Although there are two rounds to play in the Freyberg Masters (over-40) men's interprovincial tournament at Levin today, the Canterbury quintet is all but assured of winning this year's title.
Canterbury has seven points from as many outings and should have an easy win over Northland this morning. It has a bye in the final round this afternoon.
Should Canterbury lose, the red and blacks need only one and a-half games from five to be assured of heading the rest of the provincial teams to win the title for the first time.
Wellington lies in second place with five points, while the Otago team is third with four and a-half points and 21 individual games.
A first-round loss to Hawkes Bay cost Otago dearly but the frustration during the last two days has been that the leading teams in the Otago section could do nothing to stop the Canterbury blitz in the other section.
Unlike the senior event, there are no semifinals and final in the Freyberg and final places are decided on points with a game countback.
Otago followed the first round loss with wins over Taranaki, Wellington, Aorangi and Poverty-Bay East Coast while the team slipped behind Wellington after a half with North Harbour yesterday afternoon.
Chisholm Park's Kyle Geary, at No 5, is the only player in the 75-strong field to have a perfect record with six wins from six matches, while Otago No 2 Stephen Hitchcox is one of three unbeaten players with five wins and a half.
Otago will play Bay of Plenty this morning and Northland this afternoon with the aim of finishing second by edging past Wellington which has two tougher games against Waikato and North Harbour today.
- Bill Trewen
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