School team pleased with place

It may not have been the result they wanted but Wanganui High School still earned their best finish yet at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tennis championships.

Wrapping up their mixed grade tournament yesterday against Bay of Plenty's Trident High, WHS won 4-2 to finish fifth overall.

"The competition was really strong, stronger than what we expected," WHS team manager Peter Reid said.

Kyle Butters finished unbeaten in singles games and was one of the top players.

However, across the team WHS did not have the fire power to match up to the likes of private schools such as St Kentigern and St Andrew's, who beat them in the opening rounds.

WHS then accounted for Feilding High, Burnside High, and Trident to win their last three matchups.

"These kids don't play much team tennis so it was good to get them together to represent their school," Reid said. "There's always next year. We've got Kyle for one more year, we've just got to get some support around him."

Younger sister Paris Butters was one of the best girls at the tournament, while their cousin Rebekah Butters-Chamberlain, a Year 9 student who has come from Palmerston North, also showed promise.

Another member of the illustrious tennis family, first cousin Paige Hourigan, helped her St Kentigern team to victory in the girls competition.

Hourigan will play a fundraising match in Wanganui tomorrow against professional Tracey O'Connor.