MEN’S SOFTBALL Determined Avon Holding Lead

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30914, 22 November 1965, Page 21

MEN’S SOFTBALL Determined Avon Holding Lead

High quality play in spite of the cold conditions marked the sixth round of the men’s senior softball competition.

Only determination and experience allowed Avon to hang on against an unlucky Suburbs in a close game.

Spreydon, beaten by two penalty runs it incurred for late arrival at a game rescheduled from English Park to Hagley, provided the young Papanui side with exiciting opposition and a lively seven innings. Richmond battered an ailing United nine with batting of sufficient strengtii to end the game summararily at the fifth innings. Results: — Avon i. Suburb 5. Papanui 5, Spr.ydon 3. Richmond 14, United 0. AVON V. SUBURBS Avon was most fortunate to keep its top position with a win over Suburban. Suburbs which has lost some close games this season, and is the most improved club in the competition, failed again to raise that vital drive that was necessary to win. Avon started disastrously, the first two men being successively dismlsed, but by a mixture of Suburbs' errors and solid hitting, Avon seized the opportunity and battered five runs in with two out. ' Suburbs took some time to get into the game, but by the fifth innings had crept up to 3-5, and an innings later was pressing at 4-5. Avon rallied and scored another run to take its tally to 6. Suburbs, not pressing to most advantage the tiring pitching of H. Moore, gathered a benefit one run to lose 5-€. SPREYDON v. PAPANUI Spreydon gave Papanui a tertiflc scrap and both teams played some of the best softball seen this season. The changed schedule from English Park to Hagley Park saw Papanui well-organised and in attendance early and Spreydon till numerically in arrears at starting time. Ten minutes and two penalty runs later, Spreydon took the field. After three inning®, Spreydon

had taken a 3-1 lead, largely because of hesitancy in the Papanui infield. After three Innings, Papanui led. 3-2, and then C. Chee scored a fine run after some nippy base-running to make the scor'e 4-2. Spreydon stormed back with a run by Easton, who clearly demonstrated his claim to representative conideration in this game. Both team pitchers worked with renewed vigour and skill as the game tightened up and neither team could score in the last two Innings as the fielding reached notable heights. RICHMOND V. UNITED Richmond won in five Innings over United which, with Smith throwing at half-power, could not even put up more than paper resistance. United's future in seniors does not look very secure.