Next Gen Take Out 2022 Scarbro Caro Bowl Men’s Title

Men’s Final

The Scarbro Caro Bowl competition was first played in 1919-20 making it one of the oldest sporting club competitions in New Zealand.  It was only fitting that the final was played at the “Home of Tennis” at the ASB Tennis Arena last Friday night because Stanley Street is currently celebrating 100 years of tennis at the venue.  Next Gen, located at the venue, played host to Blockhouse Bay in the Men’s Final played in balmy conditions on Friday evening.  Next Gen has won the title four times in the last seven years while Blockhouse Bay has made nine of the last eleven finals.

The two clubs had already faced off against each other in pool play this season and Next Gen were favourites to repeat that earlier winning result.  The tie got underway with the Men’s Doubles where Finn and Rob Reynolds comfortably beat Martin Colenbrander and Ben Muller in straight sets.  The bottom doubles between Finn Tearney/Rhett Purcell against Victor Romero/Max Stephens was a much closer affair.  The Blockhouse Bay duo had chances to win the first set but were denied by the former Davis Cuppers from Next Gen who ran away in the second set to put the home side ahead 2-0 going into the singles.

To the crowd’s delight, Finn Reynolds was chosen to lead out first and he showed some good form in beating veteran campaigner Martin Colenbrander in two sets of heavy hitting tennis featuring some regular serve and volley points.   While Reynolds was stretching the lead out for Next Gen, his fellow teammate Rhett Purcell was taking care of business against Max Stephens on an adjacent court with a display of tennis reminiscent of his touring days.

With four points in the bag the final was all over, and the remaining dead singles matches were not played.  The winning team was presented with the trophy by Mary Rose Scarborough on behalf of the sponsors Scarbro Construction and shortly afterward the celebrations began.  Congratulations Next Gen for winning the 2022 Scarbro Caro Bowl Men’s Title.  Tennis Auckland would also like to thank the referee and chair umpires for doing a fine job officiating the matches and to Next Gen for hosting the final which was played in a very good spirit in front of a decent sized crowd scattered around the ASB Tennis Arena grounds.  Lastly, a huge thank you to Scarbro Construction for their continued support of this long standing premier tennis competition.

Women Pool Play

The final round of pool play was completed last Friday in the 2022 Scarbro Caro Bowl Women’s Competition.  Needing to win seven points to make the final, all eyes were on Parnell who were playing Pompallier in the feature match.  Parnell looked to be well on their way to the final after they easily won both doubles and two singles matches but they had to survive a scare when the two other singles matches went to third set tiebreaks.  However, they were not to be denied, and Parnell eventually won the points they needed to advance to the final this Friday.  Their opponents are Next Gen who won against Kohimarama to finish top of the table for 2022.  The final contest resulted in a 4-2 victory for Royal Oak over Bucklands Beach.

The 2022 Scarbro Caro Bowl Women’s Final between Next Gen and Parnell will be played this Friday at Next Gen.  Matches start at 6pm.   The last round of men’s playoff and relegation contests are also scheduled this Friday.

Go to the SCARBRO Caro Bowl section at https://www.tennisauckland.co.nz/scarbro-caro-bowl for full draws and results.