Three Teams Lead Women’s Softball A Section

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30636, 30 December 1964, Page 12

Three Teams Lead Women’s Softball A Section

In the second day’s play of the interprovincial women’s softball tournament, being played at Rugby Park, Hutt Valley caused the biggest upset by beating Wellington for the first time in eight years. Wellington had earlier gained its winning margin of the run in the eighth innings against Auckland, which later gained a narrow win over Canterbury, the defending champion.

Waikato came from behind to beat Otago who, earlier in the day, had its first win at the expense of Hutt Valley. Three teams—Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury—are tied in this section and with Wellington playing Canterbury today, this game could decide who will play-off for the Bensil Cup unless Otago can cause an upset against Auckland. A play-off, however, will be needed to produce the winner and runners-up on present calculations.

In the B section, Wellington, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay all have had four wins, while Auckland and Manawatu have three wins each. Teams with one win are Hutt Valley, Otago, Marlborough and Southern King Country. North Otago and West Coast have yet to win a game. Yesterday’s results were:

Senior A: Otago 8, Hutt Valley 2; Canterbury 3, Waikato 0; Wellington 2, Auckland 1; Waikato 10, Otago 9; Hutt Valley 3, Wellington 1; Auckland 3, Canterbury 2. Senior B: Otago 9, North Otago 5; Manawatu 10, Southern King Country 4; Auckland 12, West Coast 7; Canterbury 13, Marlborough 6; Hawke’s Bay 11, Hutt Valley 0; Marlborough 12, West Coast 2; Hawke’s Bay 7, Southern King Country 6; Canterbury 14, Auckland 2; Wellington 15, Otago 8; Manawatu 8, Hutt Valley 4; Wellington 11, North Otago 8. In one of the tightest games seen at the tournament, Wellington made the first break-

through against Auckland when, with the score tied at the end of the fifth innings, A. Coulson scored.

Auckland fought back in Its last bat and from a hard drive R. Fletcher made first base on a fielding fumble, stole to second base, and made third base on an illegal pitch. A fine outfield hit by J. Bower scored Fletcher.

In an extra innings, Auckland was three up, three down and in reply for Wellington, .1. Langley hit on, stole to second base and an overthrow allowed her to score the winning run. Fielding Improved

Waikato found Canterbury fielding in better style but with still room for improvement in its morning game, and although it recorded four hits it failed to score. Canterbury opened its account in the first innings when E. Low scored.

Canterbury added to its total in the next innings when an error allowed M. Hapuku to first base, she then went to second on another error, stole third base and scored on a hit by Law.

In spite of getting runners on Canterbury failed to score again until the sixth innings when M. Hapuku hit on, went to second on a passed ball, third base on a hit by J. Phillips, and stole home. Little Weight Against Auckland, Canterbury started off taking advantage of fielding errors to score E. Law. It failed in its next two bats and in its fourth innings T. Gutters was safe on second on an overthrow when Hapuku hit on and Lutters ran the bases very well to score. Canterbury, with little weight in its batting, never looked likely to score again. Auckland’s A. Lineham drove • the ball to the outfield and

scored from hits by R. Fletcher and J. Bower. It took advantage of an overthrow to tie the game and scored its winning run when G. Roadley scored on another out.

For Canterbury, Hapuku batted well for two of the four Canterbury hits while Lutters took two spectacular catches at second base.