Squad exceed expectations with fourth place

Wairarapa defied their sixth seeding at the Tennis Central Slazenger Trust House hexangular tennis tournament played at the Masterton Tennis Centre over the weekend, placing fourth behind Wellington, Wanganui-Taranaki and Manawatu.
It was a performance which delighted selector Steve Hurley who readily conceded his squad had exceeded expectations.
"Everybody got stuck in and did a good job, we have to be very happy with the way things went," Hurley said. "The big goal for us was to be competitive and we certainly managed that."
Experienced Carterton player Matt Spooner was outstanding for Wairarapa, winning all three of his three singles and combining with Jono Hurley for a 100 per cent record in the men's doubles as well. They were expected to be well and truly put to the test by the highly-regarded Wanganui-Taranaki pair of Simon O'Leary and Nick Caton but Spooner and Hurley blitzed them 6-0, 6-1 and they dropped just the two games in demolishing their Manawatu opponents.
Their unbeaten run continued a remarkable record in doubles play for Spooner and Hurley who have played together at provincial level on several occasions in recent years and have very seldom-if indeed ever-tasted defeat. "I can't remember us being beaten, we seem to work well together", was Spooner's under-stated assessment of their combination.
Talented youngster Sade Atkinson, who is just 13, gave ample evidence of her immense potential. Playing at No 2 in the order she won two of her singles matches and partnered Baden Stevenson to a combined doubles victory over Manawatu. Stevenson also had an excellent tourney, being unbeaten in singles play and included the well-performed Tim Preston, of Manawatu, among his victims.
Match details:
Wairarapa beat Kapi-Mana 7-5. Scores, Wairarapa names first:
Men's singles: Jono Hurley beat Francis Glover 6-1, 6-2; Baden Stevenson beat Matt Grant 7-6, 6-3; Matt Spooner beat Z. Gatora 6-4, 6-0; Chris Schofield beat Jason Pierre 6-2, 6-4.
Women's singles: Katie Wyeth lost to Kerry Noble 3-6, 7-6, 6-7; Sade Atkinson beat Mareta Randall 6-3, 6-3; Natasha Robinson lost to K. Southwell 0-6, 1-6; Rhona Lovell beat K. Murray 7-5, 7-6.
Men's doubles: Hurley and Spooner beat Strugg and Pierre 6-7, 6-2, 7-6.
Women's doubles: Schofield and Anlo van Deventer lost to Randall and Southwell 0-6, 1-6.
Combined doubles: Luke Atkinson and Wyeth lost to Glover and Noble 6-4, 6-7, 6-7; Stevenson and Atkinson lost to Grant and T. Atkinson 4-6, 6-4, 6-7.
Wairarapa lost to Wanganui-Taranaki 3-9. Scores, Wairarapa names first:
Men's singles: Jono Hurley lost to Simon O'Leary 3-6, 6-7; Baden Stevenson lost to Cameron Koch 4-6, 7-5, 2-10; Matt Spooner beat Jono Ussher 6-4, 6-7, 10-7; Chris Schofield lost to Nick Caton 4-6, 0-6.
Women's singles: Katie Wyeth lost to Nicole Koch 0-6, 4-6; Sade Atkinson beat Linda Reid 6-3, 6-1; Zoe Schofield lost to Miaana Walden 1-6, 2-6; Anlo Van Deventer lost to Karen Cranston 1-6, 6-4, 6-10.
Men's doubles: Hurley and Spooner beat O'Leary and Caton 6-0, 6-1.
Women's doubles: Schofield and Van Deventer lost to Reid and Cranston 6-4, 1-6, 7-10.
Combined doubles: Luke Atkinson and Wyeth lost to Koch and Koch 3-6, 4-6; Stevenson and S.Atkinson lost to Ussher and Walden 4-6, 6-3, 8-10.
Wairarapa lost to Manawatu 5-7. Scores, Wairarapa names first:
Men's singles: Jono Hurley lost to Evan Smith 6-3, 4-6, 6-7; Baden Stevenson beat Tim Preston 2-6, 6-4, 7-6; Matt Spooner beat Cam Wenham 6-1, 6-2; Chris Schofield beat Michael Harris 6-1, 6-1.
Women's singles: Katie Wyeth lost to Natalie Dean 0-6, 1-6; Sade Atkinson lost to Shaani TeMaata-Frost 4-6, 1-6; Zoe Schofield lost to Bridget Dickins 0-6, 2-6; Anlo Van Deventer lost to Chantelle Ransoov 2-6, 3-6.
Men's doubles: Hurley and Spooner beat Jono Spring and Scott Sutherland 6-1, 6-1.
Women's doubles: Schofield and Van Deventer lost to Ransoov and Jane Brooker 3-6, 5-7.
Combined doubles: Luke Atkinson and Wyeth lost to Smith and Dean 4-6, 0-6; Stevenson and Atkinson beat Preston and Dickins 6-2, 6-1.