Family to fore again in trophy victory

WRAPPING IT UP: Wanganui's Patrice Mathey and Leela Beattie complete the final mixed doubles win over Manawatu during yesterday's successful Christie Cup defence.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 010315WCBRCTEN01

THEY remain one of the most industrious families in Wanganui sport and yesterday's Christie Cup victory over Manawatu by 17 matches to seven proved another triumph for the Butters clan.

Despite missing eight players from the team which first lifted the cup two years ago, including their top seeds like Victor Romero, Paige Hourigan and Emma Hayman, Wanganui had taken a surprise 7-5 lead at the end of the singles matches.

Doubles has always been the strength of Wanganui's cup defences, and once again they were over the 12-match threshold to retain the trophy before the start of the mixed doubles section.

Spokesman Dave Butters said if he was being honest, he had only factored three guaranteed singles victories into their plans - coming from New Zealand representatives Leela Beattie, Kyle Butters and veteran Karen Cranston.

"Karen was awesome, she won all her matches," Dave Butters said.

Beattie, the No5 ranked women in the country, comprehensively beat Manawatu's No1 Bridget Dickins 6-0 6-0 to really set the ball rolling.

"We've never seen anyone win a match that fast, Leela destroyed her," Dave Butters said.

Development officer and player Gene Ridgway was also very impressed.

"Leela Beattie won in about 10 minutes, I don't think I'd finished my warm-up."

Kyle Butters also wrapped up three wins but what proved the tipping point was the play of two other Butters cousins - Paris and the youngster Rebecca.

Paris Butters defeated highly rated Natalie Dean, who has played in the United States on scholarship, 6-0 7-6, then backed up with doubles and mixed doubles victories.

Having joined the team back at the start of their Christie Cup run in 2012, Paris was very aware she was now taking a more prominent role in the team, following in the footsteps of her cousin Hourigan, whom she wants to emulate by playing in the United States, and older brother Kyle Butters.

"It's quite nerve-wracking, actually," she said.

"I want to do well, it's important to the club.

"Stay positive, just so long as I play my best."

The real surprise was cousin Rebecca Butters, who in her Christie Cup debut won both her singles match and the doubles alongside Tara Butters.

"It really was the girls [matches] that saw us through. Rebecca's win was unexpected," said Dave Butters.

In the men's games, Dave Butters said Simon O'Leary also had a clean sweep, while Michael O'Callaghan fought out a tough three-set singles loss despite a massive blister, while the other debutant Sam Russell "went down in spectacular fashion" in his singles game.

Wanganui will now look to defend the cup against Taranaki, in a fixture that has been postponed twice this summer.