Exciting match-up for final
Everyone loves an underdog, but Elmwood tennis club captain Sam Keenan doesn’t want that label when his club faces the formidable Cashmere club team in the Canterbury men’s championship final.
Elmwood will play home side Cashmere in the men’s final this Saturday, the third match between the two sides this season. The decider will come this weekend after earlier in the season Elmwood beat Cashmere 4-2, before Cashmere came back in the second clash, 5-1.
Judging from this season’s results, the two sides are evenly poised, however Cashmere have won the Championship for the last three seasons (2014-16) - unbeaten.
Keenan said his side are up to the task after narrowly winning their tough semi final against Waimairi last weekend.
‘‘They [Cashmere] are not heavy favourites. They’ve won a few years in a row, but we had a good win against Waimairi and think we can do the same again this week.’’
Elmwood’s chances haven’t been helped after their number one, James Watt, broke his arm. Keenan will jump into the mix at number four while team mates Hayden Joblin, Elliot Darling and Lawrence Darling will play at one, two and three respectively.
‘‘It will be very tough, but we are excited. Cashmere are good hosts they always have a good crowd there,’’ Keenan said.
Cashmere have their regular team that has so often proved unbeatable, just suffering the one loss this season against Elmwood early on.
Brothers James, Matt and Tim Meredith, all Canterbury representatives, will show up for Cashmere with number four Johnny McHarg. The Meredith trio have collectively amassed 340 singles wins in Canterbury Premier Interclub, as well many in Auckland’s Premier Caro Bowl.
They run a professional coaching business, Meredith Brothers Ltd, and all three have been heavily involved with Canterbury and New Zealand tennis for close to 30 years, collectively.
Eldest brother Matt is the Tennis Canterbury regional head coach and director of tennis at Cashmere, James has been Tennis Canterbury player of the year on four occasions including 2014, 2015, 2016 and Tim is a coach at the club and a regular Canterbury representative.
The men’s final will be played at Cashmere Tennis Club at 2.30pm. If wet, the venue will be shifted indoors to Wilding Park.
Meanwhile the women’s championship finals were played last weekend with Waimairi taking the spoils over Elmwood 4-2.