10 Nov 2013

Huatoki were almost whitewashed by a rampant Oakura side 14-2 in round two of Soffe Cup.  It didn't help that a combines match had to be abandoned with one game on the board after Huatoki No. 3 Chris Avery stumbled into the fence gate and smashed his front teeth.  Earlier Oakura's men had taken advantage of  two late withdrawals affecting the Huatoki men's line-up with Oakura's No 1 Graeme Mitchell, Cam Wenham at No.2, and Craig Waite at 4, demolishing Huatoki's Alastair Nairn, Jeremy Wichman and Aaron Ritchie with the loss of only 4 games between them.  Len Adamson at 3 came up against big serving Chris Avery and after losing the first set, used his experience to take the next two and the match, 1-6 6-3 6-2.  Huatoki's women fared a little better however; Oakura's No.1 Sue Oldfield and hard hitting Paula Ferguson had little trouble with Huatoki's Sophie Robertson and Chris Wilson respectively.  Oakura No.4, Jackie Keenan was made to work hard by  Ellen O'Byrne, for her 7-6 7-6 win while Soffe Cup debutantes on both sides, Ann Wilson and Huatoki's Tracey Old had a seesaw battle 6-1 1-6 6-1, with Old the winner.  Oakura dominated the doubles impressively with only the top women's pairing of Oldfield and Ferguson faltering with a loss to Robertson/Wilson.

Womens No.4, Debbie Campbell would have been the toast of Rotokare as her 3 wins helped with the 9-7 upset win against a young Manaia side.  Fill-in No.1, Alesha Ford went down 6-1 7-6 to Rotokare's tough Karen Cranston while Maree Gopperth at 2, was too consistent for Rotokare No.2 Julie Foley.  Manaia No 3 Trudy Vince showed early season form, easily dispatching Nicki Martin 6-0 6-2, while Grace Kelly ran into a fighter in Debbie Campbell.  Campbell taking the No.4 match, 4-6 6-1 6-4.  With Cameron Koch away, Manaia's brothers No.1 Jordan Fleming and brother Beauden Fleming at 2, took on Rotokare's Ben Pollard and Malcolm Elder.  Pollard's early season form suggested  this could be close, however Fleming showed his class with a 6-1 6-1 win.  Elder beat the younger Fleming in 3 tough sets.  At 3 and 4, Manaia's Jacob Gopperth shut down the inconsistent Kyle Crowley whilst Greg Hareb (Rotokare) at No. 4 had little trouble with Josh Murdoch, winning 6-2 6-0.  Equal after the singles, Rotokare took control in the doubles and the secured the tie.

Farmlands Okaiawa can be fairly happy with their 10-6 loss against defending champs, Pukekura.  Pukekura's Jaime Simpson at No.1 and Chris Jury at 2 had straight set wins over Okaiawa's Andrew Powell and Mark Laurence. Pukekura's No.3 Matt Bayly had problems with lefty Vincent Baylis, who never lost control of the match; Baylis winning 6-3 6-0 while at 4, Pukekura's Brady Simpson had the goods to get past No.4, Okaiawa's Ryan Stockman, 6-3 6-3.  In the women's, Pukekura's No 1 & 2, Kirsten Adam & Linda Reid had easy straight set wins over Michelle Powell & Emmah Ussher, 6-0 6-3 & 6-2 6-1, respectively.  However, the 3 & 4 women's matches were even, with Tania Fleming going down to the experienced Beth McLeod, while young Michaela  Spurdle cleaned up Okaiawa's Jaimee Baylis, 6-0 6-3 in her Soffe cup debut.  The doubles were shared.

Soffe Results