Tennis: Rotorua team net home semifinal

Shaun Tamai and the Rotorua men's tennis team have qualified first into the semifinals of the Waikato Bays interclub competition after beating the Hamilton Tennis Club's team on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Rotorua men's tennis team have earned a home semifinal after finishing top in the Waikato Bays interclub competition.

The four semifinalists in the men's premier competition were decided on Saturday during the final round of the regular season.

Tensions were running high at the Hamilton Tennis Club on Saturday as the two top sides on the table - Rotorua and Hamilton - did battle.

Rotorua won three of the four singles matches and one of two doubles matches to take the fixture 4-2 in front of a good crowd.

The result means Hamilton miss out on the semifinals after Whakatane and Otumoetai both leapfrogged them on the table. The top club in Hawke's Bay automatically gain the fourth, and final, semifinal spot which means Hamilton finish the equivalent of fifth.

It is a cruel finish to the season for the Waikato club who were in line to make the semifinals for most of the season.

Rotorua's No1 Shaun Tamai said he was proud of his side, who have finished top and gained a home semifinal, to be played on February 21.

"I'm very happy with the team, they have done exceptionally well and have done the Rotorua and Lynmore tennis club very proud," he said.

"Now we are looking forward to the semifinals and hopefully the finals."

Tamai said about 40 supporters from Rotorua made the trip to Hamilton at the weekend to cheer them on, and it made a big difference.

He said it was a great result to get a home semifinal, although they did not know much about their semi opponents, the team from Hawke's Bay.

The Rotorua men's team included Tamai, Sean Martin, Lionel Rogers, James Wilce and Jesse Galvin-Dawson on Saturday.

Wilce, Martin and Galvin-Dawson all won their singles matches on Saturday, and Tamai and Martin won their doubles match.

Rotorua finish the regular season with eight wins and one loss in their nine fixtures, with their only loss coming at the hands of Otumoetai.