D WeekendSport Sports Editor: Greg Ford Contact: [email protected] 03 943 2752 THE PRESS, CHRISTCHURCH Saturday,Saturday & September Sunday, September 10, 2011 10-11, 2011 D5

IN BRIEF SOFTBALL

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Aust side named ❯❯ New Australian coach has picked her first team and it has a largely predictable look to it. The side that will take on Veteran takes England next month in three tests has just one change from the side that won the World Championships in July. Injured Susan Fuhrmann has been left out and replaced by . have said that subject to a fitness test, over Red Sox Fuhrmann will replace Steel for the three tests against the Silver Ferns on October 23, 26 and 30. Australian Squad for England and Silver Ferns series: Coach sets world series as goal Natalie von Bertouch (C), (VC), , , Former New Zealand Black veteran Nathan Taikato and as head coach of the Papanui , , Mo’onia Sox pitcher Greg Newton has Newton said he would ‘‘have premier women’s team and is Gerrard, , Sharni Tony Layton, , Chelsea taken over as coach of the some input’’ into pitching starting his second year in Pitman, Amy Steel (England only), champion Canterbury Red Smith matters. ‘‘But I heard [former charge at Albion Cardinals. Susan Fuhrmann (New Zealand only). Sox men’s softball team. Canterbury pitcher] Murray ‘‘With coaching the 19s last Newton – part of the Black Britt did a really good job last year, I’m aware we’ve got a lot Paddon leads Sox pitching roster when they National leagues year [as pitching coach], so I of good youth coming through won the 2000 world champion- don’t see why I wouldn’t go and I’d like to get some of ❯❯ Geraldine rally driver, ships in South Africa – down that track again.’’ them involved.’’ Hayden Paddon, was in a replaces Carl Franklin, who interclub title in 2001. Now in Newton played with and The Canterbury men’s and strong position to become the led Canterbury to their first his mid 40s, Newton pitched respects Canterbury’s senior women’s teams will be first southern hemisphere national title in 15 years last against Canterbury just last Black Sox internationals involved in three tourna- driver to win a world rally title season. season for a Southland Devel- Daniel Milne, Gareth Cook ments – the South Island when he led the production ‘‘Carl finished on a good opment team in the Jefferies and Stephen Ratu but he said championships in Christ- class in the Rally of Australia note last year so I will be Cup South Island tournament he was also aware there was church in December, the at the end of the first day in trying to keep that going, title. ‘‘a lot of young talent coming National Fastpitch Cham- Coffs Harbour yesterday. especially with the world He works as a health and through’’ which would need pionships in Wellington in Paddon had a 1min 22.9sec series coming up [in 2013]. We physical activity promoter in to be developed for the future. February and the South lead over Michal Kosciuszko in could have three or four or South Canterbury secondary Meanwhile, another for- Pacific Classic in Christ- his bid to establish an five guys in contention,’’ schools. But neither he nor mer pitcher, Carl Tuinenga, church in April. unassailable lead for 2011. Newton said. Canterbury Softball Associ- has stepped up to coach the ❏ Meanwhile, former Canter- Paddon went through a corner A native Southlander, ation chief executive Cheryl Canterbury Red Hawks bury Softball Association on stage six and ended in a Newton made his mark Kemp see his Timaru base as women’s team. He was assist- president Les Butts has been field but still managed to nationally with his home an impediment to coaching ant coach last year to Sue awarded life membership. maintain his lead. The World province before beginning a the Red Sox. Harrison, who did not seek CSA chief executive Cheryl Rally Championship is led by long association with Canter- ‘‘I will be coming up most reappointment. Kemp paid tribute to Butts, Mikko Hirvonen after world bury, a team he pitched to the Saturdays to have a look at It is a natural progression who she said ‘‘is retiring as champion Sebastien Loeb national title in 1996 (Can- the teams and check players for Tuinenga, who was coach chairman after 29 years on crashed yesterday. terbury’s first triumph for 59 out,’’ Newton said. of the Canterbury under-17s [the] executive and then the years). Canterbury have two for four years before stepping board’’. Butts was also a Umpires sue He also pitched Christ- Black Sox pitchers in the up to take the under-19s last former Softball New Zealand church United to the national promising Penese Iosefo and season. He had four seasons executive member. ❯❯ Four US Open umpires filed a law suit yesterday against the United States Tennis Association (USTA), claiming they were underpaid for years by being misclassified as independent contractors. The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of hundreds of other umpires who have worked for the USTA, Pitching in: Greg Newton has moved from the diamond into the dugout as coach of the Canterbury Red Sox. organiser of the annual US Photo: JILL McKee Open. Golf rained off TRIATHLON ❯❯ Kiwi golfers Michael Campbell and Mark Brown managed just 17 holes between them in a rain- affected opening round at the Hewitt hopeful of strong Dutch Open in the Netherlands yesterday. Campbell is even par through seven holes, including two birdies and two showing in Beijing event bogeys, in his first round at the Hilversumsche Golf Club Kevin Tutty been one of her goals for the Beijing. It’s a good course and and is tied for 34th. Brown has year. one I’m familiar with. It suits carded two bogeys and a With the worry of qualifying Hewitt had a sore foot me. The course is challenging birdie to be at one-over par for the London Olympics earlier in the season, but she with two hills, and it’s through 10 holes. Meanwhile, behind her, Andrea Hewitt is has shaken that and says she technical, with part of it on New Zealander Richard Lee is after a top performance in the is feeling as good as she has carpet. And it’s going to be in a share of fifth after the final of the world champion- all season. ‘‘Not having to tough. The weather will be first round of the Toshin ship triathlon series in Bei- qualify for London has taken hot and humid – maybe tournament on the Japan tour jing tomorrow. some of the stress off,’’ said around 30 degrees [Celsius]. after posting a bogey-free Hewitt qualified for the Hewitt. ‘‘It rained last night which five-under 67. Eddie Lee is Olympics by finishing sixth She goes into the series cleared some of the smog but 59th after a 72. in the London leg of the series final placed fourth, just a it’s likely to be back five weeks ago, and can now point behind Canadian Paula tomorrow. We just have to Aust less risky concentrate all her efforts on Findlay who has been the deal with that.’’ tomorrow’s race and hope- surprise on the circuit this She expects she will have ❯❯ An evaluation report says fully a podium finish in the year. to finish in the top five the Sri Lankan city of series for the second success- Leading the series is Helen tomorrow to be one of the top Hambantota would be a riskier ive year. ‘‘Everything has Jenkins (Britain) on 2913 three in the championship option to host the 2018 been great leading into this points. Second is Barbara series. than a race,’’ said Hewitt from Riveros Dias (Chile) on 2712. Hewitt will fly to Yoko- rival bid from Australia’s Gold Beijing yesterday. ‘‘The travel Findlay is on 2637 and Hewitt hama in Japan for the first Coast. The reports says went well and the training’s is a point behind. race in the 2012 world series Hambantota presents a been good.’’ Points in the final are next weekend. ‘‘medium-to-high risk’’, She is also encouraged by worth 50 per cent more. So a Asked if she was happy to whereas Australia’s Gold finishing third in a sprint win is worth 1200 points race in Japan after damage to Coast offers a ‘‘low risk’’. The race in Lausanne two weeks rather than 800. Hewitt is the nuclear reactor in March, winning bid will be announced ago. Improving her speed, looking forward to the race. Hewitt hesitated: ‘‘They say on November 11. Agencies especially on the run, has ‘‘It’s nice to be back in it’s safe so I believe them.’’

