Rotorua-Lynmore men's first team player Sean Martin (front) in action with doubles partner and captain Shaun Tamai on the weekend. Photo/Ben Fraser
Rotorua-Lynmore men's first team player Sean Martin (front) in action with doubles partner and captain Shaun Tamai on the weekend. Photo/Ben Fraser
Rotorua-Lynmore men's first team are the formidable force in the Waikato Bay regional premier senior interclub tennis competition right now.
The unbeaten side were crowned champions for the third year in a row against Mount Maunganui Otumoetai at the Rotorua Tennis Club on Saturday.
Rotorua-Lynmore crushed their rivals 5-1 afterimpressive performances across both the doubles and singles matches.
Captain and No1 seed Shaun Tamai described the victory as an "exceptional achievement" by the club which has dominated this competition since it was reinstated three years ago.
"It was sensational to actual pull it off," Tamai said. "The support was unbelievable on the day and that created a great atmosphere and real boost out there on court.
"Everybody left everything out there and we just didn't give the Mount a chance."
Rotorua-Lynmore men's first team from left James Wilce, Sean Martin, Shaun Tamai and Jesse Galvin-Dawson celebrate with the trophy. Photo/Supplied
The Rotorua team fielded a strong squad - Tamai was joined by James Wilce (2), Jesse Galvin-Dawson (3), Sean Martin (4) and Campbell Brake as a reserve.
Tamai, 35, and Martin, 39, put in a strong performance in the doubles, winning 6-4 6-1. Martin went on to win his singles 6-2 6-0 while Tamai saw his opponent retire in the second set, up 2-0, after the skipper won the first set 6-1.
"Me and Sean [Martin] communicated well and our service and volley game got us the win," Tamai said. "It would have been nice for me to have then played a full singles game but my opponent started to cramp. When that happens there's no way back really."
Galvin-Dawson, 24, and Wilce, 36, cruised to a 6-1 6-4 win in the doubles and Galvin-Dawson went onto win 6-3 6-2 in his singles clash.
But Wilce, in the match of the day, went down 3-6 6-4 3-6 in an epic 2h 30m battle to give the Mount their solitary match win.
"It was incredible to watch James [Wilce] out there," said Tamai. "It's a loss on paper but he gave everything he had."
In total Rotorua-Lynmore won four out of their seven matches while picking up three default results before the final on the weekend.
Tamai said the unity of the squad was key to locking the trophy away for another year and added he was already eyeing next year's title.
"This season the unity of the boys has been incredible," he said. "We have worked as one and we've built a brotherhood here. The club as a whole has a lot to do with that - we mingle with all different generations and mix all sorts of tennis styles.
"We want to hold on to this title. At the moment our hearts are all in it and we are aiming to retain that title."
Meanwhile, the Rotorua-Lynmore men's second team finished fourth in the competition after losing 6-0 against Hamilton at home on Saturday in the third-place playoff match.
It's been a golden season for local tennis after the Rotorua women's side also won the female equivalent of the Waikato Bay regional premier senior interclub title at the end of last year.
