New team John McGlashan took a slender lead on countback in the Dunedin premier men's club competition on Saturday when it added a 6-0 win over Taieri to a 5-1 win against Balmacewen in a midweek match deferred from last weekend.
Cosy Dell kept the pressure on, adding a 4-2 win over Mornington-Roslyn to its 5-1 win last weekend.
Although McGlashan was without its No 1, New Zealand junior representative Harry James, who was impressive in downing North Harbour player Sam Poulter 6-3, 6-1 midweek, it was rarely troubled. Oliver Reid dropped a second set to Wyatt Purdon after a first-set 6-0 win but resumed his dominance in the third.
In a game of two halves, Cosy Dell did the "triple double bagel" when it won the top half with three 6-0, 6-0 results to Nick Hornstein and Alex Low against Mornington-Roslyn. However, Adam Williams and Oliver Scott picked up two very hard-fought wins in the lower order against James Leggatt and Chris McKegg, but could not repeat in doubles, losing in straight sets.
Eastern Harbour beat Balmacewen eight sets to six after rubbers were tied at 3-3. The individual feature was the win by a vastly improved James Bourne, who beat Campbell Higgins, unbeaten last season at No 1, 7-5, 6-0. Higgins had been playing football and his lack of tennis preparation showed.
Newcomer Jon Bekos played a part in beating Ryan Eggers and supporting Bourne to a doubles win, but Eggers partnered Mike Smith to an even more important doubles win to clinch the tie.
Eastern Harbour women maintained their lead with a 5-1 win over Mornington-Roslyn, despite the absence of No 1 Georgia Hume, playing in Christchurch this weekend. Mornington took the top doubles, and Heike Cebulla- Elder went close against Alice Black but it was otherwise outmatched.
St Clair beat Balmacewen Diamonds 4-2 with Scarlett Cuthill and Lauren Fowler taking the top half and Canterbury student Jessika Brass adding a singles win. Another Canterbury student, Kirstin McDonald, pushed Cuthill to three sets before going down at No 1.
Balmacewen Gems beat Taieri 4-2, the difference coming in their two doubles wins. Jessie Stevenson took her second hard-fought win beating Canterbury student Rebacca Harkerrs 7-5, 6-4 at No 1.
