PHOTO
Hayden Meikle counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 119: Otago wins Nunneley Casket (1970)
This is one of those achievements that stands out like a beacon.
In nearly a century of New Zealand interprovincial teams tennis championships, Otago has only won one men's or women's title.
The Otago women managed the feat when they won the Nunneley Casket, named for the great Kathleen Nunneley, in 1970.
Expectations were high that summer, as Otago had reached the final in 1969, losing narrowly to Auckland 7-5.
It was a rematch at Stanley St a year later, with Otago fielding a settled team of captain Margaret Rennie, Shirley Collins, Sue Blakely and Lynne Wilson, a blonde Southlander later to raise an exceptionally talented young sportsman called Jeff.
Both sides won three matches on the opening day, and both sides won three on the second day, with Otago claiming the rubber on sets, 14-13.
The key match was one of the doubles, with Rennie and the unbeaten Collins winning in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Collins hit the winning volley and "leapt in the air and yelled with joy".
Dunedin Mayor Jim Barnes had farewelled the Otago players from the airport and promised them a civic reception if they brought the Casket home.
He was as good as his word.
Otago, weakened by the absence of Rennie, who slid on a grass court and badly cut her leg on a tap, was beaten by Auckland the following year.
Rennie (now Borland) lives in Dunedin, Blakely (now Velvin) lives in Wellington, Collins (now Haig) lives in Christchurch, and Wilson (now Staunton) lives in Invercargill.