Shiraz in narrow tennis victory

Rapaura Shiraz had the Magic touch when it counted as they beat Marlborough Magic on games countback in Tuesday's president's grade tennis match at Marlborough Girls' College.

The sides finished the evening locked 2-2 on matches with Rapaura winning 33-28 on countback.

Lindsay Dahlberg and Tony Fenemor gave Rapaura the early lead as they took the men's doubles 9-5 over Garry Tait and Graham Jarvis.

Marlborough levelled the tie with Ross Suter and Elaine Fluit beating Trish Dahlberg and Kath Gilchrist 9-7 in the women's doubles.

Fenemor and Gilchrist added a 9-5 win in the mixed doubles and while the Dahlbergs dropped an exciting match 9-8 in a tiebreak they won enough games to ensure Rapaura took the tie.

Marlborough McRobies and defending champions Grovetown Top Shelf both recorded 4-0 wins over Rapaura Drylands and Renwick Green respectively, Drylands cause not helped when Jane Anderson-Bay was forced to withdraw because of injury.

- The Marlborough Express