12 November 2005

Taranaki's senior representative tennis team won the Christie Cup on Saturday, defeating Hawkes Bay 15-9 at Waipukurau.
The Cup means a lot; it is the symbol of supremacy amongst the Central Districts Associations.
In their first outing of the season, they had a good start, winning four men's and four women's singles to take an 8-4 lead. 
At No 2, 17year old Zac Wills defeated Jason Kitching 7-5, 6-2; at No 3 Team Captain Michael Fleming dropped his first set to love but came back and won 0-6, 6-3, 7-6.  Debutant No 4, Chris Popata didn't drop a game in his match against Steve Pollard while another debutant, 14yr old Cameron Koch won  7-5, 6-1 against Joe Wardrope and went on to win all his matches.
 
Taranaki's new No1, 16 yr old Nicole Koch emulated her brother's performance, winning her singles 7-6 6-3 against Bronwin French and winning her doubles matches.   Women's no's 2 and 4 Linda Reid and Nicki Martin won their singles while No 5 Cindy Death won all her matches.
The doubles were a tighter affair with Taranaki winning 7-5.  They won two out of three men's doubles and four out of six combines.
 
Selector Alaister Murdoch was rapt with his team's performance. He said, " Everything went well.  There's a good mixture of young and old and you have to bring the young ones on before the older ones go ". 
The first defence of the Cup is on the 4th December against Wanganui in New Plymouth.
 
 
A Grade Results