Hutt Valley men needs to lift to keep top four hopes alive

[Al Doran]

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:56:19 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Hutt Valley men needs to lift to keep top four hopes alive


Hutt Valley needs to lift to keep top four hopes alive
Thursday November 24th 2005

After a couple of heart breaking losses for Hutt Valley in the opening 
round of the New Zealand Community Trust Men's National League they will 
have to bounce back this weekend too keep their finals chances alive.

Hutt Valley opened their national league campaign with two narrow away 
losses against Southern Pride. Coach Paul Stockford says while the results 
were disappointing the team can't look back and instead need to concentrate 
on getting some wins on the board.

"The opening weekend of the national league was a tough weekend for us and 
obviously we are looking for some improvement. It is critical that we come 
away with at least three wins out of this weekend," said Stockford.

While Hutt Valley may need some wins this weekend to stay in the top four 
race it is not going to be easy. They take on North Harbour and Central 
Vikings twice on Saturday and Sunday at Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.

Both North Harbour and Central Vikings will go into the games with 
confidence having each picked up a win and some bonus points in the opening 
round of games.

Stockford is well aware of the tough task ahead of his side but is 
confident they can do it as long as they all work hard at denying the 
opposition runs.

"The biggest thing for us is to concede less runs, the expectation at the 
moment of scoring five to 10 runs to win a game is too high," said Stockford.

Crucial to denying the runs will be the performance of pitchers Steven Tau 
and Shaun Jamieson. Stockford says he is looking to his two pitchers to set 
the foundation for the team and just put the ball in front of the fielders 
and let them make the outs.

"Our goal is to be there on the last weekend and to achieve that we have to 
lift our game," said Stockford.

While Hutt Valley will be looking to turn things around this weekend at the 
other end of the points table the top three sides after week one will be 
facing each other at Norana Avenue Ballpark, Auckland.

In an intriguing series of matches Wellington, Auckland and Southern Pride 
will all face off against each other twice. The weekend will be a real test 
for the southern men who made a great start to the league but will need to 
continue that run if they are to be serious top four contenders.

Draw Week 2

Saturday November 26th

1.00pm  Auckland v Wellington, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.
1.00pm  Hutt Valley v Central Vikings, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
3.00pm  Wellington v Southern Pride, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.
3.00pm  Central Vikings v North Harbour, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
5.00pm  North Harbour v Hutt Valley, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
5.00pm  Auckland v Southern Pride, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.


Sunday November 27thth

9.00am  North Harbour v Central Vikings, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
9.00am  Wellington v Southern Pride, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.
11.00am North Harbour v Hutt Valley, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
11.00am Auckland v Southern Pride, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.
1.00pm  Central Vikings v Hutt Valley, Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North.
1.00pm  Auckland v Wellington, Norana Ave Ballpark, Auckland.


By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
*  mailto:kelly.mitchell(at)xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
* mailto:snz(at)softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
*   mailto:vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz

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