Opaki claim two titles

Tennis

Opaki celebrated dual success at the Masterton Tennis Centre on Saturday.

They beat Martinborough 6-3 in the final of the Wairarapa Tennis Association's regional one competition and the regional two decider saw them secure a 7-1 win over Gladstone.

The men's singles in the regional one encounter evened out at 2-2 with Brett Dymond and Chris Davidson securing straight sets victories for Opaki as did Matt Nicholson at the top of the order for Martinborough. It was a battle royal between Jon McNab and Campbell Venning in the number four slot, with Venning eventually chalking it up for Martinborough 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

As was to be expected, the formidable Katie Alsop won her women's singles match in the No 1 position for Opaki and they made it two from two when Rebecca Perry scored a vital three-set victory over Libby Paterson 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.

Two further crucial wins for Opaki came in the men's doubles and while both were in straight sets, Stu Wyeth and Chris Davidson had to dig deep to stop their encounter with Matt Nicholson and Campbell Venning going the distance.Wyeth and Davidson winning 7-6, 7-5.

The women's doubles saw Martinborough's Rhona Lovell and Libby Paterson call on all their experience to score a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alsop and Perry but it was not enough to stop Opaki claiming the overall honours.

Scores, Opaki names first:-

Men's singles: Stu Wyeth lost to Matt Nicholson 3-6, 3-6; Brett Dymond beat Andy Darling 6-2, 6-3; Chris Davidson bt Bruce Lovell 6-4, 6-3; Jon McNab lost to Campbell Venning 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Women's singles: Katie Alsop bt Rhona Lovell 6-3, 6-0; Rebecca Perry bt Libby Paterson 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.

Men's doubles: Wyeth and Davidson beat Nicholson and Venning 7-6, 7-5; McNab and Dymond beat Darling and Lovell 6-0, 6-4.

Women's doubles: Alsop and Perry lost to Lovell and Paterson 3-6, 2-6.

The regional two grand final was dominated by Opaki which won three of the four singles through Mike King, Ben Wilkinson and Johnty Tatham and all of the doubles. The only win for Gladstone came in the singles where Scott Day prevailed.

Scores, Opaki names first:-

Singles: Mike King beat Bruce Patrick 6-3, 6-1; Adam Parker lost to Scott Day 2-6, 3-6; Ben Wilkinsom beat Sam Kyle 6-3, 6-0; Johnty Tatham beat Lachie Preston 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles: King and Parker beat Patrick and Day 9-4, Wilkinson and Tatham beat Kyle and Preston 9-5, King and Wilkinson beat Patrick and Kyle 9-5, Parker and Tatham beat Day and Patrick 9-6.