21 March 2007

Sandfords Manaia have held the Soffe Cup for seven years but their tenure is under real threat In the A Grade interclub tennis final.  AWE Huatoki have home advantage on Saturday, they also have a psychological advantage having beaten the southern side 9-7 last time these two sides met.
Both sides will be fielding stronger sides than that occasion with Alesha Ford coming in at No 2 replacing no 4 Shinae Bailey for Manaia.
Huatoki's Rakesh Rai replaces his son, Amrit at No 4. Huatoki's no 3 Janice Taylor is unavailable and is replaced by Chris Wilson.
 
Huatoki's two game advantage was in the singles last time winning three women's and two men's. If they can repeat that they will be in with a great show of winning the Cup. Jonathan Ussher, Neil Bridgeman and Rai should win their games against Thomas Luxton, Alaister Murdoch and Michael Gates while Manaia's No2,  Jason Mills will have little trouble in defeating Roy Gaskin
In the women's singles no 1 Huatoki's Lucy Barlow should repeat her win over Nicole Koch, while No 2 Saori Han will find it tough against Alesha Ford. Chris Wilson should beat Ashlee Murdoch while Manaia may take out the No 4 match - with Ginny Death favourite over Robyn Hinton.
Last time Manaia took out the men's doubles and Huatoki the women's with the mixed being shared.
The match will surely be decided in the mixed doubles once again. The match promises to be a great spectacle and an exciting day is in prospect.
 
Oakura (1) play Matapu at Oakura in the Wilson Trophy final. Oakura won 13-3 the last time these two sides met so will be confident.
The Sumpter Trophy final between Huatoki (1) and Hawera is being played at Waiwaka with Huatoki hot favourite, having won 11-5 when these sides last met.