Nelson win tight Lucas Cup tie
Nelson’s Lucas Cup senior representative tennis victory over Marlborough on Sunday was one of the closest in the trophy’s 68-year history.
The team scores were evenly balanced from the outset at the Nelson Lawns Tennis Club, with both sides coming out of the doubles with two matches each. The trend continued in the singles, each winning four matches, with the mixed doubles finally producing a match score of 8-8, a set score of 17-17 and a game score win to Nelson of 151 to 141.
The fixture produced some outstanding play, with Nelson clubmates David Averill and Paul Muncaster pushed to three sets in the first men’s doubles by Marlborough’s Albie Hailes and Hamish Morrow. Averill and Muncaster eventually prevailed 6-1 6-7 6-0.
Marlborough’s Kyla and Jade Otway also fought out at testing doubles clash with Nelson’s Farrah Richards and Holly Mace. The Nelson pair pushed the siblings all the way in the first set before the Otway’s secured two service breaks to take the second set and the win at 7-5 6-3.
The fixture’s pivotal clash was the men’s singles match between Nelson’s Taylor Bianco and Dave Sandford. With Marlborough ahead 4-3 overall in the singles leg, Bianco and Sandford were the last players out on the singles courts.
The pair produced a mammoth match with accurate baseline shots, consistent cross court placements and a furious pace keeping both players constantly on attack and defence. Bianco’s tenacity saw him through, winning the second set tie-break to take the match 6-4 7-6.