Tennis: Kiwi team has world club win

New Zealand has won the International Club World tennis final in Sydney, dropping just one match in 18 and beating Australia 5-1 in the final over the weekend at the Sydney International Tennis Centre at Homebush.

Captained by former Davis Cup player Kevin Woolcott, the team of Ellen Barry (Canterbury), Sacha Jones (Auckland), Austen Childs (Bay of Plenty) and Daniel Moser (North Harbour) beat a spirited Australian side in the final.

After beating France and Mexico in the early rounds of the six-team competition, the final started badly for New Zealand with Moser losing to Kris Balakrishnan. However the other three Kiwis scored straight set wins in their singles matches and while both doubles ties were tight the Kiwi team came away 5-1 winners overall.

Golf: Leeper wins title
Warkworth golfer Michael Leeper has the chance to realise a dream to compete in the New Zealand Open after winning the Mid-Amateur golf title in Pukekohe yesterday.

Leeper produced a stunning start, four-under par after six holes, on his way to beating Matthew Laird of Manukau 5 and 4 in the final at the Pukekohe Golf Club.

All the action came in the morning semifinals with upset victories to Leeper and Laird.

Leeper thrashed former international Michael Barltrop 6 and 5, while Laird accounted for defending champion and top qualifier Martin Tumata 1-up.

Leeper's win gained him automatic exemption to the final qualifying stage of this year's New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour.