23 Feb 2013

The final round of Soffe Cup before the semis, will take advantage of the fine spell of weather  with  third placed Sandfords Manaia away to bottom placed Central Finance Rotokare, front runners Icon's Sport Tariki Pukekura are away to Farmlands Okaiawa, while Hareb Deken Oakura will look to consolidate  their fourth placing, hosting second placed  AWE Huatoki. 

Manaia's women No. 1 & 2, Nicole Koch and Trudy Vince will get a good workout from Rotokare's Karen Cranston and young Frances Gray, but both should win.  Manaia fill-ins at 3& 4, Marina and Caroline Gopperth are unknown quantities, but may struggle against Rotokare No.3  Beccie Atkins and  Rotokare new recruit, hardhitting  Sarah McLintock.  Manaia's top order men, No. 1 Jordan Fleming and Cameron Koch will have too much  firepower for Rotokare's Malcolm Elder and Kyle Crowley, and should win easily.  At 3 and 4, Manaia's Beauden Fleming and Jacob Gopperth are expected to be too strong for Shane Devlin and Cole Hareb.  Rotokare could pull back a few wins in doubles and combines, but Manaia should win out comfortably. 

Oakura's No 1, Graeme Mitchell will face wonder boy, Ajeet Rai.  Rai fancies his chances but Mitchell is in good form and might just have the edge.  Oakura's Craig Waite, back at No. 2 will have his hands full with shot-maker Chris Popata while Len Adamson's fitness will be sorely tested by Huatoki No. 3, Murray Keast .  Young Cory Sutherland will be playing one of his hitting partners, Jeremy Wichman, and the occasion may just get to him.  In the women's, Huatoki's young guns Alice Caskey, Sophie Robertson and Ellen O'Byrne at 4, should prevail over Sue Oldfield, Chris Davies and Jaqui Rood, respectively.  At No. 3  Oakura's Rebecca Scott  will be hard pressed to beat crafty Chris Wilson.  Huatoki are favoured to dominate the doubles and combines.

Pukekura are without Louise Waite and Michael Fleming this weekend which might just give Okaiawa a glimmer of hope to nab the odd win.  Callum Old at No.1 and Chris Jury at 2 should account for Okaiawa's Andrew Powell and Mark Laurence without too much trouble, while Jamie Simpson  will welcome fellow lefty Vincent Baylis, with probably another notch on his win belt.   At 4, veteran Denis Reid will face Okaiawa's Ryan Stockman, who might just  fancy his chances against the old campaigner.  In the women's, Pukekura’s  No 1 Kirsten Adam will take on Amelia Weir in an interesting match which could go either way, while the women's 2 &3 matches should go Pukekura's way, via  Linda Reid  and  Donna Thorne,  both  expected to dominate over Jo Gyde and Shannon O Brien respectively.  Pukekura No. 4 Jeanette Harding  could have a battle with  Aroha Beattie, but is expected to win.  Pukekura  should  dominate  the doubles and   combines.