Tennis: Rotorua ready for semi clash

Jesse Galvin-Dawson (pictured) and the rest of the Rotorua men's tennis team will play their semifinal this weekend at home. Photo / Stephen Parker

After a long summer break, the Rotorua men's tennis team are ready to step back on court and play St Peter's Tennis Club (Hamilton) in their semifinal.

The round robin stage of the Waikato Bays premier interclub tennis competition finished in early December, meaning it has been a two-month wait for tomorrow's semifinals.

Rotorua finished top of the standings after the round robin stage and will get home court advantage against St Peter's tomorrow at 1pm.

Team captain Shaun Tamai said playing at home made a big difference and they were raring to play.

"We have had a couple of doubles tournaments during the long break ... so we have had a good couple of battles and are all ready to go."

He said St Peter's were a young side but could trouble any club.

"On their day if their head is right they will give us a tough game, but at the same time hopefully us older guys, with a bit more wisdom, can overcome them. But they definitely have a strong team."

The two clubs met in the last round in December with Rotorua winning convincingly 6-0, taking both doubles matches and all four singles matches.

Rotorua are the defending champions in the Waikato Bays premier interclub tennis competition and will get a home final if they win this weekend.

The home team will line-up with their best side for the semifinal with Tamai at no1, Sean Martin at no2, James Wilce at no3 and Jesse Galvin-Dawson at no4 in the singles matches. Doubles specialist Lionel Rogers is also available and will likely play in one of the doubles matches.

- Semifinals tomorrow at 1pm:

Rotorua v St Peter's (Hamilton), Rotorua Tennis Club; Whakatane v Lugton Park (Hamilton), Whakatane Tennis Club.