Sloan team secures another win

Our Sloan team won its fourth consecutive match yesterday (July 28) to maintain its push for third place.

The 6 1/2 to 1 1/2 win over bottom placed Totaradale at Motueka keeps us just two points shy of Greenacres with just one round remaining.

Fittingly, the two top teams, Motueka and Golden Downs, will meet to decide the trophy winner at Nelson on August 11 with Motueka holding just a two point lead.

There was mixed success for our juniors yesterday, with Dave Blake thrashing his opponent 6/5, but Lewis Wilson losing 2 down after struggling with his game for much of the match.

Elton Netto chalked up another come-from-behind win, finding his groove on the back nine to ease to a 3/2 win. However, his fellow intermediate Steve Russell went down 4/3 after his rival struck a 38 on the back nine.

Keri Kotua  - fresh from winning the Waahi Taakaro matchplay title on Saturday - didn't panic after being three down early, pulling it back to just one adrift at the turn and then winning three holes on the bounce to claim a meritorious 2/1 victory. 

Our No 1 Andy Isle was two up after nine but lost his last two holes to halve his match.

In other results, Golden Downs easily accounted for Tasman 7 1/2 to 1 1/2, Greenacres dominated Nelson 7 to 2 and Takaka saw off Murchison 7 1/2 to 1 1/2.

The points table with one round to go is: Motueka 46 1/2, Golden Downs 44 1/2, Greenacres 37, Waahi Taakaro 35, Nelson 28, Tasman 27 1/2, Takaka 25 1/2, Murchison 23 1/2 and Totaradale 18.

At Nelson on August 11, we will play Tasman, Motueka will take on Golden Downs, Greenacres verses Murchison and Totaradale and Takaka clash.

ends