Masterton men vital in victory

Their dominance in the men's singles was a crucial element in Masterton's narrow 5-4 win over Martinborough in their Wairarapa regional one tennis match played at Martinborough on Saturday.

Luke Atkinson, Chad Parsons, Matt Bunny and Jamie McMaster all had singles wins for Masterton although both Bunny and McMaster were taken to three sets by Andy Darling and Campbell Venning respectively.

Darling had the misfortune to suffer a groin muscle injury which necessitated him withdrawing from the doubles, where his place was taken - with agreement from Masterton - by Bruce Lovell, who was at the courts in a spectator role.

Both women's singles matches were won by Martinborough through their experienced duo of Rhona Lovell and Libby Paterson, and they combined for a doubles win. The men's doubles were shared, with Atkinson and Bunny winning for Masterton and Nicholson and Venning for Martinborough.

Results:

Men's singles: Luke Atkinson beat Tom Pickering 6-1, 6-0; Chad Parsons beat Matt Nicholson 6-3, 6-3; Matt Bunny beat Andy Darling 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Jamie McMaster beat Campbell Venning 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Women's singles: Georgia Atkinson lost to Rhona Lovell 2-6, 3-6; Dushka Warren lost to Libby Paterson 3-6, 2-6.

Men's doubles: Atkinson and Bunny beat Pickering and Bruce Lovell 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Parsons and McMaster lost to Nicholson and Venning 3-6, 2-6.

Women's doubles: Atkinson and Warren lost to Lovell and Paterson 1-6, 5-7.