Soffe Cup teams to play for semi spot

Soffe Cup got going again after the representative fixture break the weekend before.

Pihama hosted Rotokare and were soundly beaten 12-4. With both the Fleming brothers unavailable for Pihama it was always going to be a long day for the club. Patrick Stevenson halted the Rotokare onslaught with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Shane Devlin. In fact, three of the four Pihama victories involved Patrick Stevenson; a bright spot in an otherwise long day for Pihama.

The other exception was Grace Kelly’s hard fought 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Karen Cranston. It is surprising that Pihama fielded an under-strength team as this was a tie where they could have gained a lot more points. With fourth place and a semi-final spot still possible, Pihama will want to turn out their best possible side next week.

Huatoki were at home to Pukekura and were also fielding a relatively under strength line up. This resulted in a dominant Pukekura victory 15-1. The Pukekura women were particularly dominant, conceeding just six games over all four singles matches.

The effort of Tracey Old must be acknowledged against Louise Waite. Waite is a quality player who is off to a United States College on a tennis scholarship. Players from other clubs have defaulted against her, seeing it as a waste of time to even play. Old not only took to the court but managed to take a game. Huatoki’s Alistair Nairn and Chris Wilson managed a victory in the combines over Pukekura’s Brady Simpson and Ella Rogers.

Okaiawa/Manaia played at home to Oakura and recorded a comfortable 11-5 win. After the singles it was a relatively even split with Okaiawa/Manaia claiming a 5-3 lead. Perhaps the match of the round came in the men’s singles when Josh Murdoch defeated Simon Spurdle

6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3). Okaiawa/Manaia’s men were more dominant and claimed both the doubles, whilst the women’s doubles matches were split one a piece. It left Oakura needing to win all the mixed doubles matches to force a count back.

Okaiawa/Manaia won all four and carried the day comfortably.

Results:

Soffe Cup: Huatoki 1 Pukekura

15, Pihama 4 Rotokare 12, Okaiawa/ Manaia 11 Oakura 5; Wilson Trophy: Rotokare 3 Pukekura 13, Stratford 5 Inglewood 11, Huatoki 4 Hawera 12, Matapu 8 Oakura 8 (Matapu win on count back 149-140);

Sumpter Trophy: Waitara 10 Waiwaka 6, Pukekura Yellow 5 South Combined 11, Pukekura Green 13 Huatoki 3, Oakura bye;

Points

Soffe Cup:Pukekura 86.5, Rotokare 77, Oakura 63.5, Huatoki

57.5, Okaiawa/Manaia 55.5, Pihama

51; Wilson Trophy: Stratford 125, Inglewood 121, Pukekura 120.5, Hawera 103, Matapu 80.5, Rotokare

68.5, Oakura 56, Huatoki 52