Masterton number one Boon Huxtable retained his unbeaten run in interclub singles with a straight sets win over Carterton’s Jono Hurley. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV
TENNIS
CHRIS COGDALE
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Carterton and Martinborough are the early leaders in the Gawith Shield regional one interclub championship.
Both teams needed wins in the doubles to secure 5-4 victories in a tight first round played last week.
In Thursday night’s clash between Opaki Red and Martinborough at Opaki, the scores were 3-3 after the singles.
As predicted, three-time defending champions Martinborough dominated the men’s singles, and Opaki won both women’s singles.
Martinborough’s loss in the men’s singles was at number one, where Chris Wilkie was beaten in a super tiebreaker by Lochie McNab 7-5 1-6 10-7, while Ed Wilkie, Marco de Groot, and Rick Wilkie all won in two sets.
Katie Alsop defeated Katherine Jacobs 6-4 6-2, and St Matthew’s Collegiate student Francesca Wells got the better of Martha Wojcikowski 6-4 6-4 to even the tie. They then paired up to comfortably win the women’s doubles 6-3 6-2.
Martinborough had the last say, though, with Chris Wilkie and de Groot beating McNab and Matt Bunny 6-2 6-1, and Ed and Rick Wilkie winning the clash of the brothers with Ben and Nathan Riwai-Couch 6-4 6-4.
Carterton signalled they would be a force to be reckoned with on their return to the premier competition, coming away with a 5-4 win over a strong Masterton team.
Carterton led 4-2 after the singles with wins to Matt Spooner at number two, and three of the region’s rising stars William Day, William Orsborn, and Elizabeth Whitaker.
Masterton number one Boon Huxtable maintained his prefect record in interclub singles edging Jono Hurley in two tight sets 7-5 6-4.
The women’s singles were shared with wins to Masterton’s Sue McRae over Alice Whitaker 6-2 6-1, and Carterton’s Elizabeth Whitaker, who held on to beat Netia Morison 6-2 7-6.
That left Carterton needing one win in the doubles to secure the victory, but they made hard work of it.
Masterton fought back with Kelby Courtney and Liam Kerr beating Day and Andi Steinemann in three sets 7-6 3-6 6-0, and McRae and Morison taking the women’s doubles 6-1 6-4 over Olivia Bailey-Rotman and Karen Goodall.
The experienced combination of Hurley and Spooner shone through, coming from a set down to win a tense three-setter over Huxtable and Luke Atkinson 3-6 6-3 6-4.
This week’s second round will be played tonight because of the Waitangi Day long weekend.
Opaki Red will take on Carterton, and Masterton will be at home to Opaki White.
