Tennis: Close playoff spots incentive

Rotorua player James Wilce (right) has won all six singles matches he has played this season, despite his team losing at the weekend. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Waikato Bays premier interclub competition couldn't be much closer with one round left to play before the semifinals.

The Rotorua men's tennis team currently lead the competition, but suffered a loss on Saturday away to Lugton Park (Hamilton).

Rotorua lost on a countback after being tied 3-3 at the end of play, losing two of the four singles matches and one of two doubles matches.

The playoff spots are now wide open in the men's competition as the top five teams are all within touching distance of each other.

"That is what tennis is all about. It is fantastic when you have top level tennis like this," Rotorua captain Shaun Tamai said.

"You don't want it to be too easy or else you lose the incentive to play."

Tamai said if they beat second-placed St Peter's (Hamilton) in their last round robin match of the season, in a fortnight, they should secure a home semifinal.

"We play St Peter's in our last match and it will be about how we play against them to decide if we get a home semifinal."

Tamai sat out his team's latest match at the weekend, with an achilles strain, and said they lost by the closest of margins against Lugton Park.

"It came down to three matches all and eight sets all, so it went down to games and Lugton Park won 77-79 on games," he said.

"We played the singles matches on the indoor courts and it was really humid. Everyone looked like they went for a swim mate."

Rotorua player James Wilce continued to impress winning his singles match at the weekend. He is still undefeated after six singles matches this season.

The last round of the men's competition will be held on December 12 before the semifinals are staged in January, after a long Christmas break.

Some teams have catch-up games to play which will likely be held in the new year, in the weeks leading up to the playoffs.

The Whakatane men's tennis team are among the top sides this year and had an opportunity to go top at the weekend. However, their match was rained out and postponed against fellow contenders St Peter's (Hamilton).

Whakatane captain Mark Ratana said the Waikato Bays premier interclub competition, which was first played last season, had really improved tennis in the region.

"Last year was great. We had 10 teams in that inaugural competition, and the year before that the Baywide stuff became tedious and there was no real atmosphere.

"When this new competition came along all these guys who had not played in a long time started showing up and it made everything competitive and fun again."

- Results on Saturday (round six):

Lugton Park 3-3 Rotorua (Lugton Park won on a countback), Cambridge 1-5 Hamilton, St Peter's v Whakatane - postponed, Otumoetai v Tauranga Lawn - score not submitted.

- Men's table: Rotorua 34, St Peter's 31*, Whakatane 27*, Lugton Park 26, Hamilton 23*, Tauranga Lawn 13, Cambridge 8, Otumoetai 6*.

*Have catch-up game to play.