"Hopefully that win inspires the troops," remarked Shane Wilson after the first singles tie in Hawke's Bay's premier men's interclub tennis final on Saturday.
In less than an hour Hughes and Smyth Unichem Pharmacy Team Wilson's No1 and captain had thrashed his Sainsbury Logan and Williams Team Curtis counterpart DamonCurtis 6-0, 6-0 at Napier's Onekawa courts.
Wilson's hopes were answered as his team went on to win 4-2 and become the inaugural winners of the Hawke's Bay Today Cup. Wilson blasted Curtis off the court.
His powerful serves continually found the corners and with Curtis struggling for length Wilson was able to hit numerous winners. Former national under-12s champion Finn Reynolds was also unbeaten for Team Wilson in the final.
Year nine student Reynolds, a member of the Napier Boys' High School team playing at this week's national secondary schools final in Auckland, beat Team Curtis No2 Andy Baker 6-1, 7-5 in singles play before combining with veteran Phil Murphy to beat Max Brewster and Mike Winkley 6-3, 6-3 in the No2 doubles clash.
Baker was almost as tentative as Curtis was on the neighbouring court during his first set. He also struggled for length and Reynolds was able to capitalise earlier than expected.
To Baker's credit he put up a better fight in the second set but Reynolds was still able to display the benefits of his international schedule.
Other fixtures on Saturday saw Shed 2 Team Donovan beat Jeff Gray Land Rover Team Giddy 5-1 in the playoff for third and Tracta Team Kitching beat Rowe Light Team Cooper 4-2 in the playoff for fifth.
