10 November 2007
A Grade Review
Central Finance Rotokare increased its lead at the top of the Soffe Cup table
on Saturday. The NP side beat Sandfords Manaia, 11-5, at Manaia. The
scores was tied at 4-4 after the singles. Rotokare's top two men, Ben
Pollard and Chris Popata had easy wins over Jordan Fleming and Michael Gates
while Manaia's No 3 & No 4, Jacob Gopperth and Steve Lloyd had equally easy wins
over Greg Hareb and his son Jaden. In the women's singles, Rotokare's No
1, Kelly Toa (who played No 2 for Manawatu against Taranaki last season)
defeated Taranaki No 1, Nicole Koch in her first game of the season 6-1 7-5.
Rotokare's Beccie Atkins had a win over Maree Gopperth 7-5 2-6 7-6.
Manaia's No 2 & No 3 had good wins; Ginny Death triumphed over Leith Atkins 7-5
2-6 7-6 and Shinae Bailey beat Michelle Atkins 6-3 6-2.
In the doubles, both Rotokare pairs had wins as did the top women's pairing.
For the second time in two weeks, Manaia were down 5-7 going into the mixed
doubles and failed to win any further matches.
Hareb Deken Oakura brought out their big guns to blitz McDonald Real Estate
Matapu 14-2 at Oakura. No 1 Steve Novak played his second match of the
season and beat David White 6-1 7-6, and won his mixed doubles match with Leah
Fletcher against the White siblings, David and Jen. Two players in their
first Soffe Cup matches, Oakura No 3 Graham Mitchell and No 2 Sue Oldfield, won
all their matches with ease.
Matapu's only wins were the No 4 women's singles where Michelle Furness defeated
Miaana Walden in three sets and the top men's pair had an upset three set win.
Oakura are now in third place on the Soffe Cup table.
Hooker Pacific Pukekura and AWE Huatoki fought out an 8-8 draw at Pukekura.
Huatoki's No 1 Jonno Ussher was unavailable and Roy Gaskin was a late
withdrawal, leaving the Huatoki side having to default all of his matches.
Huatoki's No 2 and No 4 men had singles wins. Jordan Stayt defeated Meto
Snegirev 6-3 6-3 and Ben Robbins beat Nick Steventon in three sets.
Pukekura's No 3 Ben Aves had his first match of the season and had an easy win
over Amrit Rai. Jordan Stayt had a good day winning all of his matches, as
did Chris Wilson (fresh from being part of the winning Taranaki team at the
National Women's Masters Golf at Kerikeri last weekend).
In the women's singles, Huatoki's No 1 and No 3, Saori Han and Chris Wilson had
wins over Linda Reid and Kirsten Adams, while Pukekura's No 2 and No 4, Donna
Thorne and Jeanette Harding beat Janice Taylor and Megan O'Donnell. The
scores were even throughout the day with Huatoki winning two doubles matches in
three sets. Pukekura's Reid and Thorne won their match against Han and
Taylor to make the scores 6-6 going into the mixed doubles. With both
sides winning two matches, the sides could not be separated.
Pukekura remain in 2nd place while Huatoki are 4th. Waiwaka/Stratford/Midhirst had the bye.
Other Results
Wilson Trophy
Okaiawa1 13 Huatoki1 3; Okaiawa2 15 Huatoki2 1; Oakura 12 Matapu 4.
Sumpter Trophy
Waitara 9 Mania2 7; Stratford 15 Inglewood 1; Kaponga 13 Rotokare 3; Manaia1 9
Waiwaka 7.
Points
Soffe Cup
Rotokare 55, Pukekura 50, Oakura 48, Huatoki 42, Matapu 28, Manaia 24 Wai/Str/Mid
21.
Wilson Trophy
Hawera 48, Okaiawa1 47, Oakura 40, Okaiawa2 36, Huatoki1 26, Matapu 13, Huatoki2
6.
Sumpter Trophy
Waitara 48, Stratford 46, Manaia2 42, Inglewood 40, Manaia1 40, Kaponga 28,
Waiwaka 24, Rotokare 20.