Monowai Did Well At Auckland

Press, Volume C, Issue 29415, 18 January 1961, Page 9

Monowai Did Well At Auckland

r FHE Monowai Softball Club, A celebrated its twenty-first year over Christmas at Auckland by winning the Dustin Cup for the third consecutive year, thus creating a New Zealand record. The cup has been won three times before by Richmond Racoons of Auckland, but not in consecutive years.

Monowai originally started as a branch of a basketball club playing in the women’s association, and its first year it reached the semi-finals of the New Zealand softball tournament at Wanganui, and in local competition was runner-up to Bucketts. Early members of the club included B. Quested, T. Laurinson, A. Cassidy, O. Jackson. P. Jackson, M. Mallia, D. O'Loughlin, I. Rowe, R. Clark, D. Sellers, D. Loasby, T. Loasby. W. Rysdale, P. Rysdale and B. Rysdale. Successes

Monowai played in the Cani terbury Softball Association’s competition in 1950, and has won the senior championship ever since. The club won the South Island inter-club tournament at Invercargill in its centennial year. One of the club’s players, B. Quested, has gained New Zealand honours. Another who played with Quested in the New Zealand team later played for Monowai. She was J. Harris. Two were chosen for the Rest of New Zealand. They were T. Laurenson and B. Makinson, who have played for Canterbury and South Island on many occasions. Monowai contested the New Zealand inter-club tournament four years ago in Wellington and was narrowly defeated by Samoan Society of Auckland in the final. The next year at Wanganui Monowai was undefeated and only one team, Samoan Society, scored against it In the tournament at Christchurch last year Monowai was undefeated once more, although it was hard pressed in some of its games.

After being beaten in local competitions by Hagley 7-0, Monowai was not considered to have a good chance in this year’s tournament but the

team played inspired softball, suffering only one defeat, by Samoan Society. As this team was beaten by the strong Cambridge side a play-off was necessary. The team spirit in the tournament was magnificent and all players performed extremely well. B. Makinson maintained her control throughout on the mound and N. Beale, after a hesitant start, improved steadily. The first baseman, J. Cameron, took some excellent outs, especially in the final game when she took a fine running catch. J. Batie and C. Tennent were always reliable and J. Scott, on third base, played excellent softball in the last three games and was the best third baseman of the tournament. Good Performance B. Hobbs performed well at short stop and with more experience in this position she should improve. C. Brown, E. Law, and L. Leask were always safe and played well throughout as did L. Alston, who had limited opportunities.

The batting averages of the team were: N. Beale .407, C. Brown .375, B. Makinson .333. E. Law .304, L. Leask .280. C. Tennent .273, J. Cameron .131, J. Batie 125, B. Hobbs .107, J. Scott .067, L. Alston .050.