10 February 2007

There was little between the top four in Soffe Cup interclub tennis on Saturday. Holders Sandfords Manaia were beaten 7-9 by AWE Huatoki and Hooker Pacific Pukekura and competition leaders Rotokare had a draw.
 
In the match at Huatoki, the home side got off to a good start winning the singles 5-3. Huatoki's Lucy Barlow defeated Nicole Koch 6-3, 6-2 while Saori Han defeated Ashlee Murdoch 6-0 , 6-3 and Robyn Hinton prevailed over Shinae Bailey 6-3, 6-3.
Manaia's were weakened as their usual No 2 Alesha Ford is attending school in Cambridge. This will make a big difference to the side for the rest of the season.
 
No 1 and 3 Jonathan Ussher and Neil Bridgeman defeated Thomas Luxton and Alaister Murdoch.
For Manaia No 2 Jason Mills defeated Roy Gaskin 6-4, 6-1, No 4 Michael Gates beat Amrit Rai 6-3, 7-5 and No 3 Ginny Death beat Janice Taylor in the third set tiebreaker.
Manaia won both men's doubles while Huatoki counteracted that and won the women's doubles.
Huatoki maintained their two game advantage by winning two combines.
 
In the match at Pukekura, Rotokare were always going to struggle without their no 1 woman,  Leith Atkins. Pukekura won all the women's singles, in the top match Linda Reid defeated Val McLoughlin 7-6, 6-4 in a tight encounter while No 2 Donna Thorne didn't concede a game Michelle Atkins without conceding a game.  No 3 and 4, Kirsten Adam and Jeanette Harding both won in the third set tie break against Maureen Whiting and Helena Goodin.
Pukekeura won both doubles in close matches.
 
Rotokare won three men's singles, Chris Popata defeated Zac Wills 6-1, 7-5 while Greg Hareb and Mike Roberts weren't troubled in their games against Meto Snegirev and Paul Simpson.
Pukekura's Michael Fleming proved invaluable once again, winning all his games. He defeated Mark Atkins 6-1, 6-1 and with Wills defeated Popata and Atkins 7-5, 6-3. He won his side's only combines with Linda Reid.
 
Rotokare's three combines wins secured the draw. They maintain their lead in the compettion with 76.5, 4 points ahead of Manaia. Huatoki are only .5 of  a point behind and Pukekura a distant fourth but should still qualify for the semifinals.
 
Waiwaka defeated Stratford/Midhirst 12 - 4 at Stratford in a match which could have been a lot closer. There were three decisive tiebreakers which went Waiwaka's way.  They lead 6-2 after the singles with No 1 and 3 Stuart Wood and newcomer David Innes having easy wins, David Chamberlain won in three sets over Craig Oliver.
Jayden Bruce, Clare Fairey and Alison chamberlain had wins.
Stratford's singles wins were No 2 Grant Kite over David Geange and No 3 Shelley Childs over Yvonne Chamberlain
Waiwaka won the all the doubles except the top men's. Michael O'Sullivan and Grant Kite and a good win over Wood and Geange and Innes and Yvonne Chamberlain defeated Stephen Uhlenberg and Childs 9-4.
 
Wilson Trophy
Oakura (1) 13 Inglewood 3, Manaia 12 Oakura (2 ) 4, Oakaiwa (1) 11 Okaiawa (2) 5
Sumpter Trophy
Manaia 8 Matapu 8, Team Hawera 11 Waitara 5, Huatoki (1) 13 Huatoki (2) 3
 
Points
Soffe Cup
Rotokare 76.5, Manaia 72.5, Huatoki 72, Pukekura 50, Waiwaka 42.5, Stratford/Midhirst 25
Wilson Trophy
Manaia 38, Matapu 34, Okaiawa (1) 26, Oakura (1) 15, Okaiawa (2)14, Oakura (2) 9, Inglewood 8
Sumpter Trophy
Team Hawera 76.5, Huatoki (1) 70.5, Waitara 51.5, Huatoki ( 2) 45.5, Matapu 44, Manaia 37, Waiwaka 21.5