Eastland got off to a great start against Waitakere in the all-doubles tie.
They won the opening two men’s doubles, Holland and Bruce Ledger combining for one win, and Holland and Batlajeri winning the second 18-21, 21-18, 21-17.
Bruce Ledger is back on the rep scene, having last played for Eastland at veterans level in 2012.
Prebble and Batlajeri lost the third men’s doubles 7-21, 17-21.
Annabel Riwaka and Ruth Ledger lost a close opening women’s doubles 16-21, 23-21; Ruth Ledger and Morley and Riwaka and Linda White also went down as Waitakere took a 4-2 lead.
Waitakere won all three mixed doubles — Riwaka and Batlajeri and Holland and Morley losing in two; and Prebble and White in three after winning the second game 21-13.
Eastland’s men dominated all three of their men’s doubles to give them a 3-0 lead over Hawke’s Bay.
Bruce Ledger and Prebble won 21-17, 21-13, Holland and Batlajeri were always in control in their win, and Holland and Prebble came through a tight first game to win in two.
Hawke’s Bay evened it 3-all with a whitewash of the women’s doubles.
Ruth Ledger and Riwaka were in catch-up mode from the start and went on to lose 21-23 in the second, Ruth Ledger and White lost a see-sawing match 18-21, 16-21, and White and Morley were dominated from the outset to lose in two.
It came down to the mixed doubles and Eastland stepped up.
Batlajeri and Riwaka won 21-18 21-11, Holland and Morley won 21-18, 21-13, and Prebble and White emerged triumphant after a tough three-setter, 21-12, 16-21, 21-18.
The next ties are at Rotorua in September.
