Beach Volleyball: Watson and O'Dea remain dominant

Bethlehem's Emily Johnston serves during the Bay of Plenty Times NZ Beach Volleyball Champs held at Mount Maunganui over the weekend. Photo / George Novak

There were a few small surprises along the way, but the Bay of Plenty Times NZ Beach Volleyball Champs at Main Beach went according to form when it mattered most yesterday afternoon.

The top-ranked New Zealand pairs in both the men's and women's draws lived up to their billing on a scorching weekend that saw spectators flood the beach as part of the Mount Festival of Multisport.

It was Mike Watson and Sam O'Dea all day in the men's draw, with the unbeaten New Zealand combination claiming their second successive national title with a convincing straight sets win (21-16, 21-18) over Griffin Muller and Paora Morunga in the men's final.

Julia Tilley and Shaunna Polley managed to manufacture some energy after a sluggish first set to overcome Melissa Ruru and Danielle Quigley in a three set women's final (19-21, 21-10, 15-10).

Watson was happy with the pair's performance but said he and O'Dea had isolated one area that needed improvement.

"We need to work on our serving - that's something we have recognised through this tournament," he said.

"As a team we are not serving tough enough, so that will be our focus over the next two weeks.

"I think we are being a little bit too tentative and need to take a few more risks.

"That's on us - sometimes we know we can get by with being a little bit relaxed and not have to play 110 per cent the whole time. When we go overseas we will have to play at our highest level the whole time."

The duo will compete in Australia in two weeks with an eye towards competing in Thailand on the Asian Tour in April ahead of a tilt at the World Tour in May.

Tilley and Polley did not have it all their own way in the women's decider but managed to manufacture some intensity after a sluggish start.

"We just didn't really have that push and it took us a while to get going and get into a rhythm," Tilley said.

"I said to Shaunna in the time out we needed to celebrate our points and get rowdy because it hypes you up and gets that passion out of you and makes the game flow better."

She said she loved playing at the Mount and wanted to make it a more permanent proposition.

"I just have to find a flat in the middle of summer," she said.

"Anyone on Mount Main Beach road who needs a housesitter, hola.

"Dishes, feeding pets and watering flowers - I'm your girl."