New format clouds issue

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 20

New format clouds issue

By

DANAE GOOSMAN

The introduction of a new format will add a number of imponderables to the Rothmans national women’s inter-provincial softball championships in Palmerston North next week. Canterbury, which is sponsored by Radio Avon, finished a creditable second last year, but the new double elimination system will mean anything can happen to the top sides. Rather than teams beginning play in sections in accordance with last season’s results, all teams will be seeded on similar lines to a tennis draw. Those provinces which did not compete last year will be automatically seeded at the bottom. The entire tournament from December 30 to January 4 will be played under the double elimination system with teams eventually slotted into the four sections. Six teams will now make up the Rothmans Cup section, rather than four teams after round-robin play under the old system. There are points for and against the system. It is quite conceivable for example that Canterbury could meet Wellington on three occasions but not meet Hutt Valley at all. Equally a side such as Hawke’s Bay, which has lost its key New Zealand representives, will not finish witirsuch a high seed-

ing as it would have under the old system.

At worst under the old format Hawke’s Bay could have finished seventh, but now it is likely to complete the tournament much further down the track. On the plus side, if a province is considerably stronger than last season, it at least has the opportunity to reach the top six. It will be interesting to see how the new format develops, but one thing is sure, the top teams will have to be on their mettle. When two sides of similar ability meet, the match generally produces a high quality game — when two sides of vastly differing ability meet it is often the stronger which struggles and the standard more than likely slides downward. On the basis that not too many upsets occur Canterbury, Wellington, Hutt Valley and the titleholder, Auckland, will be four of six teams that comprise the play-offs. It is crystal ball material as to who will fill the final two places. The host side, Manawatu, and Southland are the most likely candidates.

Canterbury’s fortunes rest with its extremely young side along with its four past and present New Zealand representatives,

and the resourceful tactician, Cheryl Kemp, as coach. With the new format Kemp has probably wisely selected three pitchers in Chris John, Karen Pimm and Donna Meuli, as it is possible three games could be played in any given day. Defensively the side is strong, as is its batting line-up, while the team also has more speed than in previous years.

With 16 players in the squad there will be fierce competition to make the starting line-ups, and providing individuals are performing in the field it will boil down to batting statistics as to who makes the top nine. For Kemp, deciding each team will not be easy. Of the outfielders, Robyn Storer, Jane Earnshaw, Debbie Chase, Trina Whittaker and Lynda O’Cain, have all performed well so far this season. The infield poses similar questions as each position is covered at least twice. Natalie Hazelwood and Helen Townsend on first base, Hazelwood, Kim Hook and Wendy Hughes at second, Janene Gould and Raelene Forde on third, Hook, Hughes and Anita Perreau at short-stop with Penny Sal-

ton taking the catching position, which is also covered by Forde. The side’s stiffest com- . petition will come from Auckland with its two ace pitchers, Debbie Mygind and Gina Weber. On paper it looks the team to beat. Hutt Valley and Wellington are the other two contenders and it looks as if Canterbury will meet Wellington in its third match. First, Canterbury plays Wairarapa and then everything becomes a little complicated. Bay of Plenty plays Counties and the winner of that game plays Manawatu, whoever wins that game will play Canterbury, based on the assumption Canterbury ■wins its first game. This tournament will give a clear indication of the future for Canterbury. With players such as Pimm, Townsend, Whittaker and Perrau still in their teens, and several others in their early twenties, the long-term strength of women’s softball in the province looks positive. However, proof of that strength will only come after six days of hard, determined work. Should Canterbury wind its way through the intricaries of the new format into the final it will have performed exceptionally well considering the talent and .experience in the other Top teams.