Liam Kerr won crucial singles and doubles matches for Masterton. PHOTO/FILE
TENNIS
CHRIS COGDALE
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Opaki have come agonisingly close to making the Tennis Wairarapa Regional One Interclub final, falling one match short of sneaking into the decider.
Opaki needed to win Thursday night’s fixture against Masterton by a score of 6-3 or more, but in the end had to settle for a 5-4 victory, with Masterton holding on by winning a crucial men’s doubles match.
Opaki had a sniff of achieving their goal, leading 4-2 after the singles, four of which were decided in super tiebreakers.
Only Masterton’s Boon Huxtable, with a 6-2 6-2 defeat of Duncan Oakley, and Belinda Day for Opaki, with a 6-1 6-0 thumping of Deb Kerr, were untroubled in the singles.
Chris Davidson came from a set down to beat William Day 2-6 6-4 10-2, Stu Wyeth triumphed 6-1 2-6 10-5 over Andi Steinemann, and Geri Brooking had a tough 5-7 6-3 10-6 win over Netia Morison, to give Opaki a handy lead.
Liam Kerr won a valuable point for Masterton, beating Richie Day 6-7 6-3 10-6.
Brooking and Belinda Day picked up Opaki’s fifth win, with a 6-3 6-3 win over Morison and Deb Kerr in the women’s doubles, while Huxtable and Rhys Hooper picked up a crucial win for Masterton, beating Oakley and Wyeth 6-3 7-6.
All that remained was the second men’s doubles between Opaki’s Davidson and Jon McNab against Steinemann and Liam Kerr.
The Opaki pair won the first set 6-3, only for the Masterton combo to bounce back and win the second set 6-4 and send the match to a super tiebreaker.
Steinemann and Liam Kerr took an early break, and never looked back, winning 10-2, to book Masterton’s spot in the final against Martinborough.
POINTS
Martinborough 42, Masterton 29, Opaki 28.
