The national club championships hit Tauranga on Tuesday. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN
The national club championships hit Tauranga on Tuesday. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN
The 47th national club championships hit the courts in Mount Maunganui this week from Tuesday through to Saturday with a record number of 50 entries playing at the ASB Baypark Arena in four divisions.
Teams from Northland to Southland are participating.
The men's 1st division championship is expected to befought out between the 2012 and 2013 champions Richmond Mall Pines and the 2013 runners-up Harbour Raiders. Mount Maunganui-based club Mauao will make their strongest challenge to date. Manukau teams Playaz, Sparta and South Auckland are also expected to be in the hunt.
In the women's 1st division, the title is likely to be fought over by zone champions Harbour Raiders, 2013 National Champions Tauranga and 2013 bronze medallists Hamilton. Mauao and Sparta women and Wellington side NZIS join the title race, along with Christchurch's Shirley.
In the 2nd division, the men's competition could be a battle between 2013 champions Hamilton and Dunedin side Scorpion, with new club Auckland Central and Bay of Plenty's Rotovegas looking likely dark horses.
The women's section Auckland's East Coast Thunder and South Auckland are under challenge from Christchurch's Pioneer, Tauranga B, as well as Manukau South and Auckland Central.
