HUTT VALLEY AGAIN TOP IN SOFTBALL

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 3

HUTT VALLEY AGAIN TOP IN SOFTBALL

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN.

Hutt Valley retained the premier men’s softball trophy, the Beatty Cup, when it beat Wellington, 5-2, in a play-off at the University Oval in Dunedin yesterday.

Wellington only had two safe hits to Hutt Valley’s seven, and made one error in the field to Hutt Valley’s two.

The greatest factor in Hutt Valley’s win was the pitching of J. Dawson. Although he only gained one strike-out, he restricted Wellington to four safe hits.

In an earlier game, Hutt Valley trounced Waikato, 8-0. The Waikato pitcher, K. Herlihy, gave away six safe hits while taking two strikeouts. but Dawson for Hutt Valley took three strike-outs and gave away one hit, and his substitute pitcher, K. Poynter, took two strike-outs and gave away two safe hits. Hutt Valley’s first game of the day. against Auckland, resulted in a win for Auckland, 5-1. This loss brought Hutt Valley back ’eve! with Wellington, which lost to Auckland, 3-0 on Saturday. CANTERBURY BEATEN It looked for a time as though there would be a three-way tie for first place when Canterbury got three runners home against Wellington in a game yesterday. At the bottom of the third innings. K. Smith. D. Rea and D. Edgar came home to give Canterbury a 3-0 lead. However, Wellington came from behind, with B. Nichols coming home in the fourth, B. McFarlane in the fifth, and G. Miles. McFarlane, D. Goodwin. Nichols, L. Algar and P. Davies in the sixth to give it an 8-3 win. Canterbury had an unexpected win over Auckland, 3-0. earlier in the day. putting Auckland out of contention for the trophy. In the other Beatty Cup game yesterday, Wellington beat Waikato. 3-0. Southland won the Headifen memorial trophv with: four straight wins during the week-end, and Navy won the: Edd Barr Cup with four; (straight wins.

Results:— Beatty Cup.—Saturday: Canterbury 3, Waikato 0; Hutt Vailey 2, Canterbury 0; Auckland 6. Waikato 0; Auckland 3. Wellington 0; Wellington 1, Hutt Valley 0. Monday: Wellington 3, Waikato 2; Auckland 5. Hutt Valley 1; Canterbury 3. Auck. land 0; Wellington 8, Canterbury 3; Hutt Valiev 3, Waikato 0. Play-off: Hutt Valiev 5. Wellington 2. Headifen memorial trophy.—

Saturday: Southland 2, Otago 0; Southland 2, Hawke’s Bay 1; Otago 11, Manawatu 3: Manawatu 3, Nelson 0; Hawke’s Bav 2, Nelson 1. Monday: Southland 13. Nelson 1; Hawke’s Bay 3, Manawatu 0; Nelson 5, Otago 4: South, land 3, Manawatu 2: Hawke’s Bay 4, Otago 2. Edd Barr Cup.—Soutb Canter- ’ bury 7, Army 6; Navy 11. Armv 1 10; Air Force 3, Army 0: Navy 11, South Canterbury 10; Air Force 7, South Canterbury 0; • Navy 7. Air Force 4.