Andy Bay Uni fought out a close 4-2 win over local rivals Andy Bay Originals in the latest round of the Dunedin senior club competition at the weekend.
At the top men’s singles spot, Marwan Samy (Uni) looked set to continue his winning ways as he won the first set against Rafferty McIntosh 6-3.
However, the much-improved McIntosh matched Samy’s power and claimed the second set 7-6(5).
In the tiebreak, Samy’s match fitness pulled him through as he sealed a 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-6 win.
Mat McCutcheon (Uni) then made it 2-0 as he served and returned his way to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Omar Amir Khir.
Needing a win to stay in the tie, Otago tennis veteran Phil Mirfin (Originals) got a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win over Alex Abadie.
However, Jenna Bowie continued her good form as she beat Heike Cebulla 6-2, 6-1 to give Uni a 3-1 lead.
Needing just one of the remaining two doubles, Uni’s Samy/McCutcheon played a clinical match to beat McIntosh/Khir 6-3, 6-3.
Originals were able to get a consolation win as Mirfin/Cebulla beat Abadie/Bowie 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.
In the other tie, Balmacewen got a 4-2 victory over Taieri to reignite their campaign.
Hugo Barsby (Balmacewen) led from the front as he was too solid for Bilal Ahmad, winning 6-3, 6-1.
Gerard Farrell (Balmacewen) then had to weather an early Connor Morrison storm as he won 7-5, 6-2.
Nick Cutfield made it 3-0 for Balmacewen as he used his slice and experience to beat Eli Newall 6-1, 6-2.
In the women’s singles, Erin O’Neill bought Taieri back into the tie as she continued her good form with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Billie Fraser.
With Balmacewen up 3-1, Barsby/Farrell sealed the tie with a solid 6-3, 6-2 win over Morrison/Ahmad.
Taieri’s mixed pair of O’Neill/Newall got Taieri a valuable point as they beat Fraser/Cutfield 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.
— Paddy Ou
