15 Dec 2013

AWE Huatoki upset last years champions, Naki Racquets Pukekura 13-3, while competition leaders Hareb Deken Oakura had an easy 11-5 win over Central Finance Rotokare.  Sandfords Manaia moved into 3^rd place with a 12-4 win over Farmlands Okaiawa.

In an epic slug-fest, Huatoki No.1 Amrit Rai was able to shut out shot-maker Jaime Simpson in three hard sets.   Alastair Nairn at 2, was easily dispatched by a clinical Chris Jury, while Murray Keast at 3 had to dig deep to overcome Pukekura's No.3 Brady Simpson, in three sets.   Dave Innes' nephew, English import Stephen Gibbons played  Pukekura's German import, Florian Freidrich, with the tight 3 setter going to the English schoolboy in the battle of the debutants.  Huatoki's Alice Caskey at No.1 played  Kirsten Adam in a game that could have gone either way, Caskey the winner in two tight tie-break sets.   At No 2, Sophie Robertson took 3 sets to subdue Pukekura No. 2, Donna Thorne.  Huatoki No's 3 & 4, Ellen O'Byrne & Tracey Old were able to get past  Pukekura's Chantelle Peters & Michaela Spurdle respectively; Old taking 3 sets against a lively Spurdle.  Huatoki were dominant in the doubles & combines.  Pukekura drop from 2nd to 5th on the ladder.

Oakura started strong in the singles and didn’t look back after that.  Oakura's Graeme Mitchell  at  No.1 had a straight set win over Ben Pollard while at No.2, Len Adamson, was always going to have it tough against German, Andre Lundt.  Craig Waite surprisingly won easy against Malcolom Elder, while debutant Hayden Young gave Kyle Crowley a fright, before Crowley took the match in 3 sets.  In the women’s, Oakura had a clean sweep with Rotokare women winning all in straight sets.  Oakura's Sue Oldfield at 1, easily took out Frances Gray  while No.2 & 3, Miaana Walden and Jackie Keenan both eased past Rotokare's Julie Foley & Helena Goodin.  Chris Davies was too powerful for the young Hannah Trevis.   

Manaia at home was always going to be a tough ask for Okaiawa, even with Jordan Fleming unavailable. Taranaki No. 2, Cameron Koch accounted for Andrew Powell in straight sets, however Beauden Fleming was easily beaten by rep player Hamish Mead.  Jacob Gopperth took Mark Laurence in straight sets, while debutant Alex Gawler gave Vincent  Baylis a fright ,before Baylis re-grouped and won in 3 sets.  In the women’s, Manaia completed a clean sweep, Nicole Koch breezed past Emma Ussher. Maree Gopperth trounced   Jaimee Baylis; Trudy Vince took 3-sets to subdue the tough Aroha Beattie while Grace Kelly hammered Laurel Stockman.  All the doubles went Manaia's way but Okaiawa fought back to share the combines, with Mead/Ussher defeating Fleming/Gopperth and the Baylis siblings defeating Gawler/Vince thus keeping their unbeaten record intact.