Canterbury Loses First Three Games

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 19

Canterbury Loses First Three Games

"The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL. Canterbury lost its first three games in the national colts softball tournament being played at Invercargill yesterday.

Canterbury lost 4-7 to Southland, 0-2 to Hutt Valley, and 2-3 to Otago. Against Southland. Canterbury was unsettled, but played good softball in its next two games. Southland's runs came mainly on errors, coupled with the odd good hit. The Canterbury infielders did not click, and the maroons took a firm grip from the first innings. Canterbury nearly launched a batting break-through in the fourth innings when the leadoff batters, T. Peterson and M. Clarkson, hit home runs, but the next three batters were struck out. The match against Hutt Valley, one of the top-rated sides, developed into a tense struggle. Better batting tactics by Hutt earned it its two runs, in spite of a brilliant display of pitching by M. Reid, who struck out 10 Hutt

batters. On the other hand. •Canterbury struggled against the deceptive pitches of Hutt’s T. Cardie, and could not bridge the gap from third base to home. Another tense struggle developed in the match against Otago, and again it was craftier batting tactics which had Canterbury beaten. Canterbury led 2-0 from the first innings, but steady pitching from then on by Otago's W. Mowatt kept the batters at bay. Otago took over in the third ana fourth innings when perfectly placed bunts and the necessary safe hits brought the runners in. D Chee pitched well for Canterbury ana had the edge on the batters more often than not. Wellington and Hutt Valley were unbeaten yesterday and lead the championship. Wellington is favoured to win its sixth national colts title in succession.