Perennial division one champion Southern Lakes is heavily favoured to maintain its grip on the Rennie Trophy.
Its unexpected loss to Southland in November’s first round, however, means only a clean sheet this weekend will guarantee the silverware returns to the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The first-up ties are likely to see Southern Lakes take on Southland and North Otago challenge home team Otago.
Several highly rated players will add colour to proceedings when the matches begin at the Edgar Centre this morning.
One of the highlights of the early going may be the No1 men’s match in the tie between Southland and Southern Lakes in which Queenstown Open titleholder Hayden Joblin will meet Te Anau’s Sky Lovill, recent winner of the Wanaka Open.
Lovill has lost only two competitive matches since first landing on New Zealand soil from thye United States two years ago.
Both losses — to James Meredith and Isaac Becroft — occurred when he was called in at short notice as injury cover during the 2018 Te Anau Invitational tournament.
Southern Lakes boasts strength down the men’s order in Otago Indoor Open champion Thomas Hartono, former US college player Harry James, and young talent Bjorn Pollock.
Its women’s roster is led by Ines Stephani and Jenny Lennon, backed up by seasoned campaigners Suma Ito and Li Ying Moroney.
Southland may fancy its chances of finishing higher than third for the first time in several seasons.
An injection of youth in the form of Finn Holden, Halle Faherty, Claudia Smith and Emma White bodes well for the future.
North Otago will look to Mackenzie Phillips, Belinda Hirst and evergreen Robin Jamieson to cause a few upsets over the weekend.
Otago, shorn of talisman Ryan Eggers, will do well to repeat last season’s second-round tie win over Southern Lakes. Home-court advantage may count for something though, with all division 1 ties being played on the Edgar Centre astroturf.
Ayesha Horley, Kaitlyn Wilkinson, Pippa Sherriff and Jessie Stevenson form a formidable women’s line-up. Experienced duo Gavin Mockford and Mike Smith add starch to the team.
In the second division, South Canterbury A will be looking to build on its lead from November’s first round. Division two ties will be split between the Edgar Centre and the Balmacewen Tennis Club.
- Fraser Richardson
