Manaia's elder statesman a Soffe Cup institution

Manaia's Jason Mills has seen generations of families come through his Soffe Cup tennis side.

Mills made his debut in the Taranaki interclub competition as a fresh-faced 15-year-old in 1989.

Twenty-one years later, the Manaia farmer will line up in the Soffe Cup final against New Plymouth club Huatoki in Manaia tomorrow in search of his 14th title.

While reluctant to admit it, Mills is the elder statesman of a side that has dominated the Soffe Cup in the past two decades.

"I've had a pretty good run, really, although I've got one or two injuries that are starting to catch up with me," he said.

"The old story – knees and elbows, the wear and tear."

Mills said he learned a lot from the senior members of the Manaia side when he was starting out and was more than happy he had the chance to pass on the advice to their children.

"It has been good. Some of them have got some real potential and it's good just to be able to still play with them. They seem to encourage me a bit too and make me feel a bit younger."

Manaia had to rely on a countback of sets to get past Rotokare in its semifinal last week, something Mills was hopeful would not be needed against Huatoki tomorrow.

The South Taranaki side might have had the better of its opponent this season, winning 9-7 and 12-4 during round robin play, but it is still uncertain whether top Manaia player Cameron Koch will be available because of work commitments in Taupo.

"Hopefully, he's available, but I haven't heard a thing yet," Mills said, before saying Huatoki could prove somewhat of an unknown factor, given Manaia was yet to face it at full strength this season.

Depending on Koch's availability, Mills will play at No 2 or three, with Jordan Fleming above him. Michael Gates is a certain starter, while the last spot in the men's line-up will go to either Tommy Death or Jacob Gopperth.

Manaia will, at least, field its strongest women's line-up of Nicole Koch, Ginny Death, Sarah Kelly and Maree Gopperth.

Huatoki, which won through to the final with an 11-5 win over Oakura, will be at full strength, with Jonathan Ussher, Neil Bridgeman, Amrit Rai and David Geange lining up in the men's squad, while the women's line-up will be Saori Han, Alice Caskey, Chris Wilson, and Janice Taylor.

The top women's tie will be between Nicole Koch and Han.

Koch won a tense match 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in their last meeting.

Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's tie, Mills was not speculating about his playing future.

"We'll just have to wait and see how we go. Ask me this time next week."

- © Fairfax NZ News