Tennis: Side unchanged for final clash

Shaun Tamai and the rest of the Rotorua men's tennis team will play Otumoetai this weekend in a home final. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Rotorua men's tennis team have named an unchanged side for their grand final match against Otumoetai.

Rotorua have recorded a great season on the court, finishing the regular season atop the ladder before smashing Hamilton 6-0 in their semifinal.

But one milestone is still missing.

They will play at home tomorrow against Otumoetai to decide the champions of the inaugural Waikato Bays premier interclub competition, during the men's grand final at the Rotorua Tennis Club on Manuka Cres.

Rotorua No1 Shaun Tamai said his team had plenty of confidence heading into the final and all the guys had been playing well.

Tamai said they had named an identical team to the one that defeated Hamilton a fortnight ago - including Tamai, Sean Martin, James Wilce, Jesse Galvin-Dawson and doubles specialist Lionel Rogers.

"It has been an awesome team effort all year round," Tamai said. "Even with our young guys Ryan and Nick [Beamish], if it was not for them we would not be here, so we thank them too."

Tamai said at the start of the season the main goal for a few of the guys in the team, including himself, was just to get back on the court after a long break away from competitive tennis.

So it was a huge bonus to make the final, he said.

"It has been excellent to get back together, some of us have not played together or seen each other in a long time. So to get to the final is a real buzz."

Tamai said playing at home would be a huge benefit.

"It is a huge advantage playing at home, especially with the support we have been getting. It has been bloody excellent, it seems to lift us another 25 per cent."

He said the last time they played Otumoetai Tennis Club they lost on a countback, but they were missing a few key players.

He said at full strength they were feeling pretty confident but would not take Otumoetai for granted.

The team had talked about what they needed to do this weekend. "We have said just play like you have all year and play to the best of your ability."

The MetService yesterday was predicting wet weather in Rotorua this weekend, and Tamai said he hoped the final would not get rained out.

The format of the final will see the teams contest two doubles matches and four singles matches. The team who win the most matches will win the final.

Spectators are encouraged to go down and watch the final in Rotorua this weekend.

The Rotorua women's team just missed out on making the women's grand final, which will be contested tomorrow in Mount Maunganui between Mount Maunganui/Otumoetai and Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club.

Waikato Bays interclub finals (both games at 1pm):
Men: Rotorua v Otumoetai, Rotorua;
Women: Mount Maunganui/Otumoetai v Tauranga Lawn, Mount.