Gladstone and Carterton go head-to-head

GOOD FORM: Alistair McWilliam, riding an impressive winning streak.

Pleasantries will be cast aside as one-time teammates from Gladstone and Carterton will go toe-to-toe in the feature match of Wairarapa Tennis regional one interclub tomorrow night.

As a combined side, these two clubs swept all before them to claim the 2014/15 championship earlier in the year, but now that they have gone their own ways and established separate teams, the gloves will most definitely be off for this intriguing round two encounter under the lights at Gladstone.

If early season form is anything to go by this game could be a cracker. Carterton were barely troubled in their opening round demolition of Opaki, while Gladstone resisted a spirited challenge from Martinborough to chalk up a confidence-boosting victory of their own.

If these two teams play their strongest line-up then Carterton will start as warm favourites, mainly due to the Karen Herrick factor. On paper at least, Gladstone have no women capable of matching Herrick at her best and if she does play, then chances are Carterton could lock away two vital wins.

That will then place the onus on the Gladstone men to produce the goods, and though it's not out of the question for them to sweep their matches they would need to play at their absolute peak to achieve that outcome.

In the top men's encounter, Gladstone's Kelby Courtney would have been buoyed by his gutsy victory over Steve Chapman in round one and he will need to lift again to overcome the commanding presence of Matt Spooner who, generally, does not lose out of turn.

The second men's match-up between Alistair McWilliam and Cory Spooner promises to be a tight affair, with little to choose between them. Stretching back well into last season, McWilliam is riding an impressive winning streak and will be a hard nut to crack on his home turf.

While it's unclear who will contest the bottom men's encounter it should be a willing affair with Carterton possibly favoured having the greater depth there through the likes of Andy Steinemann or Hideki Tadamasa.

In the doubles rubbers Carterton would appear to have the edge and on that basis should be able to claim victory, even with the possibility of the matches being shared after the singles.

In the other fixture being played tomorrow night, Masterton will take to the court for the first time this season at Opaki.

Reportedly, Masterton will have the services of Georgia Atkinson and possibly Luke Atkinson for the majority of their Friday night encounters, and if that's the case here, it could be a long night at the office for Opaki.

Such is the quality of the Atkinsons that it would be hard to see how Opaki could make a dent in the Masterton line-up that potentially will also have Chad Parson and, lower down the order, Matt Bunny at their disposal.

Without the services of the Atkinson's this fixture takes on a completely different complexion, and would be Opaki's to lose. Chris Davidson, Stuart Wyeth, Jon McNab and Duncan Oakley are all well capable of fronting with a win for the home team, and also are solid doubles exponents.

In regional two action on Saturday, defending champions Masterton 1 will take the court for the first time in their club derby with Masterton 2 and should ease to victory.

At Gladstone, the combined Gladstone/Carterton team will be looking to bounce back from their first-round loss when they host Martinborough, while Opaki 1 should have little problem accounting for Rathkeale in their fixture. Opaki 2 have the bye.