20 March 2011

Soffe Cup Review- Semi-Finals

Sanfords Manaia will play Tariki Icon Sports Pukekura next weekend at the Manaia Tennis Club to decide the Soffe Cup champion for season 2010-11.  Manaia soundly beat Stumble Inn Waiwaka 12-4 at home on Saturday, while Pukekura achieved it in similar style over Central Finance Rotokare 10-6 also at home.

Sanfords Manaia displayed all the character one would expect of defending champions on Saturday, ruthless in their 12-4 disposal of a strong Stumble Inn Waiwaka team.  From the outset, they took charge of this tie winning three each of the mens and womens singles, and in true champion's style never held up the onslaught as Waiwaka tried valiantly in the circumstances but simply couldn't put the home side under enough pressure.

Jordan Fleming got the ball rolling for Manaia beating David Lace 6-3 6-2 not long before Cameron Koch had underlined his strong form in beating Mike Lace 6-1 6-1.  Michael Goulding has been the find of the season for Waiwaka- once again he proved his weight worth in gold with a 6-2 6-0 win over Jacob Gopperth.  Michael Gates then completed the mens singles with a solid 7-5 6-4 win over Michael Lloyd.

In the womens singles Nicole Koch was too good for Krystal Oakes winning 6-1 6-0.  Michelle Lace was strong in her win over Sarah Kelly at No. 2 winning 6-1 6-1.  Maree Gopperth was again impressive in her 6-4 6-2 win over a quality opponent in Nicky Martin.  Grace Kelly then won the sole three set match against Jaydn Bruce winning 0-6 6-2 7-6 (11-9).

Leading 6-2 after the singles, Manaia booked their spot in the Final by winning three of the doubles to take an unassailable 9-3 lead, before completing the victory with three further combines wins.

In the top mens doubles match Fleming/Koch underlined why they are Taranaki's top mens doubles pairing going round this season by easing past David and Mike Lace 6-0 6-2. J. Gopperth/Gates were also too good for Goulding/Lloyd in the No.2 mens doubles match. In the top womens doubles match, Manaia's Koch/M. Gopperth won in straight sets 7-5 6-1 over the Waiwaka pairing Oakes/M. Lace. Waiwaka’s No.2 doubles pairing Martin/Bruce gained some conciliation with a 6-3 7-5 win over S. Kelly/G. Kelly.    

Tariki Icon Sports Pukekura beat Central Finance Rotokare 10-6 at Pukekura Tennis Club on Saturday.  Both teams suffered from a number of players being unavailable due to injury- Meto Snegirev and Donna Thorne for Pukekura; and Karen Cranston, Rebecca Atkins, and Frances Gray for Rotokare.  Despite the new look teams at the less than favourable time of the season both teams put on a display of tennis, befitting the status of a Semi Final. 

Pukekura won all four mens singles, but Rotokare responded in kind winning three of the women's singles to stay in the hunt at 5-3. Pukekura then dominated the doubles 3-1 to lead overall at 8-4, before sealing the win with two combines' victories.

In the mens No. 1 match Callum Old beat Ben Pollard 6-0 3-6 7-6 in a match worthy of playoff intensity and quality.  Mike Fleming then beat Malcolm Elder 6-0 6-0 in the No. 2 match.  Dennis Reid and Nick Haaka completed Pukekura’s men's dominance by beating Kyle Crowley 6-4 6-3 and Shane Devlin 6-2 6-3 respectively.

In the No. 1 women’s match Tania L'Ami beat Linda Reid 6-3 7-5.  It was good reward for L'Ami who had performed all season long outstandingly at No.2 for Rotokare, but stepped up to No. 1 on this occasion, with Karen Cranston unavailable due to injury.  Kirsten Adam beat Beth O’Neill 6-3 6-0 for Pukekura in the No. 2 womens match.  Helena Goodin and Maureen Whiting then performed well under the duress of being asked to fill in at the playoff stage by beating Jeanette Harding 7-5 6-2 and Tania Fleming 6-1 6-2 respectively.
In the mens doubles Old/Fleming won decisively 6-3 6-2 over Pollard/Elder.  Reid/Haaka were equally successful in the No.2 match winning 6-4 6-1 over Crowley/Devlin.

The top womens doubles match also went to the more experienced Pukekura combination of Reid/Fleming, 6- 3 6-3 over L'Ami/O’Neill.  Rotokare kept their slim hopes by this stage alive by winning the No.2 women’s doubles match- Goodin/Whiting winning in nail-biting fashion 5-7 6-4 7-6.

Pukekura secured their spot in the Final finally by winning the top two combines matches.  Old had a great days outing winning all three of his matches- he paired up with Adam to beat Pollard/L'Ami 9-5. Fleming/Reid ever the consistent performers, were not far behind with their 9-3 win over Elder/O’Neill.

Thomson O’Neill Stratford will host Okaiawa in the final of the Wilson Trophy next weekend. Stratford won 12-4 over Waiwaka in their match, while Okaiawa defeated Hawera 10-6 to earn their spot.

In the Sumpter Trophy Final Waitara will play host to Okaiawa. Waitara beat Stratford 10-6 on Saturday, while Okaiawa defeated Huatoki 12-4.

Results

Soffe Cup

Sanfords Manaia 12 Stumble Inn Waiwaka 4

Tariki Icon Sports Pukekura 10 Central Finance Rotokare 6

Wilson Trophy

Thomson O’Neill Stratford 12 Waiwaka 4

Okaiawa 10 Hawera 6

Sumpter Trophy

Waitara 10 Stratford 6

Okaiawa 11 Huatoki 5