Bensel Cup decided

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 2

Bensel Cup decided

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The two remaining matches in the women’s national softball tournament for the Bensel Cup are just a formality— Wellington won the trophy yesterday when it gained an unassailable eight-point lead in the competition. Yesterday, in the second round, Auckland was again beaten by Hawke’s Bay, 8-4, and lost to Canterbury, which scored only its fourth win in 10 games. Otago, an under-rated team in the tournament, took Wellington to nine innings before losing, 4-5. In the first round Wellington won, 14-4. Wellington was given perhaps its worst shock of the toumain ent when, after three innings, it found itself trailing Hawke’s Bay 0-4. After five it was still lagging,

1-4, but in the eighth the batters hit eight runs. Wellington won the match, 10-5. Earlier it beat Canterbury in the fifth innings 15-0, 10 of the runs coming in the fifth.

In the Mereweather Cup, Bay of Plenty, relegated from the Bensel Cup section, scored two wins, both 5-3, over Nelson and Counties. Air Force beat Army, 30-5, in the Council Cup and later Horowhenua defeated Army 31-3. Results of games yesterday:— Bensel Cup.—Wellington 5, Otago 4; Wellington 10, Hawke’s Bay 5; Wellington 15, Canterbury 0; Auckland 5. Hutt Valley 1; Hawke’s Bay 8, Auckland 4; Hawke’s Bay 6, Otago 5; Hutt Valley 11, Otago 4; Canterbury 5, Auckland 4; Canterbury 3, Hutt Valley 0.

Mereweather Cup.—pay of Plenty 5, Nelson 3; Bay of Plenty S, Counties 3; Wairarapa 5, Waikato 4; Nelson 7, Wairarapa 5. Council Cup.—Air Force 30, Army 5; Air Force 8, Horowhenua 6; Horowhenua 31, Army 5; Manawatu 26, Army S; Air Force 19, North Taranaki 16; Manawatu 13, North Taranaki 2. N.Z.S.A. Cup.—Hutt Valley 17, Waikato 4; Wellington 8, Hutt Valley 6; Wellington 8, Otago 4; Canterbury 17, Otago 3. Points:—

Bensel Cup.—Wellington 20, Auckland 12, Hawke’s Bay, Hutt Valley, Otago 10, Canterbury 6. Mereweather Cup.—Nelson 10 <7 games), Walarapa 8 (7), Bay of Plenty 6 (9). Counties 6 (6), Waikato 4 (8). Council Cup.—Air Force 12 (9), Manawatu 8 (7), Horowhenua 6 (6), Army (9). North Taranaki (7) 0. N.Z.S.A. Cup.—Wellington 14 (8), Canterbury 12 (7), Hutt Valley 10 (8), Otago 18), Waikato 4.