4 November 2006

Hooker Pacific Pukekura crushed Okaiawa 16-0 at Pukekura on Saturday. Taranaki's top player, Michael Fleming made a welcome return and showed no mercy, only conceding one game all day. Playing at No 2, he disposed of Murray Mead 6-0.6-0 then he teamed with Zac Wills to defeat Andew Powell & Mead 6-0, 6-0. In the combines he teamed up with Linda Reid and defeated Mead & Goldsworthy 9-1.
The majority of the singles were easy wins for the New Plymouth side, No 1 Wills defeated Powell 6-2, 6-4. No 3 and 4, Ben Aves and Andy Erb defeated father and son, Andrew and Vincent Baylis 6-1, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-1 respectively.  No 1 Linda Reid defeated Joanne Gyde 6-2, 6-4 and Donna Thorne accounted for Megan Gyde 6-0, 6-2.
Pukekura's No 3 Kirsten Adam had a tougher battle defeating Beth McLeod, who offered some resistance, winning 7-5, 6-3. In the doubles Adam & Jeanette Harding won 7-5, 6-4 against McLeod and Clare Goldsworthy.
 
Rotokare moved to the top of the table with a 13 - 3 win over Stratford/Midhirst at Midhirst.  Rotokare's No 1 Mark Atkins withstood everything Gavin Phelan could throw at him and came out on top  6-2, 6-4.  The two lefthanders at No 2, Greg Hareb and MIchael O'Sullivan had a great high quality battle with Rotokare's Hareb hitting too many lines to let O'Sullivan into the game.  No 3 and 4, Mike Roberts and Kevin McLoughlin only conceded three games between them in defeating Grant Kite and Michael Short.
The top two Rotokare women, Leith Atkins and Val McLoughlin had similar success against youngsters MIn Zimmerman and Kelsi Bevins . No 3 Michelle Atkins won the first set in a tiebreak against Liz O'Sullivan and then the second 6-2.  Stratford/Midhirst Bernie Gibbons scored her side's only singles win defeating Kanae Murakame 7-5, 0-6, 6-7.  With the side up 7-1 the win was set up and Rotokare won all but two combines matches for a comfortable victory.
 
Sandfords Manaia had an easier than expected victory over AWE Huatoki at Manaia. Manaia's Nicole Koch, Alesha Ford and Ginny Death proved their young age is no barrier and all had easy wins over Saori Han, Janice Taylor and Robin Hinton. Huatoki's No 4 Megan Walsh didn't concede a game against Shinae Bailey and could move up the order in the coming weeks.
In the doubles the Huatoki women got some redemption winning both matches in three sets.
The men's singles were shared after Manaia's No 2 Jason Mills made his season debut, crushing Roy Gaskin 6-1, 6-0 and No 4 Michael Gates defeated Ben Robins 6-1, 6-2. Huatoki's No 1 Jono Ussher beat Thomas Luxton 6-1, 6-0 and No 3 Neil Bridgeman beat Alaister Murdoch 7-6, 6-2.
With the scores at 7- 5 going into the combines, Manaia proved again that combines strength is vital and they won three out of four to take out the match 10-6.
 
Manaia is now in third place on 23 points, one point ahead of Pukekura on 22. Huatoki drops to second place on 32 points, four behind Rotokare on 36.
Waiwaka had the bye and is in fifth equal place with Stratford/Midhirst on 18 points and Okaiawa with 13.
 
Wilson Trophy
Manaia 12 Okaiawa 4
Sumpter Trophy
Waiwaka 8 Huatoki 8, Hawera 15 Manaia 1, Waitara 15 Matapu 1, Oakura bye
 
Points
Soffe Cup
Rotokare 36, Huatoki 32, Manaia 23, Pukekura 22, Waiwaka 18, Stratford/Midhirst 18, Okaiawa 13
 
Sumpter Trophy
Hawera 32, Waitara 32, Oakura 16, Huatoki 11, Waiwaka 9, Manaia 4, Matapu 4