Three clubs vying for tennis title

A THREE-WAY battle is underway for the Gawith Shield senior inter-club tennis title in Wairarapa this season.
The current points situation sees Pirinoa and Martinborough locked together at the top of the table on 41pts, just two ahead of third placed Opaki.
Sitting fourth on 23pts is Gladstone with Masterton on 20 and Carterton on 16.
The top two teams will contest the final on March 16 which means the three front runners will be desperate to secure big wins in their intervening games. And those further down the ladder will be just as keen to spoil the party.
Tomorrow's draw actually sees pacesetters Pirinoa and Martinborough up against each other and this should be a cracker of a game with the depth of talent amongst their men likely to give Pirinoa the edge.
Opaki would normally be expected to secure a handsome victory over Carterton but rumour has it that the experienced Matt Spooner will be turning out for Carterton for the remainder of the season and that would help their cause no end. Opaki should still win but only by a narrow margin.
Gladstone and Masterton will square off in the other Gawith Shield fixture tomorrow and this should be an even contest with a rejuventated Masterton perhaps having a slight advantage.
On the representative front Wairarapa selector Steve Hurley has named his team to play Wanganui at Wanganui next weekend. Jono Hurley will spearhead the men's section and will be joined there by Baden Stevenson, Matt Spooner, Geoff Janse, Lance Atkinson and Mike Jackson.
Leading the way in the women's section will be Katie Wyeth and she will have support from Ashleigh Gane, Carla Didsbury, Rosie Aitkenhead, Charlotte Meo and Natasha Robinson.
A change of format for the Wairarapa senior closed tennis singles and doubles championships has proved a big hit.
Rather than hold a tournament over the one weekend a draw has been made and games are to be played progressively through next month with players to make their own arrangements.
The men's singles has attracted an entry of 15 and the women's singles an entry of eight, higher numbers than usual, and it is intended to have the finals played on February 28.