Yet another draw for Sloan team

Our Sloan team has racked up their fifth draw of a frustrating season after sharing the spoils with Nelson at Takaka on Sunday (Aug 6).

It means we head into the final round at Motueka next month fifth equal on the points table but with a chance of finishing third if we knock over title hopefuls Totaradale.

It was ultimately another frustrating outcome with three team members winning but the other three all losing, with all matches finishing early.

Playing at No 6 Warwick King was well beaten 4/3, although his fellow leftie and junior Lewis Wilson won by the same score. 

Neil McLaren proved an inspired late replacement in his season debut, crushing his intermediate opponent 6/5, only for our No 3 Aaron Kotua to succumb 3/2.

Andy Isle went down 3/2, but our No 1 James Campion made sure of the draw with a 3/2 win over former Waahi Taakaro member Sam Best.

The result meant we have won just one match this season, while drawing five and losing the other.

In other results, Golden Downs are the new competition leaders after defeating lowly Greenacres 7.5-1.5.

Totaradale slipped to second after surprisingly being held to a draw by Tasman, while Murchison upset Motueka 6.5-2.5.

So with one round remaining, Golden Downs (44.5 points ) and Totaradale (43.5) will battle for the crown. There is a logjam for the minor places with Nelson (31) currently third. They are followed by Motueka 30.5) who have finished their campaign, Waahi Taakaro and Murchison on 28.5, Takaka (27.5), Tasman (25.5) and Greenacres (18.5).

In the key match-ups at Motueka on September 3 Golden Downs will take on Nelson while we will attempt to spoil Totaradale's party.