Perfect start under pressure

Rotorua's Sean Martin. Photo/File

The Rotorua men's tennis team will look to put an end to Whakatane's perfect start to the season, when the two sides meet at the Rotorua Tennis Club.

Defending champions Rotorua will host top-of-the-table Whakatane tomorrow at 1pm during round five of the Waikato Bays premier interclub competition.

Rotorua captain Shaun Tamai said it was shaping up as a massive clash.

"All six games will be pretty tough. The boys from Whakatane have definitely stepped up this year and have had some great wins," he said.

Rotorua won the inaugural Waikato Bays premier interclub competition last season, and have had a target over their heads since.

The local team, made up of players from the Rotorua Tennis Club and Lynmore Tennis Club, have won three of their four matches so far this season and sit third on the ladder.

Rotorua welcomed back Sean Martin during their last match in Cambridge and will field their strongest team again this weekend.

- Draw for tomorrow (round five):
Men (1pm start): St Peter's v Hamilton, at Hamilton; Tauranga Lawn v Cambridge, at Tauranga Lawn; Rotorua v Whakatane, at Rotorua; Otumoetai v Lugton Park, at Lugton Park.
Ladies (1pm start): Mt Maunganui/Otumoetai v Cambridge, at Mt Maunganui; Gate Pa v Tauranga Lawn, Gate Pa.

-Tables:
Men: Whakatane 27, St Peter's (Hamilton) 26, Rotorua 23, Lugton Park 15, Hamilton 13, Tauranga Lawn 7, Cambridge 5, Otumoetai 4.
Women: Mt Maunganui/Otumoetai 21, Tauranga Lawn 21, Gate Pa 10, Cambridge 4.