Teams at full strength ahead of title decider

The men's doubles clash looms as crucial heading into the final of the Craigs Investment Partners Marlborough premier interclub competition between Renwick White and Marlborough Blades at the Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre in Blenheim tomorrow night.

Both teams are expected to be at full strength for the title decider in the eight-team competition, which has been highly competitive and provided numerous entertaining matches throughout the season.

As always, tomorrow night's contest will open with the two doubles matches. Blades strong young mixed combination Lee Harborne and Lily O'Fagan beat experienced Renwick duo Peter Rogge and Mel Trolove 6-1 7-5 last time the sides met just over a month ago and should be too good once again.

However, it is much harder to pick a winner in the men's match. Renwick's Chris Nott and Jean-Luc Hauswirth are favoured over the Blades pair of Yuichi Ando and Josh Winter, but they have not met in the two previous encounters between the two teams this season. And, with the four singles matches a good chance to be shared, it could well be a battle that proves important in the final reckoning.

The No 1 singles match will see two captains Rogge and Ando square off. Rogge has prevailed both times against Ando this season, but Ando took the first set in a very close encounter second time around and can not be discounted.

Renwick are likely to claim the No 3 match, with Hauswirth expected to be too strong for Winter after a 6-0 6-2 triumph in round four, but the other two singles should go Blades way. O'Fagan should have little trouble in overcoming Trolove, while Harborne has been in good form and beat Nott 6-2 6-4 earlier in the season, although the Renwick No 2 has got much better as the competition has progressed.

Blades were the fourth and final qualifiers for the playoffs, but defied that seeding to upset season-long competition frontrunners Rapaura Drylands One 4-2 on grass at Rapaura in the semifinals last week.

That victory, plus the strong form of Harborne and O'Fagan, makes Blades slight favourites to bag the silverware.

Renwick scrapped through to the final with a game countback win over Grovetown, but the newcomers have the edge when it comes to experience and another countback result could well be on the cards.

Matches start at 5.45pm at the Pollard Park courts and spectators are welcome.

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Teams at full strength ahead of title decider