Softball: Canterbury remain unbeaten

Canterbury had to work hard to protect their unbeaten record on the second day of the national women's softball championships in Palmerston North yesterday.

In soaring temperatures at Colquhoun Park, Canterbury won all three of their games.

Wellington were the only team to get close, keeping Canterbury to 1-all for most of their game before Canterbury's Lisa Kersten scored the winning run in the fifth innings.

Canterbury's earlier two games resulted in wins over Hawkes Bay 9-0 and North Harbour 11-1.

Hutt Valley, after a surprise 5-7 loss to Hawkes Bay, came back ominously with wins over Auckland, Horowhenua and North Harbour.

Auckland and Hawkes Bay rounded out the top four with three-win, one-loss records.