A nail-biter is being predicted for the Wairarapa Tennis Association's regional one grand final between Gladstone and Masterton at the Masterton Tennis Centre tomorrow.
Remarkably, it will be the first time this season that any of the three teams contesting this season's premier grade - Opaki being the third -have met each other in direct competition.
This is because all qualifying games were played under a league system where points were awarded on an individual basis and where players from different clubs were often teamed up for doubles.Winners received the same number of points for their respective clubs.
Whether this format will remain in vogue for next season remains to be seen with one possibility being that regional one matches will be staged midweek to encourage more teams to enter; a move which would require some games to be played under lights.
Neither Gladstone or Masterton are claiming favouritism for tomorrow's match, with both camps suggesting it should go right to the wire.
Close scrutiny of the two line-ups does suggest, however, that Masterton may have the greater depth and that Gladstone will probably need at least a couple of "minor" upsets to tip the scales their way.
Luke Atkinson, who has played little club tennis this season but gave top seed Matt Spooner a decent battle in the final of the Wairarapa closed singles, will be a boost for Masterton. He will be joined in the men's section by Chad Parsons, Duncan Oakley and Matt Bunny while a couple of the district's most promising youngsters in Georgia Atkinson and Dushka Warren make up their women's section.
Apart from Opaki's Katie Wyeth, Atkinson has been in great singles form this season. She and Warren will also pose a formidable threat in the doubles.
Gladstone have experience to burn among their men with Chris Schofield, Alistair McWilliam, Angus Preston and Pete Morriss sure to have no trouble handling the pressure of the occasion.
Word is that another wily campaigner, Sandy McNab, will lead the singles order in Gladstone's women's section with the talented Zoe Schofield at No 2.
