Surprise Defeats Of Two Teams

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 19

Surprise Defeats Of Two Teams

The favoured men’s eottball teams, Richmond and Avon, were surprisingly defeated when the senior championship matches were continued on Saturday. The shock results left Papanui two points clear in the title race. Papanui scored a narrow but well deserved victory over Richmond. its third this season, to illustrate that its championship position is not undeserved. An even greater upset was that by Western Suburbs, which inflicted on Avon its second successive defeat. This was undoubtedly the most unexpected result of the season and has seriously affected Avon’s title bid. Competition points (with matches m parenthesis) are: Papanui (13) 11, Avon (12) 9, Richmond (12) 8, Western Suburbs (13) 4. Richmond v. Papanui The Papanui sixth innings was one of the most exciting of the club season. With the score favouring Richmond, 2-1, Papanul's captain. I. Pollock, hit a glorious shot through centre fleld and began sprinting round the bases. E. Noonan fielded, threw to A. Hail, who in turn sent a beautiful throw to A. Nepala and Pollock was run out at home base. This brilliant team effort by Richmond had apparently thwarted Papanui's bid for victory. But soon after K. Cooper struck the bail over first base to bring in two runners and give Papanui its winning total. Richmond was held scoreless and Papanui did not require its last innings. Throughout the game Papanui’s fielding was Just a little better than Richmond’s. The two pitchers were fairly evenly matched with M. Reid (Papanui) conceding five hits and gaining one strike-out in comparison with K. Smith’s seven hits, four strike-outs and one walk. Avon v. Western Suburbs A late effort by Avon in its sixth innings was not sufficient to snatch victory from Suburbs. In the sixth innings Avon had the bases loaded with only one

batter out. R. McKenzie trit well but was caught in the outfield by J. Scott. The fieldsman then sent a remarkably long throw into home base to run out D. Lanmi and give his team victory.

M. R. Napier managed to get to second base in the last innings, but S. Whittington was not able to advance him and Suburbs' one-run margin was retained

Until the last three Avon innings, Suburbs appeared to be cruilsng to a comfortable win. A fine hit by A. Willson brought in two runners in the third innings. J. Scott and L. Haskett completed Avon’s scoring in the fifth innings.

Avon was held scoreless untH Whittington brought Napier home on a sacrifice in the fourth innings. B. Mansfield tut well to score McKenzie in Avon’s fifth innings and then came home himself on a passed bail.