Softball draw criticised

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34031, 20 December 1975, Page 46

Softball draw criticised

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The national men’s interprovincial softball tournament this month might be a one-day wonder, the Wellington coach (Mike Walsh) and his Hutt Valley counterpart (Les Nation) believe. Both coaches expressed annoyance yesterday at the draw for the tournament, in Christchurch beginning on December 27. Messrs Walsh and Nation feel that four of the six most

crucial games of the weeklong tournament have been set down for the first day. The Rothmans Cup (formerly Beatty Cup) round will be contested from December 31 to January 2. On January 3 trials will be staged, from' which the New Zealand team to compete in the world championships at Lower Hutt from January 31-February 8 will be selected. Tile A seation draw for qualifying play is:— December 27.— Manawatu v. Canterbury, Waikato v. Southland (10 a.m.); Hawke’s Bay V. Wellington, Hutt Valley v. Auckland '11.45 a.m.l: Hutt Valley v. Waikato, Canterbury v. South-

land (1.30 p:m.); Hawke’s Bay v. Hutt Valley, Wellington v. Auckland (3.15 p.m.). I December 28.— Manawatu v. Hutt Valley, Canterbury v. Wellington (10 a.m.); Hawke’s Bay v. Waikato. Southland v. Auckland (11.45 a.m.); Canterbury v. Hutt Valley, Wellington v. Manawatu (1.30 p.m.); Auckland v. Waikato. Southland v. Hawke’s Bay (3.15 p.m.). December 29.—Auckland v. Manawatu, Canterbury v. Hawke’s Bay (10 a.m.); Waikato v. Hutt Valley, Wellington v. Southland (11.45 a.m.); Hawke’s Bay v. Manaw'atu, Canterbury v. Auckland (1.15 p.m.); Wellington v. Waikato, Southland v. Hutt V’alley (3.15 p.m.). December 30.— Manawatu v. Southland (11.45 a.m.); Canterbury v. Waikato (1.30 p.m.); Hawke’s Bay v. Auckland (3.15 p.m.): Wellington v. Hutt ’’alley (5 p.m.).