Three in the hunt for last pennants semi spot

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The cream has risen.

Rounds 5 and 6 of the Oligoi Jug men’s interclub pennants were expected to be Moving Day for those hunting semifinal berths in the matchplay series. And move they did.

Patutahi (1), as they have done since Round 1, virtually sealed the No.1 spot with one round of round-robin play to go.

Their 8-0 drubbing of Electrinet Park (2) and 6-2 defeat of Poverty Bay at the Park course last Sunday lifted them to 41 points — an eight-point advantage over second-placed Te Puia Springs (33), with defending champions Park (1) third on 27.

Those three have locked in top-four playoffs spots — Park could mathematically be caught but that is highly unlikely — leaving one place open.

Poverty Bay (22pts) are in sniffing distance of that. They are three points clear of fifth-placed Waikohu (19) who would need a strong performance over Patutahi (1) in Round 7 tomorrow to leapfrog them.

Park (2) , on 18, are also in the mix but require a comprehensive win over Poverty Bay tomorrow to have a chance.

The venue for the round has the potential for plenty of drama.

Mahia is hosting Round 7 in the morning and top-four/bottom four semifinals in the afternoon.

It’s neutral territory — the perfect environment to produce surprises.

Waikohu face an acute climb against a ’Tahi (1) team who have led from the front.

But while the Tahi are a powerful unit, they are not impregnable.

Last weekend saw Tahi (1) No.1 Hukanui Brown’s perfect win streak come to an end at the hands of PB’s Glenn Morley in the match of the day.

The pair traded birdie for birdie on three par-5s, Brown was given an eagle putt on another but Morley hung tough to get across the line 1-up. He was 1-under when they shook hands.

“It was a really enjoyable match,” said Morley, who also had a tight one against Waikohu import David Solomann — the latter winning on the 18th.

Tahi are missing key players for tomorrow morning, opening the door for Waikohu.

Brown is out, along with Shayde Skudder, who advanced his series record to four from four on Sunday with two wins.

Auckland-based Solomann and his son Glenn have been a revelation for the Te Karaka club. The pair had two wins apiece on Sunday to keep Waikohu in the top-four running.

Ethine Reeves’ Oligoi debut for Waikohu was put on  hold due to a rugby injury.

Brown’s defeat means there is only one man with a six-from-six record so far. And it’s probably no surprise.

Te Puia Springs No.2 Andrew Higham is an outstanding matchplayer and breezed to victories over Patutahi (2)’s Wynne MacLellan (6 and 4) and Tolaga Bay’s Bruce Yates (4 and 3).

Park (1)’s top two — Anaru Reedy and Daniel Collier — anchored the reigning champions’ 4-all draw with Tolaga Bay and 6-2 win over Patutahi (2), although Reedy was made to work for his wins; 2 and 1 over Tolaga Bay’s Taine Lincoln and 1-up against Tahi’s Reef Pohatu.

While Tolaga Bay are out of the semifinal running, it’s no fault of No.3 Neil Hansen. His 2 and 1 win over Park (1)’s Pete Stewart and 5 and 4 thumping of Te Puia’s Thomas Donovan made it five wins from six matches.

Hansen, however, is out for tomorrow and has been replaced by Will Yates — joining father Bruce in the side.

Park (2)’s Craig Christophers had cause for celebration on Saturday. His 5 and 4 defeat of Waikohu’s Terry Reeves was his first Oligoi victory.

Jason Devery’s first appearance in the 2023 series was a successful one. Devery added four points to Te Puia’s total with wins over Patutahi (2)’s Chris Beattie (4 and 3) and Tolaga Bay’s Tim Adamson (5 and 4).

ROUND 7 DRAW: Park (1) v Te Puia Springs; Patutahi (2) v Tolaga Bay; Poverty Bay v Park (2); Patutahi (1) v Waikohu.

Semifinals in afternoon. Finals at Poverty Bay on Sunday, May 28.