Softballers' Dismal Day

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 3

Softballers' Dismal Day

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, Dec. 27.

Canterbury suffered badly on the opening day of the New Zealand men’s provincial softball championships at Athletic Park, Wellington.

Canterbury won its first game easily against a weak New Zealand Army team, 7-2. R. Lewis pitched well for Canterbury gaining seven strikeouts while giving away two walks and only three safe hits. With the bat I. Pollock, a former South Island representative, topped the Canterbury list by driving two fine hits.

Canterbury’s first setback came when it lost easily to Waikato in five innings. The score at that stage, 16-3, was sufficient for the game to be called off. K. Smith, the pitcher, at no stage showed his normal club form in Christchurch and . in the five innings struck out five batters but conceded four walks and nine hits.

In addition, he received poor support from his field where numerous errors cost Canterbury runs. Of the Canterbury batters, who drove six safe hits, N. Noonan showed a welcome return to form by driving two hits from a possible of two. The Canterbury-Marlbor ough game provided the biggest upset of the day when Canterbury lost, 2-5. Pollock, with two hits, and A. Mansfield, with a fine home run, gave Canterbury a chance but lack of batting support cost it the game. Once Marlborough gained the lead in the second innings Canterbury dropped altogether, and its lack of batting power cost it any winning chance.

In section A Hutt Valley, the present champion, and Wellington remain unbeaten. Auckland, Otago and Wanganui each scored one win and Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu have yet to win. Southland, Marlborough and Waikato are the only unbeaten teams in section B. A feature of the day was the number of games called off after five innings—five of the day’s 16 games. In section A, for the Beatty Cup, Manawatu was outclassed by Hutt Valley, 18-0, in five innings; Wanganui was beaten by Wellington in five innings. Fine home runs were hit by D. Brewer (Wanganui), A. Leslie (Hutt Valley), J. Jeffcote (Waikato), M. McWilliams (Marlborough), G. Parcell and A. Dehay (R.N.Z.A.F.), and Mansfield. Other good batters included C. Ward and W. Henderson (Wellington), H. Toramata (Southland), R. Smith, L. Nation and T. Bell (Hutt Valley), J. Porteous and E. Nelson (Waikato). Good pitching performances

were returned by Brewer. Toromata and H. Clark (Southland), T. O’Hagen and K. Herlihy (Wellington), P. McKinley and P. Rodgers (Auckland), K. Poynter (Hutt Valley), B. Smith (Waikato) and G. Tatterfield (Otago). Results:

Section A (Beatty Cup).— Auckland 5, Hawke's Bay 2; Hutt Valley 18, Manawatu 0: Wellington 12, Wanganui 2; Otago 2, Hawke’s Bay 0; Wellington 7, Auckland 6; Wanganui 9, Manawatu 0; Hutt Valley 5, Otago 1. Section B (Dick Headifon Trophy and Ed. Barr Cup).— Canterbury 7, Army 2; Marlborough 11, West Coast 2; Waikato 15, Wairarapa 1: Southland 7, R.N.Z.A.F. 3; Marlborough 11, Army 5; Waikato 16, Canterbury 3; R.N.Z.A.F. 18. Wairarapa 2; Marlborough 5, Canterbury 2; Southland 6. Army 1.