The Mairtown Aces have been crowned Northland's top open men's tennis club for the fourth time in five years.
However, the Aces did not have it all their way after losing their first two matches to be two-nil down against the Mairtown Nek Minit team in the best all-round competition in the Northland Men's Interclub Competition.
Early in last week's final, the Mairtown Aces had gone down in both of the doubles matches. But, the Aces, with great depth in their singles players, fought back to win three of the four singles matches to make it three matches all. The Aces were then crowned winners on a count back by 56 games to 50. To be crowned the winner, teams must win by majority across all disciplines such as doubles and singles.
Mairtown Aces player-captain Jason Searle said he takes his hat off to his team who all had to step up to lift the title this season after they lost their leading player Noah Gulick, who left for university prior to the finals round.
The competition saw 12 teams from around Northland contesting for the title in which all teams play each other before Christmas.