Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 17:57:29 +1300 From: Vance <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Home side has high expectations at men's NPC
Home side has high expectations at men's NPC Wednesday January 4th 2006 Despite the fact Manawatu have never entered the New Zealand Community Trust Mens National Provincial Cup before that does not mean they wont be aiming for the title when the tournament starts in Palmerston North on January 7th. Manawatu go into the NPC tournament as the home team and the bottom seeds but they are not daunted by the task ahead of them. Team manager Graeme Love is adamant that Manawatu wont be there to just to make up the numbers. Any time we enter a tournament we are looking to take it out, we will take each game one at a time. Our aim is to win every game and eventually the tournament, said Love. As they compete for the title Love believes one of his sides strengths will be the combinations the players have worked on over recent seasons playing locally in Manawatu. The bulk of the players in our squad are Manawatu players who have been playing together for a long time so they know how each other plays. We are also on home territory so that is an added bonus. The NPC tournament which runs from January 7th 10th is seen as one of development for New Zealand Softball and because of that the main mens softball associations - Wellington, Canterbury, Hutt Valley, North Harbour and Auckland, are restricted to selecting players who are either under the age of 23 or were not protected players in the NZCT National League competition. All teams outside the main five have no restrictions on their selections. Wellington are the defending champions and they are taking a strong side to Palmerston North to defend the title. With pitching depth on the mound, current international Corey Matakatea in the outfield and a host of seasoned club and provincial softball campaigners backing them up Wellington will be tough to beat. Others sides expected to be strong include Hutt Valley who have new Black Sox pitcher Jeremy Manley on the mound. Auckland has a string of former Junior Black Sox players such as Jonathan Munden and Bernard Hale to call on. While Canterbury who are making their debut at the NPC also have a formidable line up including current NZCT Black Sox internationals Darren Davies and Daniel Milne. Teams Auckland Jonathan Munden, Carlos TeKawa, Bernard Hale, Des Pemerika, Michael Niu, Josh Niu, Takik Apu, Jake Tahu, Thomas Katene, Bobby King, Gordon Hooper, Walter Hati. Coach Tom Huta. Canterbury Lewis Acker, Jared Welsh, Penese Iosefo, Clayton Ellis, Errol Byrne, Darren Davies, Paul Delatour, Michael Sands, Gareth Cook, Phil Bayne, Daniel Milne, Scott Dale, Jamie Frisby, Brad Annandale, Phil Mountford. Coach Ted Forrester. Hawkes Bay Reagan Manley, Grant Dean, Hone Mark-Sinnot, Joe OLeary, Luke Herrick, Darryl Tamati, Kyle Vanable, Josh Paul, Mario Herbert, Jovaan Hanley. Coach Ken Harris. Hutt Valley Jeremy Manley, Curtis Ames, Kevin Stockford, Tyson Byrne, Patrick Humphries, David Butler, Corey Karaitianga, Aaron Byrne, Jerol Lajpold, Jonas Mach, Justin Karaitianga, Rakai Hokianga, Charlie Poutaka-Reid, Kango Terui. Coach Lawrence Allen. Manawatu Casey Butler, Adrian Dyason, Grant Christian, Daniel Hita, Kuniaki Shibahara, George Wallace, Wayne Norman, Jason Taiaroa, Jason Temera, Anthony Olhsen, Kensuke Kawamura, Davin Harlen. Coach Darren Reid. Otago Mark Edmunds, Scott Cartwright, Tim Howard, Bevan Passmore, Daniel Tarapi, Wayne Sangster, Steven Todd, Chris Anderson, Peter Mathieson, Greg Egerton, Jason Teau, Bevan Campbell. Player / Coach John Scholten. Rotorua Shane Hunuhunu, Kelly Winsor, George Jolley, Jason Gerbes, Laurie Winiata, Santiago Lataire, Billy-John Hohepa, Eric Short, Pirikawana, Quinn McDonald, Steven Moore, Vaughan McGregor, Nick Wiki, Rueben Perenara, Victor Reihana, Neville Jolley, Vaughan Grey. Coach Vince Taylor. Wellington Craig Gibson, Paul Luka, Steven McFarlane, Steven Manson, Damien Lord, Lance Abbot, Shane Doherty, Geoffrey Farnsworth, Dave Bishop, Corey Matakatea, Hazley Martin, Wayne Walker, Brett Tibbits, Shaun Jamieson, Les Poutama. Coach Ray Timu. 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 Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball eScribe is down, but may be back soon escribe.com Our New Condo: http://www.rpt.ca/hunt/ for Sale or Rent _______________________________________________ Alsfastball mailing list Alsfastball@fastpitchwest.com http://fastpitchwest.com/mailman/listinfo/alsfastball_fastpitchwest.com