Sloan team finishes with a flourish

Our Sloan team ended a solid season in style with a gutsy win over Greenacres in difficult conditions at Totaradale on Sunday (Oct 11).

The 6 1/2 to 2 1/2 point victory denied Greenacres a chance at the title.

In a thrilling end to a close fought competition, Totaradale's Robert Taire beat Motueka's Dennis Wright at the first extra playoff hole with a par to win the trophy for the home team after both teams finished level on points.

Earlier, our juniors gave us the perfect start. With some good chipping and putting, Aaron Kotua built on a 1-up lead after nine to ease to a 3/2 win. Lewis Wilson was all square at the turn but used his experience against a long-hitting opponent to grind out a 3/2 result.

Jonathan Tuheke came from behind to almost snatch a win at the death before settling for a vital half. Two down early on the back nine, he fought back to tie it up on the 17th and then saw a winning putt lip out on the last. Fellow intermediate Steve Russell was one down at the halfway mark but lost three holes on the bounce and despite fighting hard went down 4/3.

Peter Green was three down after nine and couldn't string a run of holes together to succumb 5/3.

It was left to captain Keri Kotua to get the team over the line. In a tight battle with lots of halved holes, he was one up at the turn before his opponent went out of bounds at the 15th to give him a two-hole buffer. After losing the 16th he slotted a short putt at the 17th for a 2/1 victory.

In other results, Motueka beat Golden Downs 6 1/2 to 2 1/2, while Nelson defeated Murchison by the same score. Tasman won by default over Takaka.

Motueka's win meant it finished on 45 points alongside Totaradale, who had the bye. Greenacres was marooned on third with 43 points. We finished fourth on 40 points and will rue the draw we had with Tasman earlier in the season which cost us a shot at the trophy. Next were Nelson (35), Tasman (33), Golden Downs (31), Takaka (27.5) and Murchison (18.5).  

ends