Ross new SuperSport tennis champs

Villie Tamanikaitani and Shania Pihama playing doubles during the SuperSport Tennis competition.

Whanganui Intermediate finished third of five teams in the annual SuperSport Tennis played at the Basset St courts on Wednesday.

WIS, fellow Whanganui school Rutherford Junior High, Monrad Intermediate School, Palmerston North Intermediate Normal and Ross Intermediate entered teams in the challenge.

Wanganui Tennis Club development officer Gene Ridgway said WIS and RJHS were competitive but could not match Ross and Palmerston North for overall experience and performance.

"PNINS, the multi-time defending champions of the SuperSport Tennis bannerette, had won the bannerettes for each of the past five years and were playing well again."

The Manawatu school dominated the boys and girls singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches against WIS, RJHS and Monrad.

"Ross also a very strong tennis team led by Emily Williams - a Manawatu junior representative player - [and] were doing the same in their first three rounds," said Ridgway.

Entering the last round, Palmerston North had won every match they played, while Ross had given away one drawn match to be slightly behind the defending champions.

"Ross, however, were not to be denied - living up to the challenge beating PNINS three matches to two to win the bannerettes for the first time," said Ridgway.

When all the points had been counted, Ross were on 110 points, PNINS 104 and WIS in distant third with 74.

Trish Amoroa from Rutherford was the convenor on the day.

"Senior leaders of all the schools that participated should be proud of their students for not only their etiquette on the court but for also their etiquette off the court," she said.

"Every student was a reflection of their school culture - manaakitanga [respectful] and whanaungatanga [collegiality].

"An awesome day with awesome people."