14 November 2009

Sanfords Manaia threw a spanner into the works of Soffe Cup on Saturday by upsetting competition leaders Hareb Deken Oakura 10-6 at the Oakura courts to change the dynamic of this competition.

Manaia dominated the men's singles winning every match.  Graham Mitchell and Cameron Koch as predicted played out a classic match with the Manaia teenager getting the better of his adversary 6-7 7-6 7-6 (10-4).  Jordan Fleming had to work hard for his 6-0 5-7 7-6 victory over John Hardie Boys.  Koch and Fleming then teamed up in the doubles to defeat the previously undefeated pairing of Mitchell and Hardie Boys 6-3 6-3.  Jacob Gopperth and Michael Gates won a close three-set match over Len Adamson and Tei Walden.

In the women's singles Manaia picked up the top and bottom singles to sustain their advantage into the doubles and combines.  Nicole Koch showcased her class defeating Sue Oldfield 6-2 6-4 while Grace Kelly also posted a memorable win over Shae Martin 6-4 7-5.  Oakura's ladies thereafter kept their team's hopes alive by winning both doubles matches 5-7 6-0 7-6 and 7-5 6-1 respectively.  Despite their best efforts however the damage had been done in the men's doubles - Manaia upholding an 8-4 lead in which they then converted two more combines matches.

Central Finance Rotokare put on a compelling exhibition of tennis to win 13-3 over Tariki Icon Sports Pukekura at the Rotokare courts to shoot up to the top of the table.  The feature match between Rotokare's Chris Popata and Pukekura's Mike Fleming went the way of Popata in another three-set thriller 6-4 4-6 (10-6).  Callum Old however showed experience beyond his years for the visitors to beat Greg Hareb 6-1 6-3.  The women's singles were commanded by Rotokare.  Catherine Stevenson defeated Linda Reid in three tight sets 3-6 6-2 7-6.  Karen Cranston continued her impressive season with a straight-sets win over Donna Thorne.  Pukekura's bottom ladies' doubles pairing of Thorne and Harding then managed to defeat Beccie Atkins and Helena Goodin 7-6 6-3 in an attempt to revive their team's chances of obtaining a result.  Rotokare however were simply too strong across the board on this day and won both men's doubles and the top ladies doubles to effectively seal the tie.

Michael Fleming and Linda Reid gained a little revenge on their opponents in the mixed doubles by beating Popata and Stevenson 9-8.

AWE Huatoki rallied for their first win of the season when they beat a very evenly matched Stumble Inn Waiwaka side 9-7 at the Huatoki courts.  Waiwaka showed their wares in winning three of the men's singles matches.  Mike Lace came out on top of an exhausting encounter with Jono Ussher 3-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8).  Michael Lloyd also pulled out a gutsy performance to defeat Jeremy Wichman at No. 3, 3-6 6-2 7-6 (11-9).  David Geange notched Huatoki's sole men's victory.  Huatoki however managed to keep the visitors at arms length courtesy of their ladies who won three singles and both ladies doubles. Saori Han and Alice Caskey performed tremendously well to win all their three matches.  Melissa Wong was the standout performer for Waiwaka's ladies as she racked up two victories for her side.