BASKETBALL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26510, 27 August 1951, Page 8

BASKETBALL

CANTERBURY WINS N.Z. CUP (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, August 25. The New Zealand basketball tournament concluded to-day at Timaru with the game North Island v. South' Island. The South Island had an easy victory, 29-16. and was superior to the North Island in all thirds. Miss L. Andrews, of South Canterbury was referee.

Canterbury, in its final game, defeated Tauranga, 25-20, winning the New Zealand Cup and leading the runner-up, Auckland, by four points. Canterbury also won the Violet Gilmour trophy for the team having the lowest average of goals scored against it. Hutt Valley won the second grade, with Taranaki runner-up. In the game against Tauranga, the Canterbury team lacked its usual pep. and play was dull and unexciting. D. Davies (Tauranga) shot accurately, and her welljudged passes gave her forwards the ascendancy over the Canterbury defence at times. At half-time the score was 1511. Canterbury maintained its four-goal lead throughout the second spell. P. Johnson (Tauranga) moved easily in the centre third, but the Canterbury centre lacked cohesion and the forwards had to make the most of their opportunities. J. Murray shot most of Canterbury's total. Play continued uneventfully for Canterbury to win. 25-20. Miss V. Corcoran was referee. Throughout the tournament, Canterbury has played a carefully-planned game. Rarely bustled into errors, the team combined a minimum of effort with the maximum court coverage. The defence third, with their audacious interceptions, and the forwards, with their remarkable accuracy and expert approach work, always gave Canterbury a great advantage over its opponents. By its clear supremacy this year, Canterbury has proved that controlled open movements and accurate shooting will always be effective against fast, flashy play, with Its inevitable errors.

Final points In the two grades were:— Senior grade: Canterbury 16. Auckland 12, Otago 11, Wanganui 11, Hawke’s Bay 8. Southland 6, Tauranga 6. Manawatu 2, Wellington 0. Second grade: Hutt Valley 22, South Canterbury 20, Taranaki 20, West Coast 19, Rotorua 16, Matamata 12, Horowhenua 12, Southland Minor 10. Waikato 8. Marlborough 7, Ashburton 4, Poverty Bay 2, Nelson 2. Results on Saturday were:—

First Grade—Otago 32, Wellington 15; Auckland 27. Southland 24; Wanganui 20, Hawke’s Bay 17; Manawatu 19. Wellington 18: Canterbury 25. Tauranga 20. Second Grade.—Taranaki 23, Ashburton 19; Hutt Valley 33, Nelson 13; Rotorua 35. Waikato 17: Southland Minor 21. Marlborough 20; South Canterbury 23. West Coast 19; Matamata 31, Poverty Bay 17; Southland Minor 23, Horowhenua 17; Rotorua 34, Nelson 22; Taranaki 26, South Canterbury 18: Hutt Valley 25, Ashburton 11; Waikato 27, Poverty Bay 23; West Coast 26, Southland Minor 21; Horowhenua 28, Matamata 23.

ASHBURTON PLAYS BANKS PENINSULA The annual basketball matches between representative teams from Ashburton and Banks Peninsula were played at Ashburton on Saturday. The senior B grade match was drawn, each team scoring 8 goals. The Ashburton junior A grade team had a comfortable win by 18 goals to 7.