Tennis: Home semi for local champs

Rotorua's Jesse Galvin-Dawson (pictured) helped his side to a convincing win at home at the weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Rotorua men's tennis team have received an early Christmas present, securing top spot on the ladder heading into the playoffs.

The final round of the regular season was played at the weekend, in the Waikato Bays premier men's interclub competition, with two heavyweights meeting at the Rotorua Tennis Club. Competition leaders and defending champions Rotorua proved too strong for their young opponents St Peter's (Hamilton) beating them 6-0.

The home team won both doubles matches and all four singles matches without dropping a single set.

The victory means Rotorua finish top of the table and earn a home semifinal, plus a home final if they are to progress that far.

Rotorua player James Wilce said they did not expect to win by so much against undefeated St Peter's, who were in second place heading into the fixture.

"We just wanted to win by as many points as possible," Wilce said. "I think we have one of the older teams in the competition and the young guys are coming at us all the time. So it is a matter of hanging in there and it was great to win today."

The heavy loss means St Peter's now slip back to fourth on the ladder, although they still have a catch-up game to play against Whakatane.

Hamilton Tennis Club also suffered a big loss at the weekend against Lugton Park and now need a miracle to make the semifinals. Hamilton also have a catch-up game to play against lowly Otumoetai but would need to win that 6-0 and hope St Peter's get thrashed by Whakatane, in the other catch-up match, to have any hope.