16 November 2006

The top two on the ladder in the Soffe Cup interclub tennis competition, Rotokare and AWE Huatoki, clash at the Rotokare courts in New Plymouth tomorrow.
Rotokare will start favourite, having a stronger men's line-up. Although Huatoki's' No 1, Jonathan Ussher is predicted to defeat Chris Popata, the rest of the matches shoud go to  Rotokare. Rotokare's No 2 Mark Atkins, No 3 Greg Hareb and No 4 Kevin McLoughlin should win their matches against Roy Gaskin, Neil Bridgeman and Ben Robbins.
In the women's match-ups, Rotokare's No 1, Leith Atkins should have a close game with Saori Han but come out on top.  The rest of the women's matches could go Huatoki's way with the No 2s being Huatoki's Janice Taylor against Val McLoughlin, Chris Wilson or Robyn Hinton against Michelle Atkins and Megan Walsh against Beccie Atkins.  The outcome of the tie could depend on which team is stronger and fitter in the combines.
 
Hooker Pacific Pukekura will be out to post a good score against Waiwaka after a draw with Huatoki last week. They were forced to default three matches Kirsten Adam was injured in her singles match. If she is still injured, Carol Medway will come into the side.  Pukekura will be favoured in the top match, with Linda Reid playing Jayden Bruce.  The no 2 match will be between Donna Thorne and either Nicki Martin or Yvonne Chamberlain. Waiwaka has a strong chance in that match.
In the men's matches, Pukekura are likely to play their trump card, Michael Fleming at No 2. He will take on Stuart Wood. Although Wood has been in good form, he is unlikely to beat Fleming. The top match should see Zac Wills defeat Jordan Stayt.
 
Sandfords Manaia will be out to post another big score when they play Stratford/Midhirst at home. Although Stratford/Midhirst's No 1 Gavin Phelan will give Thomas Luxton a good game, the rest of the men's singles should go Manaia's way.  No 2 Jason Mills is likely to play Michael O'Sullivan and Alaister Murdoch and Michael Gates playing Grant Kite and Michael Short.  Manaia's women should make it a clean sweep, the teenage squad of Nicole Koch, Alesha Ford, Ashlee Murdoch, Ginny Death and Shinae Bailey have only lost two singles matches this season and provide strong opposition  to Min Zimmerman, Kelsi Bevins and whoever Stratford/Midhirst can muster. The combined side has not been able to field the same women's line-up in consecutive weeks.