20 March 2009

It is the last round of matches before the semi-finals of all grades of A grade today.
In the Soffe Cup there has been a clear top four throughout the season, Central Finance Rotokare, Sandfords Manaia , Hareb Deken Oakura and Hooker Pacific Pukekura. Manaia and Oakura only have 1.5 points between them but only one of those teams will get a home semi-final. Oakura are likely to have an easier match than Manaia so will get more points than them tomorrow. They are favoured to finish second overall and secure a home semi-final.
 
The match of the day will be between the top two teams, Rotokare and Manaia at Rotokare. The top men's singles are likely to be Rotokare's Ben Pollard against Cameron Koch and Chris Popata against Jason Mills or Jordan Fleming. Rotokare should take both those matches. In the women's singles, Rotokare's top pair of Catherine Stevenson and Kelly Toa take on Manaia's Nicole Koch and Ginny Death. Honours should be shared after those matches. In the first round the score was 9-7 to Rotokare.
 
Third placed Oakura are away to Hawera.  They will be looking to repeat their clean sweep of the first round. Hawera's best hope is their No 1 Neil McCann but he may not be available. He or Conrad Heron will play Graeme Mitchell and in the No 2 match Hawera's Heron or Sean Mehrtens will play John Hardie Boys. The top women's matches will be between Hawera's Sheri De'ath and Oakura's Alesha Ford and the home side's Sandra Gates and Oakura's Becky Bruckner.
 
Fourth placed Hooker Pacific Pukekura are away to sixth placed AWE Huatoki. They may be without their  No 1 Linda Reid who did not play last week possibly due to the ankle injury suffered in the rep match four weeks ago. If  she is unavailable her place will be taken by Donna Thorne who will play Chris Wilson.  The No 2 match will be between Thorne or Kirsten Adam against Megan O'Donnell. In the men's singles, Pukekura' s Michael Fleming or Dennis Reid will play Amrit Rai in the top match and the No 2 match will be between Reid or Meto Sengirev and David Innes. Pukekura are expected to win comfortably
 
McDonalds Real Estate Matapu could not field a team against Lockwood Design and Build Okaiawa.
 
In the Wilson Trophy the top four are Waiwaka, Ecolab Manaia, Stratford and Huatoki.
In the Sumpter Trophy the top four are Waitara, Rotokare, Inglewood and Hawera. Manaia still have a chance of making the semifinals as they are just four points below Hawera.