A tight final predicted
Rapaura Dryland Matadors will go into the final of the Allan Scott Premier Grade tennis competition on Wednesday evening as slight favourites.
They will meet Forrest Marlborough Storm, with both sides expected to be at full strength.
Matadors topped the ladder at the completion of the roundrobin stages, while Storm ended the regular season in third position.
A tight encounter is predicted in the men’s doubles with Rapaura’s Anthony Walkenhorst and Hamish McRae taking on Storm’s Hamish Morrow and Ben Petley. These combinations are yet to meet this season as Petley has only recently taken his place in the Storm team, replacing Anthony Michelena who has left the province.
The mixed doubles are expected to go the way of the Rapaura team with Glen Cameron and Donna Clark favoured to have an edge over Cameron Lyons and Sandy Stubbs.
The three men’s singles matches appear to be evenly-matched and could go either way. In the No 1 match-up, Walkenhorst and Morrow have played three times this season with the score standing at 2-1 to Walkenhorst. At No 2, McRae and Petley have yet to meet in the competition with a tight tussle anticipated as both players are in good touch at the moment. In the No 3 match, Cameron has defeated teenager Lyons in their two matchups but, with the last one going to three sets, there isn’t expected to be much between them.
In the womens singles, Rapaura seems to hold the edge with Clark expected to have too much firepower for Stubbs.
The final starts at 5.45pm at the Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre with doubles matches followed by singles. Spectators are welcome.