Tennis: Lakes retains trophy

The Southern Lakes retained the Rennie Trophy but were pushed to the limit all weekend in the Southern Tennis League in Dunedin at the weekend.

In the first round, Southern Lakes beat South Canterbury by only one set on the count back (13-12), after their men won all six rubbers but the women lost all six.

However, when Annabel Ellis dropped a set to Adele Robins the result was swayed towards Lakes.

Lakes had only a one-game margin, and, after winning two 7-6 sets in the men's, was able to claim the tie on the back of very easy wins to Lan Bale and Perry Crockett over Guy Slater and Ryan Ammar, respectively.

Ben McLachlan at number one beat Canadian Tyler Begg 6-1, 7-6 in a powerful display.

In the other tie of this round, Otago beat Southland 7-5, after winning all six women's matches and Philip Mirfin's close three-set win over Kurt Hodson gave Otago the edge.

In the second round, South Canterbury beat Otago 8-4, but four of the losses by the local team were close three-setters and three of them ended in a tiebreak.

Meanwhile, Lakes beat Southland 7-5, with a major upset coming when Oliver Cuthill and Ryan Chow (Southland) beat the former world ranked No 23 doubles player Lan Bale and world ranked junior Ben McLachlan 6-4, 6-4.

Crockett beat Otago Open winner Chow 6-3, 7-5.

Again, the Lakes overall depth took it to the win.

In the final round, the Lakes men again took a clean sweep, and with two rubbers going to Louise Oxnevad they were able to complete the weekend unbeaten and claim an 8-4 win.

In the remaining round three tie, South Canterbury beat Southland 8-4.

The division two final was won by Otago B which pipped Southern Lakes B by one set on the count back, with an exciting final tiebreaker in the top doubles deciding the issue.