The big winners in the final round robin matches of Scarbro Caro Bowl tennis in Auckland was the Parnell Tennis Club with the clubs men’s and women’s sides both finishing on top of the points table and gaining home semifinals.

 

 

 

The Parnell men’s side defeated Blockhouse Bay 5-1, although it the Bay No1 Jackson Bodle who continued his unbeaten run in the top singles sport for the season accounting for Matt Prentice in straight sets. The remainder of the contest was by Parnell with Andrew Batie and Steve Downs taken to three sets by Eru Lyndon and Anton Bettink respectively.

 

 

 

Parnell are the top qualifiers on 48 points and Blockhouse Bay finished on 32 points equal with Pompallier with countbacks still to confirm who is third and fourth. Parnell now play Pompallier they will have the knowledge that they beat them on a set countback last time they clashed, but then Pompallier were without young professional Finn Tearney, who perhaps might be able to give his side a slight edge.

 

 

 

Any team which can come up with former internationals Matt Prentice, Andrew Batie, Alistair Hunt, Steve Downs and Jacob Olsen deserves respect and support and they are the defending champions three times in a row.

 

 

 

West End finished in second place having gained 44 points after a countback victory over Pompallier. The winners for Pompallier were James Shortall and Adam McNeil while Adam Thompson won in the top singles for West End over Robbie Cheyne in straight sets.

 

 

 

The scoreline couldn’t have been more in favour of West End as they played with their order not using former top-200 world ranked Mark Nielsen in singles.

 

 

 

West End play Blockhouse Bay knowing that a couple of weeks ago they were 5-1 winners over the Bay. Jackson Bodle being the Bays solitary winner on that occasion.

 

 

 

In other men’s matches Campbell Park finished fifth after a 4-2 victory against Remuera who are eighth while Kohimarama were sixth despite losing on a countback to Royal Oak.

 

 

 

The Parnell had almost total domination of the women’s grade finishing the round robin stage with a total of 52 points, nine ahead of Mangere Combined. The latest win for the Parnell side of Di Hollands, Pavlina Nola, Niki Tippins and Christine Foote was over Pompallier 6-0.

 

 

 

Parnell will face Mission Bay in the semis after the Bay side lost to Kohimarama 4-2. Kohi came within one point of stealing a semifinal spot from Mission Bay as Kairangi Vano lead the Kohi side to victory and an uncompromising win in the No1 singles over Shona Lee.

 

 

 

The last time Parnell played Mission Bay it was a straightforward victory 5-1 with a loss only in the bottom singles.

 

 

 

Mangere Combined, the defending champions beat Glendowie 5-1 and will host Royal Oak in the other semifinal. Royal Oak picked up a 4-2 victory against Remuera to finish third.

When Mangere played Royal Oak during round robin it was last years winners, Mangere who won 4-2 and against an injury ravaged Royal Oak can probably claim favouritism again.

Semifinals:

Men – Friday 21 November, 6pm start, home side listed first

Parnell v Blockhouse Bay or Pompallier

West End v Blockhouse Bay or Pomallier

Women – Friday 21 November, 6pm start, home side listed first

Parnell v Mission Bay

Mangere Combined v Royal Oak.

Final points after round robin

Caro Bowl Men

Parnell 48, West End 44, Blockhouse Bay 32, Pompallier 32, Campbell Park 25, Kohimarama 21, Royal Oak 17, Remuera 5

Caro Bowl Women

Parnell 52, Mangere Combined 41, Royal Oak 34, Mission Bay 31, Kohimarama 30, Glendowie 13, Pompallier 12, Remuera 11