Papanui wins under protest

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 18

Papanui wins under protest

A controversial decision in the sixth innings clouded an other-, < wise fully deserved 1-0 victory by , Papanui over its nearest cham-, pionship challenger United, ini: the main softball fixture at Eng- : lish Park last evening. Papanui, having scored the ; only run of the match in the!: second innings, appeared to be comfortably holding its rival at; bay when United’s lead-up batter, Warren Keen, hit strongly: to centre field. To most spectators the ball , seemed to strike the ground before rebounding into the glove : of Tony Bishop. The plate umpire (Mr Peter Williams' shared , this opinion but Keen was given out bv the player-umpire on base. Keen’s dismissal drew verba! ■ objections from his team-mates, and an official nrotest from the United coach (Mr Mike Nelepai.,, Mr Williams later had cause . to speak to Mr -Nelepa concern- , ing remarks made to him by;: United players. The game con-/ tinued in an even more tense atmosphere than that already provided by the closeness of the scores. i

: United still trailed by one run • entering its final innings and its ■ chances were severely dimmed • I when its first two batters fell i to the excellent pitching of Geoff • [Roberts. Hopes were revived when Dennis Rea took the only : safe hit conceded by Roberts—- • la two-base effort to centre field but Roberts replied with his L fourteenth strike-out of the even- ■ ing at Dave Bradbury's expense. • Overall. Papanui was just slightly the better combination i once it had shaken off an early • tendency to swing at anv pitches ■ Bradbury chose to deliver. The victory places it six points ahead I’of United and has assured it of ' the provincial title as a prelude to its participation in the naI tional inter.club tournament next . month. ; The winning margin was • gained by Dale Eaear. after a : series of errors The pitchercatcher relationship between Bradbury nad Brian Mountford • became somewhat estranged, ? Mountford having difficulty pull- ’ ing in the higher balls. From i third Eagar reached home on I another error when Nicky

Oorschot could not handle a throw from Paul McFarlane. In addition to Rea. Jim Lawson. Kevin Thorn and Mountford reached base* on errors by Papanui. At one stage of the fourth innings Lawson and Thom were both in potential scoring positions, only for a brilliant double-play by Williams to restore order. The Papanui fielding settled back into Its smooth operations in United'* final three turns at bat. It will be » busy week for the Papanui souad. The previous night it beat United-Citv, 9.2. and this evening it meets Somerfield in a deferred game. Richmond has also been active: on Tuesday it ed”ed out Western Suburbs, 5-4. and in last night's curtainraiser accumulated five runs in the sixth innine* to dispose of Somerfield. 8-3. Championship points: P W L F A Pts Papanui 22 19 3 114 30 38 United 22 16 8 110 34 32 Richm’d 22 15 7 134 54 30 W. Sub* 22 11 11 103 97 22 U.: C ity 22 4 18 51 158 8 . Somerf’d 22 1 21 61 199 3