The Parnell Women’s team was crowned SCARBRO Caro Bowl champions on Friday night when they soundly defeated last year’s winners Royal Oak on a balmy summer evening in front of a good crowd of almost 200 supporters.  Parnell has featured in almost every final this century, but this is the first time they have won the title since 2010.

The Royal Oak side were always going to struggle without their top player Leela Beattie who was in Australia and could not make it home to lead the team.  Beattie was undefeated this season and her absence was a major setback for the Royal Oak team.  The doubles matches were played first, and it did not take long for Parnell to stamp its authority on both matches.  Despite Royal Oak showing some resilience in the second set of the bottom doubles, Parnell won both matches in straight sets and headed into the singles comfortably ahead.

Suzy Larkin (GB) cruised through her match to beat Stewart 6-1 6-3 and former world #76 Pavlina Nola dished out a tennis lesson to up and coming junior Sophie Michl with the loss of just three games.  Fed Cup team member Jo Carswell and long-time Parnell member Taylor Brown rounded out the victory with easy straight set wins.

Tennis Auckland congratulate this year’s finalists and particularly want to thank John Hukins and the Parnell Tennis Club for hosting a fantastic final.  The event showcased some of our best players from the past and the present which prompted one spectator to comment that it was the best women’s tennis he’d seen at the club.