CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO, 25-15

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27131, 29 August 1953, Page 9

CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO, 25-15

CLOSE MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON

(From Our Own Reporter) INVERCARGILL, August 28. Games in the New Zealand basketball tournament in Invercargill today were played in bleak, windy conditions. The Canterbury senior team, in its morning game, beat Otago 25-15. In the afternoon, Canterbury beat Wellington, 26-25.

In the Otago match, Canterbury prevailed from ttie whistle. Otago made a strong burst, and the teams scored goal for goal until Canterbury, after a fine interception by B. Rowe, managed to carry the ball through to its forward area, where A. Clark converted. From the next throw-off. Canterbury scored again. Although play was fairly even for the rest of this spell, Canterbury maintained and slightly increased its lead. At half-time the score was: Canterbury 11, Otago 8. In the second half, Canterbury played with renewed vigour, and although Otago offered strenuous opposition, it couid make little impression. B. Rowe was always a menace to the Otago forwards, and the Canterbury centre trio, D. Hughes, J. Fuller, and J. Cameron, used sound positional play to advantage and frequently intercepted poorly-directed Otago passes. S. Baird, the Otago captain, played a sound game. For Canterbury, J. Murray was the most consistent scorer. The game ended with Otago striving unsuccessfully to make headway. The referee was Miss L. Andrews. Canterbury’s game with Wellington this afternoon was their closest tournament encounter in four years. Wellington’s team had six players whose average heignt was almost 6ft. They towered over most of the Canterbury players. The game opened with four quick goals by the Canterbury forwards before the Wellington forwards gained possession. However, Wellington settled down, and played steadily to make the score 4-all. From then on, play was even, with the Wellington forwards combining well and shooting accurately. The half-time score was: Canterbury 15, Wellington 12. Wellington scored again at the beginning of the second spell. The Wellington forwards made few mistakes, and the score rose slowly, with hard play in all thirds. , The Canterbury forwards attempted to weave their way into the circle, but the blocking tactics of the Wellington defence made penetration almost impossible. Wellington again drew level in the closing stages with the score at 25-all. With five seconds to go, a clean goal from the circle by A. Hughes, the Canterbury captain, gave Canterbury victory. The referee was Miss M. Gibson. INTER-ISLAND GAME TODAY TEAMS ANNOUNCED (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Aug. 28. The North Island and South Island basketball teams to play m the final match of the New Zealand tournament in Invercargill tomorrow afternoon are.—■ North Island.—Forwards, I. Low (Auckland), B. Forward (Wanganui), D. Da vies (Tauranga), N. Esler (Hawkes Bay), centres, C Warne (Wellington, captain), J Turner (Auckland, vice-captain), E. Pratt (Wanganui), N. Nicholls (Auck- ££})• defences, Z. Poole (Hawke’s Bay), L n McKain (Hawke’s Bay) F Spence (Auckland), Z. Sunde (Auckland). South Island.—Forwards, A. Clark (cantprburv) A. Hughes (Canterbury vicecaptain),' G. Sinclair (Otago). M. Brown (Cmithland)' centres, S. Baird (Otago), JU er W ( a 2antertury),' D Weir (Otago). .D Hughes (Canterbury); defences, A. Craig (Southland. captain). B. Sinclair <Tre'eOTbury), B. Rowe (Canterbury), N. iregon ning (Canterbury).