Shoe Clinic are the inaugural Wairarapa Tennis Head Challenge Series regional one champions after resisting a spirited effort from Morepork Games in the competition finale at Masterton on Friday, Shoe Clinic winning 4-2.
Both sides had every reason to fancy their chances going into the match, Shoe Clinic having comfortably topped the points table at the end of pool play while Morepork Games were on a consistent run of good form, having won their last five games on the trot.
It was the singles which proved the crucial factor in this particular clash with Shoe Clinic winning three out of four to establish a vital break.
Leading the way for Shoe Clinic was Matt Spooner who held firm in the first set before running away with the second set over his brother Cory Spooner.
However, Morepork Games were able to secure the No.2 men’s singles courtesy of Andi Steinemann, who edged Carterton clubmate Hideki Tadamasa in a tight three-set battle.
The “swing” match was always going to be the No.3 men’s singles where Shoe Clinic’s Georgia Atkinson returned from action with the Wairarapa Koru’s senior women’s cricket squad to get the better of fellow Masterton player Matt Bunny, Atkinson winning in three sets.
It was a success which certainly justified the decision to have the multi-talented Atkinson playing in the men’s section.
With Chichi Beck continuing her unbeaten run with a hard-fought victory over Morepork Games’ Petra Hall in the women’s singles , a telling 3-1 lead had been established for Shoe Clinic, which they wouldn’t relinquish.
As it happened, the doubles matches were shared, confirming that Shoe Clinic would take the pre-Christmas honours.
Fairmont Estate claimed third place with a 5-1 defeat of Ovation NZ.
Fairmont Estate swept the men’s singles with victories to Kelby Courtney, Luke Atkinson and Jon McNab, although Karen Goodall gave Ovation NZ a glimmer of hope with her crushing singles win.
Ultimately, Fairmont Estate was too strong in the doubles and finished what had been a frustrating competition for them on a high note.
Results:
Shoe Clinic defeated Morepork Games 4-2 (Shoe Clinic names first). Men’s singles: Matt Spooner beat Cory Spooner 6-4, 6-0; Hideki Tadamasa lost to Andi Steinemann 4-6, 7-5, 6-7; Georgia Atkinson beat Matt Bunny 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. Women’s singles: Chichi Beck beat Petra Hall 7-5, 6-4. Men’s doubles: M.Spooner and Tadamasa lost to C.Spooner and Steinemann 4-6, 6-7. Mixed doubles: Atkinson and Beck beat Bunny and Hall 6-0, 6-1.
Fairmont Estate beat Ovation New Zealand 5-1 (Fairmont Estate names first). Men’s singles: Kelby Courtney beat Chad Parson 2-6, 7-5, 7-6; Luke Atkinson beat Lochie McNab 6-1, 6-0; Jon McNab beat Caleb Nunn 6-3, 6-1. Women’s singles: Finola O’Boyle lost to Karen Goodall 0-6, 0-6. Men’s doubles: Atkinson and J.McNab beat Parson and L.McNab 6-4, 6-3. Mixed doubles: Courtney and O’Boyle beat Nunn and Goodall 6-2, 6-3.
