30 November 2006

On paper it looks like the three penultimate round of Soffe Cup matches tomorrow will be one sided, with three of the top four sides playing the three in the lower half of the points table.
 
Points leader Rotokare take on seventh placed Okaiawa who have found it tough going this season and are destined for relegation in a fortnight. The match is on the Okaiawa hardcourts but that won't be enough to secure a home town win.
The top two men's matches are likely to be Rotokare's Chris Popata taking on Taranaki B player Andrew Powell and Mark Atkins playing Murray Mead.
The womens' matches are likely to be Rotokare's Leith Atkins playing Joanne Gyde and Val McLoughlin playing Megan Gyde with the New Plymouth club pair likely to win comfortably.
 
Second equal placed Sandfords Manaia are at home to Waiwaka.  Manaia have a number of players out this week but are likely to prevail in a close match.
Veteran Irene Cruikshank will play her first Soffe Cup match of the season while 12 year old Maree Gopperth will make her debut.
The top men's match will see Manaia's Thomas Luxton likely to beat Waiwaka's Jordan Stayt and a good match in prospect is the No 2 clash between Jason Mills and Stuart Wood, on the verge of rep selection.
In the women's singles, Manaia's Nicole Koch will play Jayden Bruce and No 2 Ginny Death will play Yvonne Chamberlain.
 
Stratford /Midhirst are at home to Hooker Pacific Pukekura in a match likely to be played at Midhirst.
Pukekura are another team who have a number of players unavailable and it will be Stratford/Midhirst's chance to gain some valuable points. The combined side welcome back No 1 Kathryn O'Sullivan from university for her first match of the season. She will have a tough match against Linda Reid. The No 2 match is likely to be Stratford/Midhirst's Kylie Jury against Donna Thorne with Thorne the hot favourite.
A number of  men's matches could go Stratford. Top player Gavin Phelan is likely to play Meto Snegirev  who is normally No 3 and the No 2 match could see former rep player Chris Brown have his first Soffe Cup game of the season against reserve players Paul Simpson or Andy Erb.
 
Huatoki have the bye.