FIELD OF SPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVIII, Issue 10943, 15 June 1927, Page 3

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND GOMMENTS. (By "Onlooker.") Association Football. The second round of the Ashburton Association Football Board of Control's inter-club competitions has been completed, and the positions of the teams in both grades are as follow: —

Basketball Notes. With the. second half of the Technical B. v. Technical Old Girls A. match the standard of play was lower than on the two previous Saturdays. A great deal of scrambling was indulged in, and even players in the A teams were guilty of waiting on the line. It should he recognised that waiting on the line for a pass, especially when closely guarded by an opponent, is a sure sign of inferiority. The first game, Hi»;h School B (6) v. St. Andrew's A. (50) was a foregone conclusion from the first. In the first half the play on both sides was very ragged, and while St. Andrew's improved a good deal in the second half, they failed to get from the match the practice they should have. The match Technical A. (28) v. Technical Old Girls B. (1) gave good practice to the school te&n, who made the best of an easy match to gain combination. Owing to the imminence of rain, this match was shortened very considerably in both halves. St. Andrew's B. (6) v. Convent (19) was quite an interesting tussle. Convent have brightened up their passing and this, together with their steadiness, gave them the superiority over their less steady opponents. Expectations regarding the play in the Technical Old Girls A. v. High School A. match were not realised. Much scrambling took place, especially

in the first half; wild passing was also too much in evidence, and there was too great a tendency of players to crowd towards the middle of the base. Miss P. Moses, guard for Old Girls, showed up to best advantage. The best game of the day was undoubtedly that between Technical B. (14) and Technical Old Girls A 1 (40). In the first hall the school girls got into their stride soonest, and their first few goals quite shocked the Old Girls who, as a result of excessive keenness, committed several faults, and gave free throws against themselves. As they got warmer and steadied themselves the Old Girls began to get the upper hand, and half-time ended with the score Old Girls 16; Technical School B. 12. In the second half beautiful basketball wa.s played by both teams, and the Old Girls, now oh their mettle, gave a first rate exhibition of speed, correct placing, fast passing, and sure goaling, that was a treat to watch. Miss J. McMillan, the Old Girls' centre thrower, was in perfect form, and threw goals from most difficult positions. I was pleased to,, notice greater quietness in the games: it certainly was an improvement. Another point in which several teams had improved was in wing play. The wing players in the centres generally play sufficiently wide and thus give speed and accuracy to their play, and on Saturday the attacking wing players opened up the game considerably by playing wide and thus giving the centre goal-thrower more opportunity to score. Weaknesses that still have to be overcome are. over-guarding, waiting on the line, and croAvding the centre players of the base. Of these by far the most serious : s that of over-guarding. Players must understand that under no circumstances should the guard touch her opponent either from the front or from the back and if, in her attempt to intercept the pass from the person she is guardi'lg, she strikes forward with her arm, she commits the offence of overguarding. The trouble is general in all the bases, but more particularly so in the goal base, and referees would be well advised to interpret the rule very strictly. No player should be considered for inclusion in an A. team unless she can keep clear of her opponent and guard clearly.

Senior Grade. Team. P. W. Wanderers ... 4 4 Wakanui Rovers . 4 1 Baring Square ... 4 — I). 1 1 L. Pts. — 8 2 3 3 1 Junior Grade. Wanderers ... 4 2 Wakanui Rovers . 4 2 Baring Square ... 1 1 ] 1 1 5 2 4 ' 2 3