TENNIS Nadal flexes muscles on and off court

Rafael Nadal flexed his many days to retain his title. the September 11 attacks, to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchen- muscles at New York’s US ‘‘That’s not fair, but that’s Tuesday, marking the fourth kova of Russia 7-5 6-1. Open yesterday with a show what it is,’’ Nadal growled year running the year’s last The American faces world of power rarely seen in the after beating Gilles Muller 7-6 major has gone into overtime. No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, modern game. 6-1 6-2. But not all the players after the Dane beat Germ- The Spaniard stormed into Andy Roddick and Andy were impressed with the de- any’s Andrea Petkovic 6-1 7-6. the quarterfinals with a ruth- Murray said they were also cision, including the world Australia’s Sam Stosur less display, then led a player unhappy at the schedule. No 1 and title favourite, Serb- demolished world No 2 Vera revolt that pressured organ- Within hours, the US Ten- ian Novak Djokovic, who Zvonareva 6-3 6-3. isers into rearranging the nis Association said it had reached the semifinals when She will play unseeded schedule after the two pre- bowed to the players’ de- his Davis Cup team-mate Jan- German Angelique Kerber, vious days were wiped out by mands. ko Tipsarevic retired, while who beat Italy’s Flavia Pen- rain. The defending champion The women’s final, orig- trailing 7-6 6-7 6-0 3-0, because netta 6-4 4-6 6-3. was quick to express his inally scheduled for Sunday, of a thigh injury. Murray beat American displeasure, after weather was moved to Monday, while Serena Williams overcame wildcard Donald Young 6-2 6-3 delays left him facing the the men’s championship de- a wobbly start with her serve, 6-3. Roddick, of the US, saw off daunting prospect of having cider was shifted from Mon- where she was broken in each Spanish fifth seed David to win four matches in as day, the 10th anniversary of of her first three games, to Ferrer 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3. Reuters