Softball N.Z. TOURNAMENT AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 9

Softball N.Z. TOURNAMENT AT AUCKLAND

Canterbury Lose To Hutt Valley .. (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. December 29. Almost ideal weather resulted in much improved softball on the second day of the Interprovincial softball tournament for the Beatty Cup yesterday. The most interesting game of the day was that between Rotorua, with their star Nrfw Zealand representative pitcher B. Wareham, and Hutt Valley, strong challengers for the Beatty Cup, at present held by Wellington. Honours lay with Wareham, and his, team which gave him great support with their surprise 10-3 win.

Hutt also had a close win in the main game of the day against Canterbury. Scoring four runs in the first innings before Canterbury completely settled down, Hutt only just managed to hold on to a slender tworun lead through the rest of the game to win 4-2.

Auckland, with a 9-0 win over Hawke's Bay, retained its unbeaten record with its third win of the tournament. It was the only game Auckland had to play yesterday and although the score is well in Auckland’s favour it did not look as confident as the result would appear. The defending champions, Wellington, although it had an easy 26-3 win over King Country in their second game of the day, were hard pressed by Waikato earlier to win 7-6. Waikato in the afternoon beat the much-improved and confident Rotorua team, 4-2. The Canterbury centrefielder E. Noonan kept up his terrific tournament batting average when he had three safe hits, including a home run in his team’s 15-2 win over Hawke’s Bay. Yesterday’s games have left Auckland and Wellington the only unbeaten teams with three wins each, and no losses. Hutt Valley have won three and lost one. Waikato have lost two games and won two, while Canterbury, King Country and Rotorua have each won one game. Hawke’s Bay is the only team yet to register a victory. Results of yesterday’s games:— Wellington 7, Waikato 6; Rotorua 10, Hutt VaHey 3; Canterbury 15, Hawke’s Bay 2; Wellington 26, King Country 3; Waikato 4, Rotorua 2; Auckland 9, Hawke's Bay 0; Hutt VaHey 4, Canterbury 2. Friday’s results were:—Waikato 26, Canterbury 17; Auckland 19, Rotorua 12; Hutt VaHey 26, King County 10; Wellington 8, Rotorua 3; Auckland 15, Canterbury 5; King Country 23, Hawke’s Bay 22; Hutt Valley 14, Waikato 2. The draw for tomorrow is:—Rotorua v. Hawke’s Bay, Wellington v. Hutt Valley, Auckland v. Waikato, King Country v. Rotorua, Wellington v. Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury v. King Country, Auckland v. Hutt Valley.