Good Prospects For Softball Season

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 9

Good Prospects For Softball Season

TTHE 1961-62 softball season I will begin on Saturday ’ with an exceptional season in prospect. With a wealth I of talented players, the re- ; presentative sides should ' again display the form which I have made them leading con- i tenders for national honours, i The senior men’s team , lost only two games, and ' those by one run, to finish ; a heart-breaking third, in the last national tournament at Rotorua. Virtually the same team is available to enter the lists at Wanganui this Christ- ; mas. Nearer home, Canter- ' bury held the Jeffries Cup for the South Island, for the fourth consecutive year, resisting some spirited challenges from Otago and West Coast. After so long a tenure, a projected intention to travel to Southland to defend the trophy is a laudable one. The senior women’s team, one of the best in New Zealand in recent years, lost the title it has held for two con- I secutive seasons, to Auck- i land. In its bid to retain the title for an unprecedented third consecutive term, Canterbury bowed to Auckland in an exciting game, 4-3. Such is the strength of the Canterbury team that with eight players out of nine in the South Island team the next day, North Island was

thrashed in a 7-0 runaway victory. Added spice to the women’s game this year is the projected visit of an Australian team on a tour of the country, with test matches in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. Canterbury with its almost overpowering strength is assured of good representation in the New Zealand sides. Hosts to the first national colts tournament at Easter, Canterbury managed a firstclass series, but its representatives turned in a mediocre performance and were well beaten by the eventual winner, Wellington. Softball on local diamonds promises to be of a good standard once more and the leading team of the last three seasons, Richmond will have to produce top-class softball to stay ahead of rapidlyimproving sides, such as, Fapanui, Christchurch, and the experienced Linwood team. United, Kalapoi and Spreydon complete an interesting senior men’s grade. Champion of Canterbury for the last seven years, and New Zealand champion for the last two, Monowai must be favourites for the senior women’s title. However, the hustling young Hngley team which has been runner-up for the last two years, may offer a strong challenge.