SOFFE CUP REVIEW

Midhirst caused the biggest upset of the season in Soffe Cup tennis on Saturday by not only beating Accent on Curtains Waiwaka but thrashing them, 14-2 at Midhirst.  Although Waiwaka were without their No1, Aaron Hine they would have been expecting to defeat Midhirst who were at the bottom of the points table.  Midhirst’s Chris Brown, Ross Slinger and Ross Topping all won 6-0, 6-1 while No 2 Michael O’Sullivan had a tough game but came out the winner 6-4, 7-5 against Tim Cleaver.  Midhist’s top woman Kathryn O’Sullivan just edged out Clare Fairey in the third set tie-breaker, while Waiwaka’s No2 Nicki Mills was the only one to win her singles, 6-2, 6-1 over Sandy Reeve.  Gloria Wilson and Liz O’Sullivan had easy wins.
The rest of the games were easy wins to Midhirst except the top doubles with Fairey and Mills defeating O’Sullivan and Reeve 7-5, 6-3.

Stratford would have probably been satisfied with their 5 points against the Soffe Cup leaders Sandfords Manaia, at Stratford.  The scores were 5-3 to Manaia after the singles with Manaia’s No1 and 4 Jason Mills and Alaister Murdoch defeating Gavin Phelan and Grant Kite.  Stratford’s Elliot Campbell and Bruce Cleland evened up the score with wins against Thomas Luxton and Cameron Koch.  Manaia’s No1 and 2, Nicole Koch and Cindy Death had easy wins while No 3 Irene Cruikshank had a three set win over Jaydyn Bruce.  Stratford’s Penny Stark defeated Ashlee Murdoch 6-2, 7-5.
The rest of the games went Manaia’s way, apart from the doubles match between Cruikshank and Murdoch and Bruce and Stark and the No 3 combines match.  Bruce Cleland and Brenda Gibbons defeated Koch and Cruikshank 9-4.

Rotokare went one better than the first round when they defeated Pukekura 10-6 at home.  Rotokare showed their depth, they were again without their No1 Max Ladame.  No 3 Chris Pulford was also missing but it had little effect.  Pukekura were missing both their top players, Zac Wills and Linda Reid as well as No 2 Tony Radich.  The home team jumped to a 6-2 lead after the singles and the rest of the matches were shared.  Rotokare’s men proved the difference, winning all their singles.  No 1 Mike Roberts defeated Ryan Waite 6-1, 7-6.   No 2 Jono Ussher was in top form, only dropping two games against Andrew Waite and No 4 Greg Hareb didn’t drop a game against Daimon Stewart.  No 3 David Geange was pushed all the way by Ben Aves before winning 3-6, 7-5, 7-6.
The women’s singles were shared 2 all with Rotokare’s top two players Leith Atkins and Cheryl Lawrence having easy wins over Donna Thorne and Janette Harding.  Pukkeura’s Kirsten Adam and Carole Medway evened the score with wins over Michelle Atkins and Helen Shaw.  The doubles were closely contested with Pukekura’s Waite brothers reversing the singles results by defeating Roberts and Ussher in the third set tie-breaker.  Rotokare won the second doubles and the top women’s match.  Pukekura won the second women’s doubles.  Rotokare picked up the second and third combines to seal victory.
Rotokare’s Greg Hareb was the only one in his team to win all his matches while Pukekura’s player of the day was Kirsten Adam who won all three.

 

Three semifinalists seem to be already decided with Sandfords Manaia twenty points ahead in 1^st place, Rotokare 2^nd  and Pukekura 3^rd.   Midhirst’s win means the other three teams are all in with a chance of qualifying for the semifinals with only three points separating the 4^th - 6^th placed teams.

Wilson Trophy

Kaponga 14 Waitara 2, Manaia 11 Okaiawa 5, Matapu 13 HAwera 3

Association Cup

Manaia 9 Inglewood 7, Rotokare 8 Kaimata 8, Oakura 8 Huatoki 8

Sumpter Trophy

Waiwaka 8 Hawera 8, Stratford 12 Matapu 4

 

Points

Soffe Cup

Manaia 801/2, Rotokare 60, Pukekura 53, Waiwaka 45, Stratford 441/2, Midhirst 42

Wilson Trophy

Matapu 27, Kaponga 23, Manaia 19, Hawera 18, Okaiawa 16, Waitara 5

Association Cup

Oakura 24, Kaimata 23, Inglewood 22, Manaia 15, Rotokare 12, Huatoki 9

Sumpter Trophy

Matapu 19, Waiwaka 16, Stratford 14, Hawera 12, Pukekura 11