Forrest fight back for countback win

Marlborough Forrest turned the tables on Renwick with an exciting countback win in Wednesday night's SBS Bank Premier Tennis at the Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre.

In the sides' round one encounter, Renwick held on for a 4-2 win, but on Wednesday night it was Forrest who claimed victory on sets countback after the match finished tied 3-3.

Eveline Apthorp and Ros Suter gave Forrest the early lead with a 2-0 win over Lynne Murray and Sue Campbell in the women's doubles. Renwick levelled the tie, winning an eventful men's doubles 2-1. Locked at 1-1, Heiner Wirtz-Fielding and Robert Cowlishaw prevailed 10-8 in the third over Neil Sonne and Peter Rogge.

Wirtz-Fielding and Cowlishaw both added wins in the men's singles for Renwick. Wirtz-Fielding was too strong for Sonne 9-6 in a single set match while Cowlishaw toppled Rogge in straight sets. However, Apthorp beat Murray 6-2, 6-0, then Sandy Stubbs, stepping in for Suter in the singles, topped Campbell 6-1, 6-3 to get Forrest home.

Rapaura Drylands survived their closest scare to remain unbeaten after a countback win over Marlborough SBS.

Rapaura appeared to be cruising after the doubles with two straight sets wins. However, while Susan O'Neill scored another comfortable win, that was the only singles success Rapaura would taste. Neil McPhee easily dispatched Anthony Walkenhorst while Pip Boon continued her steady improvement with a straight sets victory over Amy Heath and Jeremy Crouch downed Craig Morris.

In division two, Marlborough Slazenger held off the challenge of the youngsters from Marlborough Silver 5-1 while Rapaura Drylands II beat Marlborough Gold 5-1.

- The Marlborough Express