The feature tie in Dunedin men's club tennis saw unbeaten Balmacewen edge out the other unbeaten team, Eastern Harbour, in a final tie-break which went down to the last few points on Saturday.
The much-awaited tie saw rubbers level at 3-3 and sets even at 7-7, but Balmacewen won on a countback of games 71-63.
Tauranga student Campbell Higgins (Eastern Harbour) was too consistent for Conrad Wong winning 6-4, 6-2, although Wong contributed to the entertainment with some stinging winners mixed with too many errors.
Philip Mirfin gained one back with a tight 7-6, 6-4 win over Hee Bum Chung and Ryan Eggers took time out from junior representative duty to post a 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 win over Matt White.
Eggers showed his customary touch along with solid defence.
Andrew Hilliard beat former Nelson player Toby Lovell, who is making a return to competitive play, 6-1, 6-1 to help out on the countback.
The doubles were shared and it needed Wong and Hilliard to take the final set tie-break 10-7 to give Balmacewen the win.
Other ties were postponed because of junior representative fixtures.
In the Tennis Southern junior teams event, Otago won all three age groups.
It is the first time in many years it has achieved the feat, with coach Simon Body promising on his arrival in Otago some years ago that it may take time for coaching plans to come to fruition.
The Otago players were out warming up at 7.30am, long before their opponents, and the preparation paid off with wins over Southland, South Canterbury, North Otago and Southern Lakes.
The southern teams for the national event will be named in three weeks and it is expected Otago will have strong representation to reflect its success.
