The championship-winning Carterton squad, Andi Steinemann, left, Karen Herrick, Cory Spooner and Matt Spooner. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD
It was the second major competition win secured by Carterton this season, following on from the Shirley Corlett Trophy success they had achieved prior to the Christmas break, and while it wasn't as comfortable as the end result might suggest, they always looked in control.
The men's singles saw Matt
Spooner maintain his unbeaten record in this sphere with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Chris Davidson but the Opaki player was probably more competitive than anticipated. Indeed it was only Spooner's greater experience which gave him the edge over the closing stages of both sets.
Cory Spooner, brother of Matt, was always expected to have a torrid struggle with Stu Wyeth and that was very much the case. Spooner took out the first set 6-4 but seemed in trouble when 5-3 down in the second. However, his never-say-die attitude paid dividends and he came back to win that set and the match 7-5.
The closest singles game of the day though was that which featured Andi Steinemann (Masterton) and Duncan Oakley (Opaki). This was a contrast of styles with Steinemann the heavy hitter and Oakley the counter puncher. Both sets went to a tiebreakers with Steinemann taking the honours on each occasion, the second after trailing 0-4.
That victory meant Steinemann finished the season without tasting defeat in singles play on the club scene and another of his teammates, Karen Herrick, had a similar tale to tell after her 6-0, 6-2 win over Finola O'Boyle in the women's singles. O'Boyle tried hard but Herrick's experience and stroke making skills were the deciding factor there.
