Ranking tactic causes concern

The Manawatu-Wanganui Golf Association might have to take action if the habit of offering sacrificial martyrs at the top of the interclub orders becomes more endemic.

A-grade teams have been putting players up the top slots and banking on their best men winning further down.

Take Feilding, who put two of the district's top players, Glen Finlayson and Malcolm Wells, at No3 and No4 respectively against home team Marton at Santoft. Finlayson halved with rep player Regan Cording and Wells beat Mike Arnott 5 and 4 while Marton's No1 Lachie McDonald and Willie Steer had easy wins. It all backfired when Marton won the match 5-3.

Marton advanced to third place ahead of Feilding, Marton's only blip coming when they halved with Palmerston North who juggled their playing order in round one.

The rigging of playing orders mean the top men are not playing each other.

Manawatu maintained top equal place with defending pennant winner Levin by beating Palmerston North 6 1/2-1 1/2 yesterday. Palmerston North's only winner was Sam Drake at No 8.

At the top, Ewan Westergaard beat former Manawatu player Pranil Singh 5 and 3 and Angus Findlay had a fine 6 and 5 win over Mike McSherry. Manawatu's Stu Smith halved with Pat Arnold at No 3.

Levin raced past bottom team Taihape by 6 1/2-1 1/2 with hot young rep player Tyler Hodge cruising past Ben Cribb's father who was also unexpectedly put at the top of the order.

Tawhero, once the little brother of the three Wanganui clubs, beat the winless Wanganui Golf Club team by 4 1/2-3 1/2 for Tawhero's first win in the three rounds.

Hawkestone continued their unbeaten march through B-grade pennants, this time walloping Castlecliff 5 1/2-2 1/2 at Hawkestone. Manawatu B came back from their loss at Linton last week by beating Buckley 5-3 while Linton Camp and Waimarino had their first wins to close ranks at the foot of the table.

A grade at Marton: Manawatu 6 1/2 PN 1 1/2, Tawhero 4 1/2 Wanganui 3 1/2, Marton 5 Feilding 3, Levin 6 1/2 Taihape 1 1/2.

Points: Manawatu 9 (19 1/2), Levin 9 (19 1/2), Marton 7 (15 1/2), Feilding 6 (15), Tawhero 3 (9 1/2), PN 1 7 1/2), Wanganui 0 (5 1/2), Taihape 0 (4).

B grade at Hawkestone: Hawkestone 5 1/2 Castlecliff 2 1/2, Waimarino 4 1/2 Rangitikei 3 1/2, Linton 5 1/2 Feilding B 2 1/2, Manawatu B 5 Buckley 3.

Points: Hawkestone 9 (17 1/2), Manawatu B 6 (12 1/2), Rangitikei 4 (12), Castlecliff 4 (11 1/2), Buckley 3 (11 1/2), Linton 3 (11), Feilding B 3 (11), Waimarino 3 (9).

C grade at Foxton: Morning round Rangatira 8 1/2 Taihape B 1/2, Wanganui B 6 Pahiatua 3, Foxton 8 PNB 1, Waiouru 4 1/2 Levin B 4 1/2, Tawhero B bye. Afternoon round: Rangatira 6 Waiouru 3, Pahiatua 5 1/2 Levin B 3 1/2, Taihape B 4 1/2 PN B 4 1/2, Foxton 8, Tawhero B 1, Wanganui B bye.

- © Fairfax NZ News