10 December 2007
Expecting a
closer Christie Cup encounter without premier players Michael Fleming and
Lucy Barlow, Taranaki's senior representative tennis team, instead had a
comfortable win 18-6 against Wanganui yesterday, in Wanganui.
Wanganui's top
men, who play Wellington interclub, were always going to provide top
competition and so it proved with Jonathan Ussher narrowly going down to No
1 Simon O'Leary in a tight three set encounter. Ben Pollard was on top
of his game playing at No 2, winning 6-3 6-4. Chris Popata's singles
was viewed as the crucial game to give Taranaki the edge. He duly obliged by
grinding out a very long two set win 7-5 6-4. Both Josh Walden and
David White came out on top as expected. Andrew Powell lost at No 4.
Wanganui's No 1
import Chrstina Ploetz ,who coaches and plays at a high level in Germany,
provided stiff opposition for Nicole Koch. Nicole lost her singles 7-6 6-2
but gained revenge in the doubles, teaming up with Alesha Ford, winning in
three sets. Ford, Leah Fletcher, Linda Reid, Donna Thorne and Becky
Bruckner all had comfortable wins in their singles and doubles. The
men's doubles results went as predicted winning two out of three.
Debutants Bruckner and Pollard won all three games as did Ford, Popata, Josh
Walden and Linda Reid.
Taranaki has
matches against Hawkes Bay and Manawatu early next year.