Moving day: pennants top-four race hotting up

FROM THE FIELD TO THE PITCH TO THE FAIRWAYS: Former first-class rugby player and cricketer Mark Jefferson is one of several rugby players extending their talents to the golf course. He is playing for Poverty Bay Golf Club in the Oligoi Jug men’s interclub pennants, which continue tomorrow. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Blasts from the past, another top rugby player showing his multiple sporting talents and a Park show of strength are features of the line-ups for rounds 5 and 6 of the Oligoi Jug men’s interclub pennants.

Electrinet Park is hosting tomorrow’s rounds on what could be seen as a “moving day” stage of the series as the mercury climbs in the race for semifinal spots.

Patutahi (1) appear to be sitting prettier than Mila Kunis at the top of the points standings with three rounds of the round-robin to go.

At 27 points, the Hukanui Brown-led ’Tahi (1) have an eight-point lead over Te Puia Springs (19), with only five points separating the second-to-sixth-placed teams.

Waikohu, on 10 points, are hanging on to the cliff edge by fingernails and tomorrow will look to a newbie and a returnee to help their cause.

Former Poverty Bay Heartland rugby squad member Ethine Reeves will make his Oligoi Jug debut in Waikohu’s Round 6 clash with Park (2).

Reeves will add to an already impressive list of current or former first-class rugby players involved in the series — Mark Jefferson and Shayde Skudder (Poverty Bay), Dwayne Russell (Wellington) and Matt Henwood (Bay of Plenty).

Jason Tuapawa last played Oligoi Jug pennants golf in 2022.

He’s back and will wear the Waikohu shirt against Poverty Bay in Round 5.

It has also been a fair few years since Wynne MacLellan last experienced pennants golf for Poverty Bay.

He returns to the Oligoi battlefield but this time wielding a sword for Patutahi (2).

Here’s hoping he can swim, as at No.2 he will be diving into the deep end tomorrow morning against

Te Puia Springs’ Andrew Higham, who has a perfect four-win record so far.

Defending champions Park (1) are rolling out the heavy artillery as they look to eat into the lead of Patutahi (1).

Anaru Reedy has been filling in if required over the series so far but will slot in at No.1 tomorrow against Tolaga Bay and Patutahi (2).

Daniel Collier, with three wins from four matches so far, drops to No.2, with No.3 Pete Stewart a man on a victory mission after two surprisingly heavy losses in the past two rounds, and Silas Brown at No.4.

Poverty Bay welcome back Glenn Morley, who will look to mark his 50th birthday with a victory beer.

His clash with Waikohu’s Auckland import David Solomann could be one of the matches of the day.

Quin McPike, who made an impressive debut for Poverty Bay in rounds 1 and 2, is also back.

Patutahi (1) have had Skudder available for only the morning rounds so far and he won both.

The “Skud missile” is available for both rounds tomorrow, adding to the leaders’ firepower as they take on Park (2) and Poverty Bay.

Tolaga Bay will be doing it hard to give themselves any chance of a charge towards the top four.

They face Park (1) in the morning and Te Puia in the afternoon.

They will need Neil Hansen to continue his strong showing — three wins from four matches. His duel with Stewart should be a doozy.

Jason Devery makes his first appearance of the 2023 series at No.4 for Te Puia Springs in the afternoon.

Oligoi Jug draw — Round 5: Electrinet Park (1) v Tolaga Bay; Patutahi (2) v Te Puia Springs; Poverty Bay v Waikohu; Patutahi (1) v Park (2).

Round 6: Poverty Bay v Patutahi (1); Park (2) v Waikohu; Park (1) v Patutahi (2); Te Puia Springs v Tolaga Bay.

Overall standings: Patutahi (1) 27, Te Puia Springs 19, Park (1) 17, Poverty Bay 16, Park (2) 15, Patutahi (2) 14, Waikohu 10, Tolaga Bay 10.