2 December 2007
The Taranaki
representative tennis team to defend the Christie Cup against Wanganui ( in
Wanganui) on Sunday has been named by selector Bruce Cleland.
Jonno Ussher
(Huatoki), Ben Pollard ( Rotokare), Michael Fleming (Pukekura), Chris Popata
(Rotokare), Josh Walden (Oakura), Zac Wills (Pukekura)
Nicole Koch
(Manaia), Alesha Ford ( Manaia), Leah Fletcher ( Oakura), Linda Reid (
Pukekura) Donna Thorne (Pukekura ) Becky Bruckner (Oakura)
Making their
debuts are Pollard, Fletcher, Thorne and Bruckner although Thorne has played
for the B team for several seasons.
Missing from
last year's squad are Leith Atkins, Catherine Stevenson, Kathryn O'Sullivan,
Lucy Barlow , Saori Han, Aaron Hine and Mark Atkins.
Barlow, Han and
Hine are not available for this match, O'Sullivan has moved to Hawkes Bay,
Leith Atkins is not playing rep while Mark Atkins is not playing and
Stevenson has not returned from Otago University.
It is the first
defence of the season as the Hawkes Bay match which was supposed to be
played a fortnight ago was postponed.
It will be a
tough encounter as many of the Wanganui team play interclub in Wellington.
There is no interclub in Wanganui as there is only one tennis club. Last
season Taranaki won 17-7. It is also the first time for several
seasons that the match has not been played in Taranaki. Wanganui has
requested that it be played there.