Weekend of playoffs looms as season highlight

OPINION: This weekend is set to be one of the season's highlights with Manawatu hosting the regional interclub playoffs on Saturday and regional intercentre representative playoffs on Sunday.

I am picking Palmerston North will figure prominently in the men's division one interclub, while our women's best chance may be in division two where Northern will represent the centre.

Terrace End are our women's division one representatives and Northern are also fronting in the division two men's with a formidable team. Most of the Palmerston North men's team have had success at this level and playing on familiar greens makes them favourites.

Hawke's Bay's Heretaunga, with the advantage of year-round play in their indoor complex, loom as the toughest opposition, although Masterton may also pose the same bogey threat Wairarapa teams often do to Manawatu.

Terrace End should be very competitive with Fran Frith and the ageless Bev Budd leading the charge.

But they may feel the loss of Sheryn Blake, who is still injured but making good progress.

The teams are – Division one men, Palmerston North: Ross Ellery singles; Pat Horgan (s) and Eric Watson pairs; Steve Toms (s), Brian Little, Graeme Cooley and Paul Rowe fours.

Division one women, Terrace End: Georgie Kahui-Rogers singles; Bev Budd (s) and Sharon Groves pairs; Fran Frith (s) Wendy Currie, Maria Jones and Julia Wood fours.

Division two men. Northern: Phil Skoglund snr singles; Peter Lambert (s) and Colin Lozell pairs; Craig Gush (s), Kevin Suisted, Doug Hayward and Peter Dellabarca fours.

Division two women, Northern: Julie Mills singles; Chris Quinn (s) and Lynlea Rogers pairs; Sue Meyer (s), Julie Palmer, Kay Hammond and Pat Baker fours.

Many of these players will line out again in the representative teams on Sunday and, on form, all our teams can go in with some confidence.

At this stage it comes down to mental toughness and Eric Watson, the men's selector, won't wear any softness in that department.

He has rebuilt his senior four since the quadrangular.

Both women's teams have improved as the season has progressed and they are strong prospects.

Teams are – Senior men: Ross Ellery singles; Pat Horgan (s) and Chris Barrett pairs; Philip Skoglund (s), Steve Toms, Brian Looker and Terry Johnson fours.

Development men: Shane Rogers singles; Terry Curtis (s) and Bruce Harris pairs; Grant Simms (s), Mark McIntosh, Jacob Aldridge and Ted Hodgson fours.

Senior women: Feona Sayles singles; Chris Quinn (s) and Lynlea Rogers pairs; Fran Frith (s), Anna Davis, Julie Palmer and Bev Budd fours.

Women's development: Georgie Kahui-Rogers singles; Kay Hammond (s) and Sue Way pairs; Robyn McGregor, Emily Gray, Sue Scott and Lyn Jensen fours.Most clubs are nearing the end of their championship and a large number of entries came into my club, Johnston Park, for our men's pairs at the end of play last Saturday.

That suggested a few knew their fate by then.

Space is still available for entries for next weekend and don't forget the Hospice tournament the following Saturday.

And Woodville tell us that a good welcome is assured to anyone entering their Hetero Triples the next day.

Saturday, March 6, sees the start of champion of champion tournaments, events in which the minnows seem to thrive.

Many a top combination has been tipped over in the first round, so expect more of the same.

email tony.jensen@aon.co.nz

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