Timaru Boys’ Tennis is in a healthy state as displayed by its comprehensive display against Otago Boys’ at the recent Summer Sports Exchange in Dunedin. Unfortunately the cricket and touch did not fare as well as the tennis.

The Tennis team led by James Watt and Hayden McNulty proved too strong for OBHS by taking out the tie 8 games to 1. This was an all-round performance from the team with the juniors, George McAleer, Matt Ellis, Tim Sheed and Ryan NcNulty backing up the leadership shown by the seniors. In hot conditions the team only dropped 4 sets with James Watt and Hayden McNulty particularly severe on their doubles opponents. Watt’s booming serve and McNulty’s ground play were very impressive. This is a team with a lot of potential that could go well over the next few years.

The 1st XI Cricket team did well to restrict OBHS to 236 in their first innings with Mark Otley taking 4-22 off 16 overs. Unfortunately, in reply Timaru could only muster 90 runs which handed the first day advantage well and truly to OBHS. Otago did not enforce the follow on and batted late on the first day and into the second, eventually declaring at 130 for 4, a lead of 276. Charlie Martin was the pick of the bowlers with 2-46. This left TBHS the task of batting out the remaining 88 overs to salvage the draw or to look for the unlikely win. They fell 14 overs short being bowled out for 170 in the 74th over. Sean Wills 55, Marcel Meyer 35 and Ryan Lewthwaite 25, put in great efforts to occupy the crease but ultimately fell just shy of a credible result. This was a much improved performance for the team.

The Colts did not quite show the fight of their senior players, falling for just 62 all out with Lachie Hyde the pick of the batters. OBHS reached this total for the loss of 1 wicket with George Copland the pick of the bowlers. The team struggled with a couple of players playing for the senior team but they do need to learn to occupy the crease and to put the pressure on when they are fielding.

The Senior Touch team also struggled, losing all three games - the first convincingly -while in the latter two, they managed to close the gap with a 9-6 in the last game their closest match. Ofa Manuofetoa, Joel Hill and Harrison Marr were the standout players. The team tended to fade towards the end of their games so need to work on their fitness.

Overall it was a good display by the tennis players but ultimately OBHS was too good for the visiting TBHS.