Tennis: Strong team for Tauranga trip

BIG CHALLENGE: Rotorua will go up against Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club today in the new Waikato Bay of Plenty interclub tennis competition. Pictured are Rotorua team members Shaun Tamai (left), Jesse Galvin-Dawson, Ryan Beamish, Lionel Rogers, Nick Beamish and James Wilce. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 040914BF16

Rotorua will take a strong men's team to Tauranga today to try to keep their perfect start to the season alive.

The second round of the new Waikato Bay of Plenty interclub tennis competition is being played today. The Rotorua men's team will play the Tauranga Lawn Tennis Club in Tauranga while the Rotorua women's team have a bye.

The Rotorua men's team won their first match of the season against Thames, two weeks ago, and will look to keep that form going today.

They have named a strong team to play Tauranga including number one seed Shaun Tamai, Sean Martin, Jesse Galvin-Dawson, James Wilce and Lionel Rogers.

"That is our top four," Tamai said. "We also have Lionel who will be playing in the singles or the doubles, so we will play with five."

Only four players can play in the singles matches with one substitute player for the doubles.

The format sees both teams play four singles matches followed by two doubles matches.

Tamai said they were looking forward to the contest and hoped the rain would stay away.

"Everyone is eager to play especially when it is only every two weeks."

He said he was not sure exactly who would line-up for Tauranga but they had the potential to field a strong side.