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It's all on.
Patutahi (1) are shaping up as the Max Verstappen of the 2023 Oligoi Jug men’s interclub while the chasing pack are producing matchplay drama befitting an episode of Drive To Survive.
The ’Tahi made Metallica concert-loud and clear their intentions to regain No.1 status in Poverty Bay-East Coast in rounds 1 and 2 two weeks ago and reaffirmed that in rounds 3 and 4 at Tolaga Bay on Saturday.
Led by the so-far indestructible Hukanui Brown, ’Tahi (1) put distance between themselves and the other seven teams with another two convincing victories.
Patutahi (1) started the day at Uawa with a 7-1 dismantling of defending champions Electrinet Park (1) and ended it with a 6-2 derby defeat of Patutahi (2).
Brown is four-from-four at No.1. His 3 and 2 win over Park’s Daniel Collier is the closest anyone has got to him.
The 13 points ’Tahi (1) banked put them into a commanding position at the top of the table on 27 points out of a possible 32.
They have leapt to an eight-point lead over Te Puia Springs (19), with Park (1) third on 17 and Poverty Bay (16) completing the top four.
’Tahi (1) can feel confident without the complacency from their vantage point but the chase is on among the others.
A mere five points separates the second to sixth-placed teams, and even those at the bottom — Waikohu and Tolaga (both 10 points) — are not out of the running with three rounds of round-robin to go.
The Springs chalked up valuable points on Saturday. They beat Waikohu 5-3 and Park (2) 6-2.
Springs stalwart Andrew Higham joined Huks Brown as the only two players to have won all four matches.
He was pushed by Waikohu’s Glenn Solomann before winning 2 and 1, but slammed the door 7 and 5 in the face of Park’s Craig Christophers.
Auckland-based Waikohu No.1 David Solomann and son Glenn are well on their way to becoming the most travelled pennants players in New Zealand history.
The journey was worth it for “Solly” senior, who blitzed Tolaga Bay No.1 Taine Lincoln and reigning King of the Coast (held at Tolaga Bay) William Brown, who is playing for Te Puia.
Both matches ended on the 13th.
Solomann jr had a solid 3 and 2 win against Tolaga Bay’s Bruce Yates in the afternoon in a 4-all team result.
Poverty Bay selector Simon Jeune put in overtime to get teams together for both rounds in the absence of Glenn Morley and Quin McPike.
Tony Battistella and Deevon Gray made their debuts, Jeune played himself in one round and Nick Richardson helped out in the other.
Jeune was the only one to win — 4 and 3 over Park (1)’s Peter Stewart.
But in Richardson’s defence, he came up against probably the best No.4 pennants player in history — Park (1)’s Anaru Reedy, who for the second week running was a fill-in due to player unavailability and has a history of success at Tolaga as the 2021 King of the Coast champion.
Poverty Bay’s Mark Jefferson bounced back from losses in rounds 1 and 2 with two convincing victories.
Patutahi (2)’s Jace Brown had a productive day. He beat Poverty Bay’s Gray in the morning and his afternoon 4 and 3 win over Patutahi (1)’s Eddie Brown jr saved his team from a donut.
Tolaga Bay’s Neil Hansen was also in good touch on his home track, easing to wins over Park (2)’s Zach Rolls and Waikohu’s Terry Reeves.
Tolaga Bay’s Tim Adamson marked his Oligoi debut with a big win in the afternoon.
Te Puia’s Thomas Donovan had a win and a half — his victory over Marcus Gray ending the teenager’s three-match win streak.
’Tahi (1)’s Shayde Skudder and Dean Pohatu — splitting duties between them over the four rounds so far — notched their second wins to be unbeaten.
Rounds 5 and 6 are at the Park course on Sunday, May 7.
The final round of round-robin clashes and semifinals are at the Park on May 13.
The 36-hole Oligoi final and 18-hole positional playoffs are at Poverty Bay on Sunday, May 28.
Results, round 3 — Patutahi (1) 7 Electrinet Park (1) (Patutahi names first): Hukanui Brown def Daniel Collier 3 and 2; Dwayne Russell def Sel Peneha 5 and 3; Shayde Skudder def Peter Stewart 4 and 3; Edward Brown jr halved with Silas Brown.
Patutahi (2) 4 Poverty Bay 4: Regan Hindmarsh lost to David Situ 5 and 4; Reef Pohatu lost to Mark Jefferson 3 and 2; Jace Brown def Deevon Gray 3 and 2; Chris Beattie def Tony Battistella 1-up.
Te Puia Springs 5 Waikohu 3: William Brown lost to David Solomann 6 and 5; Andrew Higham def Glenn Solomann 2 and 1; Wade Wesche def Terry Reeves 4 and 3; Thomas Donovan and Percy Milner halved.
Tolaga Bay 4 Park (2) 4: Taine Lincoln lost to Matt Henwood 5 and 4; Bruce Yates def Craig Christophers 3 and 2; Neil Hansen def Zach Rolls 4 and 3; Tim Adamson lost to Marcus Gray 2 and 1.
Round 4 — Park (1) 4 Poverty Bay 4: Collier def Situ 2-up; Peneha lost to Jefferson 5 and 4; Stewart lost to Simon Jeune 4 and 3; Anaru Reedy def Nick Richardson 4 and 3.
Patutahi (1) 6 Patutahi (2) 2: H Brown def Hindmarsh 7 and 6; Russell def Pohatu 3 and 2; E Brown jr lost to Jace Brown and 4 and 3; Beattie lost to Dean Pohatu 4 and 3.
Te Puia Springs 6 Park (2) 2: W Brown def Henwood 5 and 4; Higham def Christophers 7 and 5; Wesche lost to Rolls 3 and 2; Donovan def M Gray 5 and 4.
Tolaga Bay 4 Waikohu 4: Lincoln lost to D Solomann 6 and 5; Yates lost to G Solomann 3 and 2; Hansen def Reeves 5 and 4; Adamson def Milner 6 and 5.
Overall standings: Patutahi (1) 27, Te Puia Springs 19, Park (1) 17, Poverty Bay 16, Park (2) 15, Patuahi (2) 14, Waikohu 10, Tolaga Bay 10.
Max Hammond's try was a highlight but the honours went to the hosts.