Tennis: Tight final sees Ōakura claim Soffe Cup

Ōakura have reclaimed the Soffe Cup, Taranaki’s premier interclub tennis title, after edging Waiwaka in a dramatic finals day on Saturday.

The tie finished locked at six matches apiece and 10 sets all, with Ōakura taking the title on games, 95–91. It marks a return to the top for Ōakura, who last lifted the trophy in the 2023/2024 season.

The result was built on a series of closely contested matches across the card.

In the men’s singles, Waiwaka took two of the three matches, with Callum Old defeating Graeme Mitchell 6–4, 6–4 and Calan Nikora beating Cooper Ferguson 6–2, 6–4. Ōakura’s Luke Barrett responded with a tight straight-sets win over Luke de Villiers, 7–6, 7–5.

Ōakura struck back strongly in the women’s singles, highlighted by a dominant performance from Taylor Mitchell, who defeated Maria Spurdle 6–0, 6–0. Waiwaka claimed the other two singles, with Allie Hooper overcoming Sue Oldfield in three sets, 6–1, 5–7, 6–3, and Becca Smith winning a tight battle against Jackie Mitchell 7–6, 1–6, 6–2.

The doubles ultimately proved decisive. Ōakura secured both the men’s and women’s doubles, while Waiwaka claimed the combined doubles, leaving the tie perfectly balanced on matches and sets.

With no separation possible, the Soffe Cup came down to total games, where Ōakura’s narrow four-game advantage, 95 to 91, proved enough to seal one of the closest finals in recent history.

Lower Grade Results

There were also tight contests across the lower grades.

In the Fours Group A finals, both ties ended 3–3, with Waiwaka CJ’s beating Pukekura Kakariki on countback and Rotokare also advancing past Pukekura Green on countback.

Group B produced clearer results, with Waiwaka LDV dominant in a 6–0 win over Hāwera, while Huatoki defeated Combined 4–2.