Anderson’s Bay first holder of President’s Cup

ANDERSON’S Bay took a clean sweep against Taieri to claim the President’s Cup in Dunedin club tennis on Saturday.

As initial holder, Anderson’s Bay will put the cup on the line to be challenged for weekly next season.

Taieri was without Hugo Tomlinson and Phil Williams but Anderson’s Bay did not have things all its own way, despite the scoreline.

There were three rubbers that went to three sets and the Bay had to save several match points in one of them.

Ryan Eggers beat Carlos Reid 36, 62, 64 in the top single. There were frequent errors from both players but the swirling wind affected Reid more, as he had the greater power but had to concede to the better control of Eggers in the tight third set.

Philip Mirfin comfortably won the battle of the veterans against Craig Buskin and Gavin Mockford claimed a similar score over Andrew Aitken.

Henry Hailes fought long and hard to beat Eli Newall 57, 75, 64. He appeared to be cruising at 50 up in the decider only for Newall to fight back to 54 before making vital errors.

In the dead rubber doubles, Reid and Buskin shared the first two sets and held match points in the thirdset tiebreak before going down 1311.

The bottom double was played in a shortened format because of time constraints and was won 42, 42 by Mirfin and Hailes.

In other ties which were played as ‘‘friendlies’’, Balmacewen beat OBHS 42 and Tertiary beat St Clair by the same score.