Manawatu¯ display fighting qualities

Manawatu¯ ’s rep tennis team doesn’t do things the easy way when it comes to the Christie Cup.

Manawatu¯ defended the cup against Hawke’s Bay at Havelock North on Sunday, drawing 12-12, but had to come back from 11-8 and 12-9 down to level the tie and hang onto the prestigious trophy.

Hawke’s Bay actually won the tie on countback, but the Christie Cup has to be won outright.

Last season Manawatu¯ had to come from 8-4 to win 13-11 and defend the cup against Taranaki, and they had earlier that season beaten Wanganui 13-11 to win it.

The summer before Manawatu¯ had an unsuccessful challenge against Wanganui where they drew 12-12 in Palmerston North.

This year’s tie against Hawke’s Bay was level 6-6 after the singles, but even then Manawatu¯ had been trailing 4-3 and 6-4, before winning the last two matches, which both went to three sets.

They then won two of the six doubles matches to be down 10-8 and it looked as if the cup would be staying in Hawke’s Bay.

Midway through the mixed doubles Hawke’s Bay were up 11-8, then 12-9, but that’s when Manawatu¯ started their fightback.

Bridget Dickins and Damien Silk had to go to a third-set super tiebreaker to win 0-6, 7-6, 10-8

Mike Harris and Hannah Sutherland-smith won their match, then Gareth Toland and Lilia Jerry won theirs to snatch the draw. By that stage people were watching their game and cheering every point.

Ella Wells and Harris were unbeaten throughout the day, winning all three of their matches.

Wells won her singles matchup, then won in the doubles with Sutherland-smith and then in the mixed doubles with Jono Spring.

Harris won his singles match, then won with Silk in the doubles, then with Sutherland-smith in the mixed doubles.

‘‘It really came down to ticker,’’ Spring said. ‘‘For us to come back and win from that situation we were in, we shouldn’t have won.’’

Manawatu¯ will have defences after Christmas against Taranaki and Wanganui.