7 November 2011

The members of the Central Finance Rotokare Team have pulled of the upset of the week in the Soffe Cup Competition with a win over Icon Sports Tariki Pukekura, winning the day 7-5.  Pukekura must have been worried when the top two Men's and Women's singles were won by Rotokare, giving Rotokare a 4-0 lead.  Rotokare's Malcolm Elder had a convincing win over Pukekura's Callum Old 6-2 6-3, and Karen Cranston (Rotokare) won a see-sawing match against Pukekura's Kirstin Adam.  Cranston won 6-2 2-6 7-6.  The bottom Men's and Women's singles were two apiece with Chris Jury of Pukekura winning his number three match against Blair Crowley 6-1 6-2.  Jury will be hard to beat at three.  12 year old Louise Waite of Pukekura helped to keep Pukekura in the race with a win over Beth O'Neill; Waite winning the match 6-0 6-2 and proving she is more that capable at this level.   After the singles, Rotokare were 6-2 up and only needed one doubles to win the day but they had to wait until the bottom women's double for that win;  Tania L'Ami combined with Cranston (Rotokare) to win against Linda Reid and Adams 7-5 6-1. 

Hareb Deken Motors Oakura travelled to the home of Farmlands Okaiawa without their number one Graeme Mitchell.  The teams were level 4-4 after the singles, with the three top men's singles going to Farmlands Okaiawa.  Amelia Weir of Okaiawa winning her match at number 1 against Oakura's Louise Brankin 6-3 6-2.  Weir is proving to be a serious contender for a spot in the Representative side.  In the men's doubles Oakura were too strong, Tei Walden and Jamie Hareb (Oakura) won 6-2 6-3 against Okaiawa's Andrew Powell and Mark Laurence.  Len Adamson and Craig Waite of Oakura won their match 6-3 6-0.  In the ladies, Okaiawa needed both games, unfortunately unable to do so, losing the bottom ladies 6-1 6-0.  Oakura taking the win 7-5. 

AWE Huatoki hosted Sandfords Manaia.  With the return of Jono Ussher and David Innes Huatoki must have been hoping to be competitive, however the travelling side untroubled, only dropping the one singles.  Lorraine Heerdegen, the shining light of the Huatoki team, frustrated the hard-hitting Grace Kelly , keeping the ball in play, eventually taking out the 3rd set tiebreak 14-12.  Final score 2-6 6-1 7-6.  Tommy Death (Manaia)  dug deep for his win over Richard Robbins 6-2 6-7 7-6, as did Michael Gates of Manaia winning in a tie-breaker 1-6 6-1 7-6; his opponent was Jeremy Wichman.  Maree Gopperth (Manaia), steady at two, won her match 2-6 6-4 7-6 against the ever improving Sophie Robertson.   Ussher and Innes didn't fire against Manaia's top men Jordan Fleming and Cameron Koch;  Manaia winning the matches 6-1 6-1 and 6-1 6-0 respectively.  Taranaki No 1, Nicole Koch (Manaia) had to work hard to beat the youngster Alice Caskey 6-2 6-4.  Koch was just too consistent ,with deep ground strokes and a low error rate combating Caskey's trademark powerful backhand.  The doubles matches were 4-0 to Manaia,  with all straight set wins.  The final score 11-1.

Results Soffe
Central Finance Rotokare 7 – Icons Sport Tariki Pukekura 5
Hareb Deken Motors Oakura 7 – Farmlands Okaiawa 5
Sandfords Manaia 11 – AWE Huatoki 1

Points:  Manaia 37, Pukekura 29, Rotokare 27, Oakura 12, Huatoki 11, Okaiawa 10.

Results A2

Oakura 10 Huatoki Silver 2, Manaia 8 Huatoki Gold 4, Pukekura 8 Rotokare 4, Matapu 4 Inglewood 8, Waiwaka 5 Thomson O'Neil & Co Stratford 7, Hawera 10 Farmlands Okaiawa 2

Points:  Pukekura 22, Oakura 21, Hawera 21, Manaia 20, Stratford 19, Waiwaka 19, Inglewood 14, Huatoki Gold 9, Rotokare 9, Matapu 6, Okaiawa 6, Huatoki Silver 2

Results A3

Waitara 3  Stratford 9, Waiwaka Green 10 Opunake 2, Hawera 12 Waiwaka Blue 0, Rotokare 6 Manaia 6, Pukekura bye.

Points: Hawera 25, Stratford 22, Waiwaka Green 15, Rotokare 14, Pukekura 11, Manaia 10, Waiwaka Blue 7, Opunake 5, Waitara 3