Chichi Beck will play No 1 for St Matt’s Gold. PHOTO/FILE
TENNIS
CHRIS COGDALE
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Opaki have taken top seeding for the semifinals of the Wairarapa women’s regional one interclub competition.
They are joined by St Matthew’s Gold, St Matthew’s Green, and Martinborough.
Opaki and St Matthew’s Gold finished the round robin equal on 11 points but having beaten the students in their round robin fixture, took top place on countback.
A countback was also needed to separate St Matthew’s Green, who lost 1-2 to Opaki on Friday night, and Martinborough after the teams finished tied for third on eight points.
St Matthew’s Green had won their fixture 2-1 and take the third seeding for the playoffs.
Opaki will play Martinborough, and the St Matthew’s teams will meet in Friday night’s semifinals.
Martinborough upset Opaki in their clash on November 8, after talented Irishwoman Sarah Healey came into the team at number one.
She comfortably beat the experienced Gerry Brooking in the singles and then combined with Katherine Jacobs to win the doubles.
With Jacobs understood to be unavailable for the semifinal, that would probably sway the favouritism back to Opaki.
The fixture between the two St Matthew’s teams resulted in a default win to the Gold team, making it hard to gauge the relative strengths of the two sides.
The match between the talented number ones, Chichi Beck for the Gold team and Amica Valencia for the Green team should be the highlight.
The final will be played on December 6.
FINAL STANDINGS
Opaki and St Matthew’s Gold 11; St Matthew’s Green and Martinborough 8; Masterton 2.
