Two teams with very different records will meet when Masterton and Martinborough clash in a Wairarapa regional one tennis match at Martinborough tomorrow. Masterton have started their season in impressive fashion with two wins from as many matches while Martinborough have done just the opposite, being on the losing end ontwo occasions. There have been good excuses for Martinborough's poor start though. Their defeat by Gladstone came because circumstances meant they were able to field two men rather than the required four while last weekend they had to default a men's doubles match through injury and lost by just 5-4 to Opaki. No one would debate that if Martinborough are at full strength tomorrow even the in-form Masterton line-up would find it difficult to beat them. It does seem almost certain, however, that the normally reliable Andy Darling will be missing because of his back troubles but if either, or both, of the Nicholsons, Matt and Dan, are back on deck then they will be well served in both singles and doubles play. Masterton, for their part, will be looking to Luke Atkinson and Geoff Janse to continue the impressive form they have shown to date and it will be interesting to see how the promising youngster Sade Atkinson copes against another of the district's rising stars in Ashleigh Gane. The other regional one match tomorrow sees Gladstone taking on Opaki at Opaki and this too should be a closely-contested fixture. With Matt Stewart having work commitments Opaki have drafted New Zealand age group golf representative Ben Campbell into their side. He is no mean performer with a tennis racquet either and his presence certainly won't weaken Opaki's prospects of success to any great extent. Gladstone will, however, fancy their chances of having a slight edge over Opaki in the men's section and that will probably need to happen if they are to win as Opaki look the stronger of the two in the women's section. A tight finish is on the cards.
