Harewood’s moment of triumph nears

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 40

Harewood’s moment of triumph nears

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

A general maturing throughout the whole team and a more switched on approach have attributed to Harewood’s inspired showing in this year’s Woodward Cup premier inter-club golf competition, according to its No. 1 player, Mark Street. Harewood is perfectly poised to win the Woodward Cup for only the second time in the long history of the competition, and with the final two rounds being played at the Harewood course on Sunday, the home team should not want for support. It would take a drastic decline in form and fortune for Harewood to be robbed of victory. It will start the eighth of the nine rounds on Sunday morning with a two-point lead over the defending champion, Christchurch, the 1986 title-holder, Waitikiri, and the consistent Templeton. Should Harewood falter under pressure and lose to both Coringa and Waimairi Beach on the final day to be joined by any of the second-placed

teams, it should still win on a count-back of individual games. But Mark Street, whose twin brother, Brent, and elder brother, Stephen, are also in the eight-man team, said yesterday that Harewood had no intentions of surrendering its unbeaten record. Harewood’s only other win in the championship was 24 years ago. “It’s been a blend of several things, but mainly we are all a year older and wiser. Stephen is not travelling like he was last year and we have worked on Brent’s game and got him going. I’m playing a bit better than last year and Hughie McLeod has also had more time to devote to his game.” Street, who celebrated his hundredth Woodward game with a half against Canterbury’s top junior, Tony Christie (Waitikiri), in the sixth round a fortnight ago, said that Peter Maclachlan, who had met with only one loss in seven games, had also matured with his game and had come of age in approach. The steadiness of lan Walsh and the outstanding form of Ala-

stair Sidford had all been vital to the vastly improved Harewood showing this year. Street said that apart from the players practising more, the team had been enthusiastic and well motivated. “Our new manager, Barry Walsh, had done an excellent job, saying the right things at the right time.” Street, who regained his place in the Canterbury Government Life team announced last Sunday, will meet the province’s No. 1, Brent Paterson (Coringa), in the morning. While Street would naturally like to win, he said that it was more important for himself and Paterson to both play well with the national inter-provincial tournament at Shirley next month. The draw is: Eighth round.—Coringa v. Harewood; Waimairi Beach v. North Canterbury; Christchurch v. Russley; Waitikiri v. Templeton; Central Canterbury v. Avondale. Ninth round. — Christchurch v. Waitikiri; Templeton v. Russley; Central Canterbury v. Coringa; Waimairi Beach v. Harewood; North Canterbury v. Avondale.