SOFTBALL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 14

SOFTBALL

WOMEN’S TITLES AT TIMARU

CANTERBURY LIKELY TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP TIMARU, February 23. Although there are still two days* play left, Canterbury have virtually won the New Zealand interprovincial women’s softball championship today, the third day of the tournament, at Ashbury Park. Canterbury beat Hutt Valley and Manawatu to place themselves in an almost unassailable position. If Canterbury win the championship it will be the first time the title has come to the South Island. Canterbury now have six wins, Wellington five, Waikato and Hutt Valley three, Southland, Manawatu, and South Canterbury two, Otago one, and West Coast have not yet won a game. Both Canterbury and Wellington still have two games to play, but Canterbury would have to lose both their games against Otago and South Canterbury to lose the national title. Interest this morning was centered on the Hutt Valley-Canterbury match. Hutt Valley were considered strong enough to end Canterbury’s unbroken run of wins, but Canterbury played a classic game throughout. They completely outhit the Hutt players, who were forced into many errors. Today’s results were:— South Canterbury beat Oago, 6-4; Waikato beat West Coast, 8-5; Wellington beat Manawatu, 2-1; Canterbury beat Hutt Valley, 14-1; Wellingon beat Otago, 5-0; Canterbury beat Manawatu. 11-2; Southland beat West Coast, 13-12; Hutt Valley beat South Canterbury, 8-4. The draw for tomorrow is:—Morning: Hutt Valley v. Southland: Waikato v. Manawatu; Canterbury v. Otago; South Canterbury v. Wellington; West Coast a bye. Afternoon: South Canterbury v. Canterbury; Manawatu v. Southland; Hutt Valley v. Waikato: West Coast v.