The top four teams all came away with easy wins on the scoreboard in the penultimate round of the Scarbro Caro Bowl with leaders Parnell racing through their match against Remuera without dropping a set to gain a 6-0 win and sit on 40 points, one ahead of Blockhouse Bay who beat Herne Bay 6-0, also without dropping a set.  But there’s plenty riding on the final round of matches.

Third placed side Pompallier were forced onto the back foot initially as they came up against a Brett Steven lead Royal Oak.  Pompallier were missing James Shortall through illness and Royal Oak had Steven make a cameo appearance playing doubles and Marucs Daniell returning from overseas.

Steven having lost none of his professionalism which took him to the world’s top 50 rankings duly combined with national 18’s champ Andrew Allan to beat Robbie Cheyne and Adam McNeil 7-6 6-3 and Allan scored a good 6-4 6-4 win at No 2 to defeat Jacob Olsen and continue his fine form of late.

The remaining matches went to Pompallier as Cheyne beat Daniell in straight sets and McNeil and Pat Metham scored wins for the 4-2 victory.

Steven will play doubles and potentially singles in the final round robin match for Royal Oak next Friday against Herne Bay at Royal Oak.  This clash may be against the bottom placed team but there should still be some interesting tennis with Royal Oak coming away with an easy win, but it’s a too-little too-late to make the semi-finals.

The women’s team will also play at home against Papatoetoe and can be assured of a win as well.  The two ties along with a 24 tennis-a-thon raising funds for the club starting from 10am Friday until 10am Saturday will make for a great atmosphere around the club.

In the other round six men’s match fourth placed side West End beat Kohimarama 5-1 dropping the bottom singles.  Austen Childs won an epic match over Gerrit Steenkamp 6-7 7-6 6-4 and then teamed up with James Greenhalgh to take the top doubles over Steenkamp and rapidly improving junior Stuart Robertson in three sets.

West End take on Parnell at West End this Friday in a replay of the final from a several years ago.  There will be a few personal battles as Childs will want to beat Adam Thompson the Davis Cup player while the second singles features Martin Colenbrander against Matt Prenctice.  At No 3 Greenhalgh the current Davis Cup captain and former player could end up facind his old Davis Cup team mate Alastair Hunt.  Teo Susnjak versus Steve Downs is a battle between two more former Davis Cup players with plenty of spice to the bottom singles.

The other contest of note is the battle between Blockhouse Bay and Pompallier which has the potential to decide placings.  At present Blockhouse Bay are second, three places ahead of Pompallier.  However playing in front of a vocal crowd at Pompallier can affect some players.

Big-serving James Shortall taking on Brendon Curry will be a contest to watch while the second singles featuring former pros Robbie Cheyne and Andrew Batie will also be a highlight.

In the other final round match Remuera play Kohimarama.

In round six of the women’s section Parnell still hold the lead over Kohimarama after a 4-2 victory against Mangere Combined.  Luci Barlow was involved in the two wins for Mangere as she defeated Lisa Wilkinson in three sets at No 3 and then won the bottom doubles with Shelley Bryce against Wilkinson and Pavlina Nola.

Kohimarama gained a 6-0 win over Papatoetoe to maintain there second position while Remuera beat Pompallier 5-1.  The close encounter of the round came between Mission Bay and Royal Oak.

Royal Oak eventually won the match on a games countback 53-51 but only after they had dropped the top two singles and No 1 doubles.  Ilke Gers easily won the top singles over Abigail Guthrie and although she’s not yet a teenager Tanya Samodelok defeated Nicola Kaiwai in an upset and No 2.

However the Royal Oak lower order was strong enough to win their matches in straight sets to help with the countback.

A match of interest in the women’s final round is the clash between Parnell and Kohimarama.  It’s a replay of last years final and potentially a preview of this season final.  The key match is the No 1 singles where Dianne Hollands takes on Kairangi Vano.  The pair played couple of weeks ago in North Harbour tennis with Hollands coming away the winner by a tough straight set scoreline.  Both are in battle for a wildcard place in the ASB Classic late this year.  Vano has the head-start but another loss to Hollands won’t help her confidence.  Parnell would come away the winner with their extra experience but the youthfulness of the Varoma Vano, Siobhan Cavan, Briar Presten and Sarah Adams.

Mangere Combined host Remuera and should come away with a reasonable win while Mission Bay will be looking for their first overall triumph of the year after some close calls when they are at home against Pompallier.

Scarbro Caro Bowl Tennis Round Six Results:

Men
Blockhosue Bay 6 Herne Bay 0
Brendon Curry bt Jeff Birse 6-3 6-0
Andrew Batie bt Andy Doule 6-2 6-0
Ery Lyndon bt Brock Mustard 6-3 7-5
Dan Davies bt Hankin Parichabutr 6-2 6-0
Curry/Nick Turner bt Wei Wei / Birse 4-6 6-4 6-4
Batie/Lyndon bt David Mustard/Brock Mustard 6-4 7-5

Parnell 6 Remuera 0
Adam Thompson bt Aaron McDougall 6-1 6-1
Matt Prentice bt Henry Gers 6-4 6-2
Alastair Hunt bt Paul Grubi 7-6 6-3
Steve Downs bt Michael Bartlett 6-3 6-2
Thompson/Hunt bt McDougall/Bartlett 6-1 6-1
Downs/Prentice bt Gers/Grubi 6-3 6-3

West End 5 Kohimarama 1
Austen Childs bt Gerrit Steenkamp 6-7 7-6 6-4
James Greenhalgh bt James Pilbro 6-3 6-1
Teo Susnjak bt Justin Stortelers 6-0 6-0
Adam Staub lt Stuart Robertson 2-6 2-6
Childs/Greenhalgh bt Steenkamp/Robertson 6-7 6-3 6-3
Susnjak/Staub bt Pilbro/Stortelers 6-2 6-2

Pompallier 4

Men’s points after six rounds:
Parnell 40, Blockhouse Bay 39, Pompallier 36, West End 32, Royal Oak 18, Kohimarama 10, Remuera 9, Herne Bay 8.

Parnell 4 Mangere Combined 2
Dianne Hollands bt Tracey O’Connor 6-0 6-2
Niki Tippins bt Shelley Bryce 6-2 6-1
Lisa Wilkinson lt Luci Barlow 3-6 6-1 6-2
Ann Allmendinger bt Rachel Tamoua 6-0 6-2
Hollands/Tippins bt O’Connor/Tamoa 6-0 6-1
Pavlina Nola/Wilkinson lt Bryce/Barlow 4-6 3-6 

Kohimarama 6 Papatoetoe 0

Remuera 5 Pompallier 1

Points after six rounds:
Parnell 44, Kohimarama 42, Royal Oak 29, Mangere Combined 26, Remuera 20,

Final round robin matches, home team listed first, 6pm start:
Men:
Pompallier v

Women:
Mission