SOFFE CUP HEATS UP

Taranaki’s premier tennis competition, Soffe Cup, continued on Saturday.

Huatoki hosted Rotokare, who dominated Oakura so convincingly before the representative fixture break. Rotokare, with both their top male and female players away, were toppled by a resurgent Huatoki side 9-7.

The difference in the singles came when Ross Lilley managed a win against Will Roberts. It is wonderful to see Rotokare nurturing the future of Taranaki tennis by giving a junior of Will Robert’s potential an opportunity to play at the top level. Other than this match, Rotokare won all the men’s matches and Huatoki won all of the women’s matches.

These fortunes were then reversed in the doubles with Huatoki claiming both of the men’s singles matches and the Rotokare women claiming both the women’s doubles.

Rotokare’s Atkinson and Goodin managed a hard fought 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-6) win. With the mixed matches split two ties each, Huatoki just managed to scrape home.

Pukekura were at home against Oakura. Once again, missing two top men in the form of Jamie Simpson and Graeme Mitchell, Oakura lost to Pukekura 10-6. Pukekura were also without Caleb Fleming but were able to call on the services of Mark Belcher. Belcher was clearly looking to make up for his ‘rusty’ performance against Hamish Mead in the last round; winning comfortably. Louise Waite would have been thankful that her opponent managed to make the court this week, even if it was only for a set—6-0—then a default.

This left Pukekura with a 6 rubbers to 2 lead heading into the doubles. Pukekura won 3 of the 4 ties to take an unassailable 9-3 lead heading into the mixed. Pukekura once again picked up a mixed match by default, whilst Oakura won the other three.

Pihama took on Okaiawa/ Manaia. Pihama proved far too strong with a convincing 11-5 victory. Pihama will need more results like this if the team hopes to sneak into fourth place and snatch a berth in the semi-finals away from Huatoki.

Soffe Cup will take a rest again this weekend. The following weekend on the 24th of February will see Huatoki clash with Pukekura, Pihama meet Rotokare and Okaiawa/Manaia tangle with Oakura.

Results: Soffe Cup:

Pukekura 10 Oakura 6, Huatoki 9, Rotokare 7, Pihama 11 Okaiawa/ Manaia 5 Wilson Trophy: Huatoki 3 Pukekura 13, Rotokare 4 Stratford 12, Hawera RO Matapu RO, Oakura 1 Inglewood 15 Sumpter Trophy: Waiwaka 15 Huatoki 1, South Combined 5 Waitara 11, Pukekura Green 12 Oakura 4, Pukekura Yellow bye

Points as at 10th February 2018: Soffe Cup: Pukekura 69.5, Rotokare 63, Oakura 58.5, Huatoki

56.5, Pihama 47, Okaiawa/Manaia

42.5 Wilson Trophy: Stratford 106, Inglewood 94, Pukekura 88.5, Hawera 83, Matapu 69.5, Rotokare

61.5, Huatoki 44, Oakura 36 Sumpter Trophy: Waitara 80, Pukekura Yellow 71, South Combined 70, Waiwaka 62, Oakura 50.5, Pukekura Green 44.5, Huatoki 9