Wairarapa's hopes of capturing the symbol of supremacy in Central Districts tennis, the Christie Cup, this season have been shattered.
They were set to challenge Manawatu for the trophy on March 6 but, unfortunately for them, an earlier challenger did not follow the script.
The defeat of Manawatu at home by Hawke's Bay over the weekend means the Christie Cup is now resident in that part of the country and that Wairarapa will have to wait until next season to lodge their claim.
For Wairarapa selector Steve Hurley the news of the Bay win was "gutting".
He had been delighted with Wairarapa's preparation for their intended challenge and was confident of them performing well against Manawatu.
A feeling strengthened by their 9-7 win over Wanganui at Wanganui on Sunday as Wanganui had drawn 12-12 with Manawatu in an earlier encounter.
"We would have been going to Manawatu with high hopes of victory, no doubt about that," Hurley said. "Everything was going pretty much according to plan and we were really looking forward to the game."
Particularly pleasing for Hurley in the win over Wanganui was the form shown by two of the more inexperienced players in the side, Baden and Emma Stevenson.
The win secured by Baden Stevenson over Dan Quinn represented his first singles win for Wairarapa at senior level and he showed fighting qualities to achieve it. Stevenson took the first set 6-3 but was stung when Quinn grabbed the second at 7-5. However, Stevenson recovered his composure and won the crucial third set comfortably enough at 6-3. And later he partnered Clemmie Barton to an important combined doubles victory. They dropped the first set 4-6 before winning the next two 6-4, 6-1.
Emma Stevenson was the underdog in her singles match with Wanganui No.2 Trelise Graham and Graham must have fancied her chances of success after taking the first set 6-2. But Stevenson dug deep to edge out her rival 7-5 in the second set before taking the third 6-3. She also did well in the combines, partnering Jono Hurley to a 7-5, 7-5 win.
That victory gave Hurley the perfect record of three wins from as many matches, a record matched by Matt Spooner.
Results, Wairarapa names first:-
Men's singles: Jono Hurley beat Brendon Clarke 6-3, 6-2; Matt Spooner beat Simon O'Leary
6-4, 6-1; Mike Jackson lost to Nicky Caton 3-6, 6-4, 4-6; Baden Stevenson beat Dan Quinn 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Women's singles: Clemmie Barton lost to Emma Hayman 0-6, 0-6; Emma Stevenson beat Trelise Graham 2-6, 7-5, 6-3; Leanne Sweeney beat Rachel webster 6-0, 6-0; Natasha Robinson lost to Charlotte Gollon 3-6, 0-6.
Men's doubles: Hurley and Spooner beat Clarke and O'Leary 6-1, 6-4; Jackson and Stevenson lost to Quinn and Caton 6-7, 1-6.
Women's doubles: Barton and Stevenson lost to Hayman and Graham 2-6, 6-3, 4-6; Sweeney and Robinson lost to webster and Gollon 6-3, 5-7, 5-7.
Combined doubles: Hurley and Stevenson beat Clarke and Hayman 7-5, 7-5; Spooner and Sweeney beat O'Leary and Graham 6-2, 6-2; Jackson and Robinson lost to caton and webster 6-0, 5-7, 5-7; Stevenson and Barton beat Quinn and Gollan 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Tennis glory setback
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