18 November 2009
Round Four of Soffe Cup gets under way this weekend.
Stumble Inn Waiwaka will meet Hareb Deken Oakura at home in an opportunity to prove their credentials as a genuine contender in this competition.
Tariki Icon Sports Pukekura returns home to play AWE Huatoki this weekend. Pukekura will be out to show the rest of the competition they are not done with in season 09/10. Huatoki on the other hand will be focused on staying with the three leading clubs while widening the gap between them and fifth-placed Waiwaka. The defining matches could well be played in the lower half of the singles and doubles due to the fluctuating availability for each team. Meto Snegirev will likely play Jeremy Wichman at No. 3, while Paul Simpson may come up against Quinn Rosa. These ties could be split 1-1. The doubles between these pairings will be of interest - Wichman and Rosa will start as favourites based on last weekend's showings. In the ladies matches either Kirsten Adam or Jeanette Harding will play at No. 3 for Pukekura and will likely meet Diana Carswell or Alice Caskey.
Sanfords Manaia will provide the sternest challenge yet for reigning champions Central Finance Rotokare when they travel down to the South Taranaki town to play the in-form side of the competition. There is an incentive for both these teams to grab hold of this match and therefore strike an exclusive outpost at the top of the points table. Catherine Stevenson will meet Nicole Koch in the top women's match of the round. Stevenson will surely test Koch all the way and will be more than capable of causing an upset over Taranaki's No. 1. Koch however is the consummate professional in her commitment for her club and will start as favourite in the match. Karen Cranston conversely will be favoured against Sarah Kelly although she will do well to heed the threat of her younger opposition.
Cameron Koch will play either Chris Popata or Mike Roberts in the top men's tie and should provide for entertaining theatre either way.