It's not often that Waikato sports teams offer help to the boys from over the Bombays, but yesterday their golfers upset Wellington to put Auckland through to the semifinals of the interprovincial tournament at Palmerston North today.
Then as the Wellingtonians held their breath Tasman upset the other frontrunners, Hawkes
Bay, to allow Wellington to claim the other semifinal berth from that section.
In the semis today Wellington will play defending champions Bay of Plenty in a replay of last year's final, while Auckland meet Canterbury.
Auckland knew that to have any chance they had to win both their matches and they duly dispatched Taranaki 4-1 and Manawatu-Wanganui 3-1. Number one Ryan Fox continued his winning run to be the only player with a perfect record in section play. Ben Wallace and Fraser Wilkin both won twice on the day.
Wellington and Hawkes Bay halved their morning clash and needed to win in the afternoon to keep Auckland out.
Waikato quickly put paid to that with Tane Robson, Mat Perry and Les Miller leading from the start and winning well. Reserve Leonard Morgan came from three down with five to play to halve with Adam Church. Only Aaron Leech lost.
Hawkes Bay were undone by two brothers from Takaka over the hill from Nelson. Sean Riordan beat Daniel Pearce 5 and 4 while brother Blair sank a testing birdie putt on the last to down previously unbeaten Leighton James. Ryan Chisnall completed the 3-2 win by ending Supravee Phatam's run.
Auckland topped the section with four points and 19 games ahead of Wellington with four and 17 and Hawkes Bay with four and 16. Auckland were beaten by the other two.
Bay of Plenty secured their semifinal berth with a knife-edge 3-2 win against North Harbour and a more comfortable victory against Southland. North Harbour had a disappointing day, beaten twice when they had a shot at a semifinal place.
