Renwick to face strong Rapaura

Renwick face a stiff ask if they are to topple Rapaura Drylands in tomorrow night's premier grade final of the SBS Bank Interclub Competition at the Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre.

Rapaura have been competition front runners all season, losing just one match, and have already beaten Renwick three times.

Making Renwick's task even tougher is the absence of several key players. Men's No1 Heiner Wirtz-Fielding missed last week's semifinal win over Marlborough SBS with injured ribs and is unlikely to play.

His replacement last week, Daryl Harper, is also out injured after damaging ligaments in his ankle during his singles match.

Women's No1 Lynn Murray is unavailable with personal commitments.

Renwick is left with only Robbie Cowlishaw and Annabelle Fluit as regulars and is scrambling for players to fill the remaining two spots.

In contrast, Rapaura enter the match at full strength, with Anthony Walkenhorst, Craig Morris, Susan O'Neill and Amy Heath available.

Walkenhorst and Morris have been the competition's most consistent men's doubles combination, while O'Neill, who arrived in Marlborough this season from Ireland, is unbeaten in women's singles play.

After dominating round-robin play and easily winning their semifinal, Morris said Rapaura was focused on not tripping up now.

"We've been very consistent all year and only dropped one game all season. The idea was to wrap up the No1 spot and we did that before Christmas," Morris said.

He said doubles play would be the key to the final and if they could win at least one of the two opening doubles encounters he was confident Rapaura could take the tie.

The Rapuara Tennis Club will be searching for double celebrations, with Rapaura Drylands II facing Marlborough Slazenger in the division two semifinal.

The two teams have been evenly matched all year, with Rapaura winning two of their three matches including taking one by a single game on countback.

Games are from 6pm on the centre courts at FWMTC, with the bar open and hot food available.

- The Marlborough Express