaulted to Renwick Rallycats.

Points: Nga Hau Wha 82, Next Gen 53, Rose 40, Renwick 34.