Mixed results on tour

Won three and lost one, with one abandoned for rain, was the result of the New Zealand tour for four members of Writhlington Tennis Club.

Derek Beg, James Brocksopp, Tom Smith and Andy Jeffery had an eventful tour, hosted by former Writhlington coach Ian Bishop in the North Island town of Cambridge.

Starting at Auckland's top club, Remuera, horrendous wind and rain meant limited play and a meaningful result was impossible.

Two days later, the team, including Bishop, beat hosts Cambridge 6-4, with Bishop and Jeffery undefeated in their singles and doubles matches.

A short flight to the South Island saw them playing Christchurch's main club Burnside, who put out a side including the New Zealand under-15 champion, and they trounced the Brits 8-1, with only Bishop able to put up any resistance.

Returning to Cambridge, Writhlington spent four hours warming up and by the end of the five-hour match were exhausted but elated after a 6-4 victory.

In the post-match discussions in the bar, Cambridge asked Writhlington to field players for the following day's league matches against nearby Hamilton.

Smith was elevated to the Premier team and acquitted himself extremely well, narrowly losing his singles but winning his doubles match against much more capable and experienced opposition.

Brocksopp, Beg and Jeffery formed the bulk of the Premier Reserve team which won 4-2, with Beg starring by coming back from a set down in his singles match.

After this successful first tour to New Zealand, the opponents are keen for a possible return tour.

The tour was not all tennis and the lads managed to squeeze in trips to the Auckland Skytower, the famous thermal pools, a vineyard, the River Shotover jet boat ride, white-water rafting down the world's biggest drop, a Milford Sound cruise, Coronet Peak ski resort and mountain luge rides, as well as a little sunbathing and sightseeing.

The trip was entirely funded by themselves and they stayed in youth hostels and rented a car.