1 Dec 2012

Icon Sports Tariki Pukekura and AWE Huatoki had identical 15-1 wins over  Farmlands Okaiawa and Hareb Deken Oakura, while Sandfords Manaia had a much tougher task subduing Central Finance Rotokare 10-6. 

Rotokare can be proud of themselves getting so close to the champion Manaia side.  After winning 6 of the 8 singles relatively comfortably, maybe Manaia sat back on their laurels, as Rotokare came back to square the doubles and combines and give some credibility to the final score.  Manaia's men showed no mercy with only Rotokare's Greg Hareb showing resistance with a 6-3 6-4 win over Beauden Fleming.  Rotokare's young Frances Gray was their star, winning her singles at No. 2, 6-2 6-3 against Grace Kelly, and taking out the top women's doubles with Karen Cranston, after coming back from 3-9 down in the tiebreak, and then combining with Kyle Crowley to win their No. 2 combines. 

In Pukekura's match versus a below strength Okaiawa side, it was 'business as usual' mode, winning 7 of the 8 singles.  Only debutant, Okaiawa's Emmah Ussher was able to stem the tide, winning her women's No.4 match 5-7 6-2 6-4 versus Jeanette Harding.  In the men's, Pukekura's No1 Callum Old had a tough time against Andrew Powell, eventually winning 5-7 6-3 6-4. Mike Fleming  had a comfortable 6-2 6-1 win over Mark Laurence, while Chris Jury brought Okaiawa's Vince Baylis' wining run to an end, 6-2 6-1.  Ryan Stockman put up a bit of resistance but was eventually overrun 6-3 6-1 by Jamie Simpson.  Pukekura's women had expected easy wins, with Okaiawa’s top 3 women achieving only 3 games between them in defiance. The doubles and combines went all Pukekura's way.

With their two top women out and a couple of last minute fill-ins, Oakura were unable to stem the win flow against a determined Huatoki side. Huatoki's women's side took advantage of their weaker opponents and pounced.  Huatoki's No.1, Alice Caskey, blew out some rust with a 6-1 6-3 win over Jackie Keenan, while Sophie Robertson overcame Chris Davies 6-2 6-0 in a hardhitting display of power.  Chris Wilson got past Rebecca Scott 6-1 6-2, while the future looks bright for both clubs as the two top Taranaki 12 years olds battled out the No. 4 spot ,with Hikaru Han eventually winning 6-1 6-2 over debutant, Poppy Mitchell.  On the men's side, Huatoki's No.1 Amrit Rai showed the benefit of recent top level play in Wellington with a controlled display and a first time win against Graeme Mitchell  7-5 6-4.  No.2 Andrew Sangster had a tough time taming the guile and net play of Oakura's Craig Waite  before wining 6-4 6-2, while Huatoki's 3&4, Alastair Nairn and Thomas Burrell had easy wins, 6-2 7-6 and 6-3 6-1 respectively over Oakura's Len Adamson and Cory Sutherland.  Mitchell and Waite were able to get Oakura on the scoreboard with a fine top men's doubles win 1-6 6-4 7-6(3) over Rai and Sangster, however Huatoki took out the remaining doubles and combines.