BASKETBALL TOUR OF FIJI

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 3

BASKETBALL TOUR OF FIJI

Team From N.Z. Minor Associations

EFFORT TO HELP SPORT IN ISLANDS

Six years ago, Miss Ada Naylor, a well-known Tauranga basketball administrator, went to Fiji to become principal of the Suva Girls’ Grammar School. She found that her favourite sport was unknown in the islands, and promptly began instructing her pupils in the game. Today there are 50 teams playing in the islands, and the standard has reached a stage where a tour by a New Zealand side has been arranged. Twelve players selected from minor associations in New Zealand will leave by Tasman Airways plane from Auckland on June 23 for Nandi. Selections were made from 48 nominations sent in by district associations willing to meet of their players. Six girls from the* North Island, and six from the South Island comprise the team.

Because of the youthful stature of the game in Fiji, a first-grade team is not being sent, but according to Mrs R. Lane, of Christchurch, president of the New Zealand Basketball Association, the touring players can expect vigorous if slightly less skilled opposition.

European, Fijian and Indian teams will play against the New Zealanders, and demonstrations and coaching instruction will be given. The game showed great promise in Fiji, said Mrs Lane last evening. Players there showed tremendous enthusiasm. This, coupled with the Fijians’ natural sporting ability, would in a few years provide some formidable teams. This had been shown to two members of the Basketball Referees’ Association, Misses S. Foster and G. Symes, who had visited the islands on an educational trip last year. The team is: Misses L. Watson, captain (Eastern Bay of Plenty), L. Archer (Southland Minor), R. Goodson (Temuka), R. McNeill (Putaruru), A. Hartley (Canterbury sub-associa-tions), C. Joyce (Taranaki). A. Tamaki (Waikato), E. Fountaine (South Canterbury), J. Nigro (Poverty Bay). J. Smith (Marlborough), and J. Stirling (Otago Minor). Also to tour with the team will be Mrs Lane and Miss L. Andrews, of Timaru, the coachreferee.