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Scarbro Caro Bowl - finals

Monday 13 December 2010, 10:41AM

By Tennis Auckland

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AUCKLAND

It was two-from-two for the Parnell Tennis club as they won both titles in the Scarbro Caro Bowl over the weekend and can now lay claim to having the top teams in interclub in New Zealand.  

Parnell have now won the men’s competition seven times in 10 years and the women’s eighth out of the last 10 years.

The women’s final was dominated by Parnell over Royal Oak for a 6-0 scoreline despite the top singles match going three sets as German professional Franziska Etzel overcame top Kiwi junior, Leela Beattie 6-4 5-7 7-5.

The second doubles match also went the full distance as former internationals Rewa Harriman and Amanda Trail accounted for Nicola Kaiwai and Rachel Dive in a third set tiebreak.

Former top 100 player Pavlina Nola easily won in the number two singles against  Kaiwai in the second singles and Harriman and Libby Scott defeated Angela Swinkels and Dive respectively at three and four.

In the men’s final Parnell came through on a countback 9-8 on sets over Campbell Park after another dramatic encounter between the two sides in front of a large and boisterous crowd at Campbell Park.

Parnell’s Rubin Statham lost in three sets to Argentine Gustavo Gomez in the top singles. While Mark Nielsen scored a win for Parnell as he beat Adam Thompson in three sets.

Campbell Park won the No4 singles as Robbie Cheyne defeated Anton Bettink in three sets and then Alistair Hunt dropped the first set in the tiebreak but then won the required set late at night for Parnell in the No3 singles against the other Argentine player, Marianno Pettigrosso.

Parnell had earlier won both of the doubles matches  as Statham and Nielsen teamed up to defeated Gomez and Pettigrosso in two tiebreaks while Hunt and Steve Downs had to play some top tennis to win in a third set tiebreak over Thompson and Cheyne.

With the doubles played first Parnell always had the advantage however Campbell Park showed plenty of resolve to fight back and can thank their Argentine players who have become a permanent fixture in the summer tennis season at the club. Having former Davis Cup player, Thompson at the club added depth to the team while Cheyne has been commuting from Wellington for matches.

For Parnell, former pro Mark Nielsen has had one of his best seasons, particularly in the past few weeks playing some of his best tennis to help win the matches which matter in the competition.

The majority of players from all teams now get ready for the New Zealand Reisdentials starting at the end of this week on the North Shore.

Scarbro Caro Bowl Tennis Finals:

Women’s final

Franziska Etzel bt Leela Beattie 6-4 6-7 7-5

Pavlina Nola bt Nicola Kaiwai 6-2 6-0

Rewa Harriman bt Angela Swinkels 6-4 6-1

Libby Scott bt Rachel Dive 6-4 6-3

Etzel/Nola bt Beattie/Swinkels 6-4 6-2

Harriman/Amanda Trail bt Kaiwai/Dive 4-6 6-1 10-7

Men’s final:

Rubin Statham lt Gustavo Gomez 7-6 2-6 3-6

Mark Nielsen bt Adam Thompson 6-3 4-6 6-3

Alistair Hunt lt Marianno Pettigrosso 7-6 4-6 default

Anton Bettink lt Robbie Cheyne 7-6 3-6 1-6

Statham/Nielsen bt Gomez/Pettigrosso 7-6 7-6

Hunt/Steve Downs bt Thompson/Cheyne  7-5 3-6 7-6