Pitcher Holds Key To Softball Win

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 15

Pitcher Holds Key To Softball Win

Although Marlborough’s vastly superior form in the Beatty Cup inter-provincial men’s softball championships at Wellington must install it as favourite to defeat Canterbury at English Park tomorrow, the home team’s chances are far from hopeless.

Marlborough was undoubtedly the surprise packet' of the national tournament and took the Dick Headifen Memorial Trophy as the winner of the second section. Canterbury won the third section and the Ed Barr Cup. These performances rate Marlborough sixth and Canterbury eleventh of the 13 provinces and two service teams that took part. Canterbury lost. 2-5, to

Marlborough in the early rounds of the tournament and then again, 1-2, in the play-off to decide the fifth team in the second section. However, Canterbury’s form was inconsistent then and only a few players lived up to their reputations. In contrast, Marlborough had few nationally-rated players but a superior combination and better team-work.

During the qualifying rounds Canterbury returned better performances against Southland, Wairarapa, West Coast and Air Force than did Marlborough. If K. Smith can retain the pitching form' that he displayed again Avon last Saturday, the batting of M. R. Napier, E. Noonan, L Pollock, A. Graham, C. Chee and P. Joyce could enable Canterbury to win and regain some of its lost prestige.