NGHS pair Liley Verhoeven, Jane Wyllie to clash in final

Napier Girls' High School sports co-ordinator Jane Wyllie and student Lily Verhoeven will clash in tomorrow's Hawke's Bay Residentials open women's tennis final. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay tennis representative Liley Verhoeven checked her emails and text messages with more trepidation than normal this week.

"I was wondering if I was going to be told to do some extra hard runs or some other form of physical activity by one of our physical education teachers. They may have got a message from our sports co-ordinator here at school to tire me out in any way possible."

Fourteen-year-old Napier Girls High School year 10 student Verhoeven was referring to her school's sports co-ordinator, Jane Wyllie, who she will take on in the open women's singles final of the Hawke's Bay Residentials at their Hawke's Bay Lawn Club tomorrow.

"After losing to Heidi [Blackbourne] in last year's final I'm pretty determined to win this one. I know I'm going to have to stay focused for the whole game," Verhoeven said.

She lacked the necessary focus when beaten 6-0 in the first set by Havelock North's Cathie Clarkson in her semifinal before she bounced back to win the next two 6-2, 6-1. While she has yet to play Wyllie in a serious singles game she has had numerous training hits with her on the school courts and played with her in a parent-child tournament two years ago when her father and long-time opponent, Lex, had to withdraw.

"I started when I was 4 and I've had regular hits with dad and my older brother, Jacob ,since then," Verhoeven recalled.

The 2015 winner of the open title had the ideal rehearsal for tomorrow's final when she beat Sophia Nash 6-0, 7-5 in the under-16 final of the residentials on Thursday night. Her school team which was coached by her club professional, Simon Winter, went to the national secondary schools tournament in Auckland in March and finished seventh.

"That was the first time the school has played at that level and we got some hard games which will help me this weekend too."

A member of the Hawke's Bay under-15 girls hockey team which won the national under-15 premier title last year, Verhoeven is eligible for the side again this year. The training regime required to play at this level helps with her tennis fitness.

Wyllie, 46, started playing singles again only this summer but proved she will be a tough opponent for Verhoeven when she beat former Hawke's Bay No 1 Louise Reynolds 6-2, 6-3 in her semifinal.

"I know I'm going to have to place the ball well to beat Lily. She is a lovely player and she has got the fitness."

A product of Woodford House where she was coached by the late Earle Denford, Wyllie had another major sporting assignment this weekend before the final. Last night she was playing for Hastings High School Old Girls' Spicers Keas against All In Elusive in a Hawke's Bay Super 8 premier netball game.

"I love all sports ... they all keep you fit," Wyllie said.

She is rapt with the input her father, Mick Ellingham, has had with her tennis. They have had regular training sessions in recent months.

"It's great tennis can foster that father-daughter relationship."

Wyllie's major concern in the countdown to the 12-noon showdown is whether or not she will handle playing in front of the big crowd expected to attend. Verhoeven had that experience last year.

"It will probably take me a while to settle down. I'm not used to that sort of environment."

Needless to say Verhoeven and her support crew won't be getting sucked into
any sort of false sense of security.

The 2.30pm men's final will be a repeat of last year's with the defending champion, Rob Reynolds, of the host club up against Greendale's professional coach, Luke Donovan. While Reynolds won 6-3, 10-8 last year Donovan will fancy his chances more tomorrow in the wake of some hot recent form and Reynolds' decision to study fulltime in Palmerston North.

Both finals will be umpired by Hastings-based coach Craig Giddy.

Tennis Eastern's prizegiving for senior and junior players will be held after the finals.