Defence may hold key to men’s national league title - NZ

[Al Doran]

Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:22:04 +1300
From: Vance <vance(at)vanf-graphics.co.nz>
Subject: Defence may hold key to men's national
  league title



Defence may hold key to men's national league title
Wednesday December 14th 2005

Defence and the ability to deny runs could provide the key to victory this 
weekend in the New Zealand Community Trust National League finals at 
Hataitai Park, Wellington.

Going into the finals the top four teams Wellington, Auckland, North 
Harbour and Southern Pride all boast batting line ups that can tear a game 
open so winning the title  could come down to defence. As the sides cancel 
each other out with run scoring ability the crucial aspect of the games 
this weekend could come down to the ability of the teams to deny their 
opposition the opportunity to score.

Pitching depth could prove vital and two teams Auckland and Wellington 
appear to have the advantage there as each team has two genuine 
international class pitchers to call on.

Defending champs Wellington boast the services of NZCT Black Sox 
internationals Marty Grant and Tane Richardson while Auckland has fellow 
internationals Thomas Cameron and Heinie Shannon on the mound.

For Southern Pride coach, Glen Roff, just making the finals has achieved 
his sides main goal for the season as it will be the first time in the 
franchises history that they have qualified for the finals series.

"The team are really happy. It has been a hard road the last four years so 
we are savouring every win.  It is really good for the guys who have been 
there since the start in 2003 to finally get some success because they have 
been through some hard times," said Roff.

However now they have booked their place in the finals Roff says they will 
not be there just to make up the numbers with his team heading to the 
capital with winning on their mind.

"Going into the finals we are looking to be the spoilers and upset some of 
the other teams."

To be successful this weekend Roff believes all his team need to do is 
continue what they have been doing. In the final weekend of round robin 
play Southern Pride picked up three wins from four games including a win 
over fellow top four side North Harbour.

While Southern Pride have made the finals for the first time host side 
Wellington have been there every season of the national league and go into 
this weekend as the defending champions and top seeds after finishing round 
robin play at the top of the points table.

With the advantage of a home crowd backing them, depth on the pitching 
mound and an arsenal of power batting to call on Wellington are going to be 
tough to beat. However they did suffer two losses in round robin play so 
there are some chinks in the armour.

One team who knows how to win a national league title is Auckland having 
claimed it twice in the past before losing it for the first time to 
Wellington last season. Like the team from the capital, Auckland have all 
the talent, experience and ability to come out on top with the key being 
whether they can bring it all together under pressure when it really counts.

North Harbour are the other team in the top four and they will go into this 
weekend with the confidence of having recorded a win over all the teams in 
the finals series during round robin play.

A key factor in the success of the Harbour side will be the performance of 
NZCT Black Sox captain and pitcher Jarrad Martin. North Harbour has the 
hitting strength to out hit any team but will need a big performance from 
Martin on the mound if they are to be serious contenders for the title.

The battle for the NZCT Men's National League title gets under way on 
Saturday at Hataitai Park, Wellington with the top four sides playing off 
to find two sides to contest the final on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Finals Draw:

Saturday December 17th
11.00am Game 1  Auckland v North Harbour, Hataitai Park, Wellington.
1.00pm  Game 2  Wellington v Southern Pride, Hataitai Park, Wellington.
3.00pm  Game 3  Loser Game 1 v Loser Game 2, Hataitai Park, Wellington.
5.00pm  Game 4  Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 2, Hataitai Park, Wellington.



Sunday December 18th
10.00am Game 5  Winner Game 3 v Loser Game 4, Hataitai Park, Wellington.
  2.00pm Final   Winner Game 4 v Winner Game 5, Hataitai Park, Wellington.



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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