AVON ON WAY TO THE TOP

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 17

AVON ON WAY TO THE TOP

Avon, which has undergone a dramatic transformation since it began the 1966-67 Canterbury men’s softball championship in so unimpressive style, could take another step towards the top of the table when it meets Papanui at English Park today.

Papanui, Avon and Western Suburbs trail the leader, Richmond, by only one point. Papanui’s crushing loss to Richmond last Saturday and Avon’s run of six successive victories makes Avon favourite to win today. Papanui would need to improve its batting vastly and its pitching would require much more penetration than was shown against Richmond if the title-holder is to remain in the championship race. .

ceded 120 runs while scoring only 10 in nine games. Last time United won by only one run, but it has shown more promise than Kaiapoi since then.

Richmond could hardly be faulted on its play against Papanui and should hold the inconsistent Western Suburbs without too much trouble at Hagley Park. However, the suburban team upset the leader when they last met and any looseness in the Richmond fielding could give Western Suburbs the initiative. The third match should secure United its third competition point. It will meet a Kaiapoi team that has con-