21 Dec 2013

AWE Huatoki crushed Farmlands Okaiawa 16-0 to rocket into first equal place with Sandfords Manaia who dispatched Hareb Deken Oakura 12-4.  Naki Racquets Pukekura easily beat Central Finance Rotokare 13-3.

A full strength Huatoki team steamrolled over a hapless Okaiawa at Huatoki Doman.  Huatoki No.1 Amrit Rai was slow to start against Okaiawa No.1 Andrew Powell but fought back in each set to win comfortably 6-3 6-3.  Chris Popata at 2 made it look easy, in his 6-0 6-1 win over Mark Laurence however Alastair Nairn a set down and 1-3 down in the second, was able to rally back to take it in 3 sets against a tiring Vincent Baylis.  English schoolboy Stephen Gibbons at 4 had trouble handling Ryan Stockman's power but once he got into his work, it was game over in straight sets.  Huatoki dominated the women's matches with Huatoki's Alice Caskey at 1, showing  Emma Ussher no mercy,6-0 6-0, however Sophie Robertson at No.2,  had to dig deep against shot maker Beth McLeod to take it in 3 sets. Ellen O'Byrne and Hikaru Han at 3 & 4, had easy straight sets wins over Jaimee Baylis & Aroha Beattie respectively.

Rotokare's men's team had a tough day at the office.  Malcolm Elder at No.1 was defiant but lacked the firepower to hurt Jaime Simpson; Simpson wining comfortable 6-4 6-0.  Shane Devlin at 2 found veteran Meto Snegirev a tough nut to crack but Snegirev went on to win 6-3 6-2.  Another veteran, Laurie Jordan at 3 took on newcomer John Lehman with Lehman having too much class, too much speed and too much power winning 6-3 6-0.  Derek Edwards, after taking 14 year old David Barnard close in the first set 7-5, ran out of puff, to then  easily lose the second set 6-2.  Rotokare's sole women's singles win came from  Karen Cranston  at No.1 who beat  Kirsten Adam  6-4 7-5.   At No 2, Julie Foley struggled  against the battle-hardened  Donna Thorne losing 6-3 6--1. The 3 & 4's, Helena Goodin  & Hannah Trevis  had it equally tough with Chantelle Peters & debutant 15 year old Holly Pearson having easy wins.  

Oakura's sole men's singles win came from Graeme Mitchell at No.1, against Cameron Koch, while Len Adamson at 2 , found young Beauden Fleming too young & fast, losing 6-1 6-1.  Charlie Lewis & Simon Spurdle filling in at 3 & 4 respectively were  beaten by Manaia's Jacob Gopperth and Josh  Murdoch.   In the women's,  Oakura's  Sue Oldfield could only watch as Nicole Koch served up an easy win.  At 2 Miaana Walden was too rusty for a rejuvenated Alesha Ford, losing 6-3 6-3  however Jackie Keenan pulled one back for Oakura taking Maree Gopperth in 3 sets.   Trudy Vince outlasted Chris Davies, while Manaia dominated the doubles overall.