Whero forge tennis lead

Marlborough Forrest Wines Whero continues to set the pace in the Wine Brokers NZ premier interclub tennis competition.

On Wednesday afternoon they took on fellow unbeaten side Rapaura Wairau River Blanc and came away with a 4-2 victory, establishing themselves at the top of the table.

The doubles matches were shared. Whero’s top-ranked partnership of Hamish Morrow and Chris Nott came away with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jared Bell and Ant Walkenhorst while Blanc's Clyde Sowman and Issy O’Brien defeated Josh Harris and Mieko Kimura 6-1, 6-0. O’Brien and Harris were both playing their first premier matches.

Straight set singles wins to Morrow, 6-3 over Walkenhorst, and Nott, who beat Bell 6-2, 6-3, put Whero in the box seat, then youngster Harris battled his way to a 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory over Sowman to clinch the tie.

O’Brien also marked her debut with a singles victory, beating Kimura 6-0, 7-5.

The evening’s second match featured Rapaura Wairau River Noir and Marlborough Forrest Wines Ma, the former coming away with a 4-2 win.

After the doubles the tie was level, Noir’s Ella Sowman and Glen Cameron beating Stephen Dempster and Jaco van Hensbergen 1-6, 6-4, 10-3 then Ma’s Anna Simpson and Koos Richter downing Eveline Apthorp van der Linden and Max Sowman 6-2, 6-1.

Singles wins to Cameron, Max Sowman and Apthorp van der Linden ensued. Cameron defeated van Hensbergen 6-2, 6-2, Sowman accounted for Richter 6-1, 6-4 while Apthorp van der Linden eventually prevailed 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 over Simpson.

The final singles clash was labelled the game of the round, Ella Sowman and Dempster playing out an enthralling three-setter, before Dempster prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 14-12 to pick up a second point for the losing side.

This week's President's Grade results:

Division one: Renwick Racketeers 2 (32) Rapaura Triple Fault 2 (22); Renwick Four Strung 0 Rapaura Just Move 4; Rapaura Wairau River 1 Rapaura Masters 3; Renwick Netsetters 1 Marlborough Chilli 3; Marlborough Power a bye.

Division 2: Rapaura Matador 2 (30) Rapaura Newhawkes 2 (24); Rapaura Mavericks 1 Marlborough Volleyeurs 3; Marlborough Swallows 1 Rapaura Pinot 3; Marlb. Tennis the Menace 3 Renwick Miss Hits 1; Renwick Rookies a bye.

Division 3: Renwick Raptors 1 Rapaura Floorpride Interiors 3; Renwick Re-strung 3 Renwick BTL 1; Grovetown Grove Tavern Turf & Tackle 3 Renwick Racquets 1; Renwick Rebels v Renwick Chardonnay (no result submitted)

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