Success for Sloan team

Our Sloan Trophy team finally found form by trouncing a hapless Tasman side 8-1 at Motueka on Sunday (July 21) to climb to sixth equal place with one round remaining.

It was just our second win of what has been a disappointing season but it was done in some style with four wins and two halves against Tasman who have yet to taste victory this year.

It was a stellar day for Golden Downs who wrapped up their second successive title with a round to go. Congratulations to them.

Our battle with the cellar dwellers turned out to be a non event, with No 6 Mark Clucas getting us off to the perfect start with a 4/3 win on a Motueka course in good condition. He bizarrely won his first hole with a triple bogey and went to the turn two up before his opponent rallied, but Mark seized control with some fine chipping and putting, including sinking a long one to end his match.

His fellow junior, Mike Williams, took on Mr Sloan himself, Eric Satherley, with the wily 79-year-old hanging tough to grind out a half. Mike drove well but couldn't shake off Eric who he had to give four shots to. One up with three to go, Mike had to settle for a share of the spoils..

Our No 4 Geoff Halkett overcame an out of bounds and his rival birdieing two of the par threes to finish strongly for a 3/2 win. One up after the first nine, He lost a couple early on the back nine before taking his 14th and 15th holes to go dormie and halving the next for victory.

Our other intermediate, Bryce Vincent, was taken to the last hole where he had to give a shot but managed to walk away with a hard-earned half. Starting well, he was two up at the halfway mark but conceded two in a row before edging ahead again only to lose the 17th to tie it up playing the last where he eked out a half.

Pete Green was always in command, although our No 2 started scratchily by bogeying his opening five holes. However, it was still good enough for wins and halves against a struggling opponent. Despite driving powerfully, he took awhile to get the speed of the greens. Five up at the turn, he ended the match early with a birdie on his 12th hole for a resounding 7/6 victory.

No 1 James Campion was equally as dominant off the tee but also putted well to cruise to a 7/6 win. Six up after nine, the inevitable was delayed when he went out of bounds on the 11th but birdied the par five next to complete the rout.

In other matches, unbeaten Golden Downs won another championship with a 8-1 drubbing of Nelson. Takaka moved into second with a similar thrashing of Murchison, while Totaradale and Greenacres battled to a draw, with each taking 4.5 points

So with just the final round to go at Golden Downs on August 4 when we play Nelson, the home team - who have 58 points - can't be caught. Motueka and Takaka share second on 45 points. They are followed by Totaradale (38.5), Murchison (28.5), Waahi Taakaro and Greenacres (23.5), Nelson (18) and Tasman (8.5).