Lee Gilbert, of Team Babolat, readies himself during open grade interclub tennis on Saturday. Photo Adam BurnsA resolute collective display in the doubles has handed Team Wilson the inside running in local tennis’ open grade.

The team clinched their second straight win of the season on Saturday, edging Team Babolat 7-5 to open up a four-point lead atop the standings after two rounds.

A three-game-to-one win in the doubles was the decisive period of the day, with three of the four games going to a deciding third set.

Both teams shared the honours in the singles, winning four games apiece.

Pete Leonard, Gus Preston, Ashton Cromie and Isobel Brook all got up in their singles games for Wilson.

However Babolat’s Tyler Leonard, Jayden Cromie, Brendon Adam and Holly-Jane Feutz kept things interesting, as they clinched singles victories as both teams remained all square following the singles.

The deciding doubles matches saw Leonard and Jason Feutz prevail over Tyler Leonard and Lee Gilbert 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (6), Cromie and Preston fighting back to edge Phil Crozier and Jacob Adam 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (6) and Brook and John Leslie wrangling the win over Holly-Jane Feutz and Angela Ciora 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4).

Team Yonex, featuring the likes of Rhys Cromie, Pete Kirwan and Aidan Watt won their first showdown, outgunning Team Head 6-2.

Yonex swept the doubles, including one default, three games to nil including a seesawing duel between Matthew Hopkins/Drew Gilbert and Lachlan Adam and Angel Spooner.

After losing the first set, Hopkins and Gilbert fought their way back to claim the win 2-6, 6-1, 10-7.

The matter was settled on court with singles victories to Go Tamura, Ryan Watt (by default) and Josh Jones.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 4 November 2020