Tennis reps facing tough task

Wairarapa selector Steve Hurley concedes his team will have underdog status when they challenge Taranaki for the symbol of supremacy in central districts tennis, the Christie Cup,in New Plymouth tomorrow
Not only do the Wairarapa squad have to recover quickly from the long drive to New Plymouth tonight, so as to be ready for a 10am start, but Taranaki are a powerful unit with home advantage.
"Yes, we will be the underdogs," Hurley said. " The odds are certainly in favour of them (Taranaki) going into the game, but there shouldn't be a lot in it. Certainly close enough for a couple of upset results to make it very interesting".
Hurley predicts the doubles will play a vital part in the final washup. He sees Wairarapa having the edge in the men's singles and Taranaki likely to call the tune in the women's singles, which means things could be very much level pegging going into the doubles.
And if that is the case the onus will be on the Wairarapa men to stand up and be counted, as not only will they need to dominate their own doubles games, but play a leading hand in the combined doubles as well.
"Yes, the acid is certainly on our men to play right up to their potential," Hurley said. "They have to be a dominant force right through the match otherwise we will be in trouble."
The actual playing order in the singles for the Wairarapa men in New Plymouth had not been finalised by the time these notes were penned with seven players contesting for six positions??.Jono Hurley, Matt Spooner, Baden Stevenson, Geoff McKay, Tim Pickering, Mike Jackson and Matt Nicholson.
Making up the women's section will be Emma Stevenson, Katie Wyeth, Ashleigh Gane, Carla Didsbury, Natasha Robinson and Bridget Needham.
The Taranaki game will be the start of a hectic weekend for the Wairarapa squad which will also take on Manawatu at Feilding on Sunday.And if Wairarapa do happen to lift the Christie Cup tomorrow it will be up for grabs there as well.
Steve Hurley admits that situation would not be ideal, but says a Wairarapa belief that the Cup should be at stake for every match played by the holder, when the teams consist of a full complement of players, six men and six women, meant there was no alternative.
"Obviously it would be a huge ask to play two Cup games in as many days, but if that is the way it pans out we will be ready for it," he said.
Hurley is expecting the opposition from Manawatu to be little inferior to tomorrows, as when Manawatu challenged Taranaki for the Christie Cup a few weeks back they lost by just the four matches, 10-14.