Div 1 interclub starts after washout

• Published date: 18 October 2021
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times: Web Edition Articles (New Zealand)

North Otago combination Waimaru hosted Balmacewen 1 at the Chelmer St grass courts in Oamaru. The surface was in good condition, if soft, considering the amount of rain that fell last week.

Singles rubbers were played first. Balmacewen No 4 Simon Peat, on debut, showed promise in a 6-1, 7-6 loss to Mackenzie Phillips.

Up-and-coming Ben Sinclair evened the ledger for Balmacewen with a hard-fought 6-7, 6-3, 10-7 victory over Marshall Hore, reversing the tables from their previous encounter.

Balmacewen's Nick Cutfield and Waimaru stalwart Robin Jamieson filled the No 2 spots for their respective teams. Both players displayed their tactical nous, judiciously employing slice on the slow and low surface. Jamieson had the better grasp of his craft, running out a 6-3, 6-3 winner.

In the No 1 men's slot, Waimaru's Josh Cameron came out of the gate fast against Gerard Farrell, wrapping up the first set 6-2. Farrell made the running in the second stanza, having chances to close it out before Cameron forced and won a second set tiebreaker.

In the women's order, Balmacewen's Ella Richardson gave Belinda Hirst a run for her money, the latter taking the match 6-3, 6-2. Waimaru's Nicky Fisher overcame a game Shreenidhi Mahamuni 6-2, 6-1.

The doubles matches provided some of the best viewing of the day, the highlight being the top men's contest between Farrell and Cutfield and Cameron and Hore. The Balmacewen duo took the match 6-4 7-6.

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