BASKETBALL Auckland Beats Southland To Win National Tourney

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28371, 2 September 1957, Page 5

BASKETBALL Auckland Beats Southland To Win National Tourney

(New Zealand Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, September 1. Leading throughout the tournament, Southland was unfortunate on Saturday to be beaten, 22-32, by Auckland, in the first grade section of the Dominion basketball. tournament at Greymouth yesterday. This win by Aucxland gave it the vital two points necessary to win the championship.

Southland battled hard in this game—a highlight of the final day—but Auckland attacked continually in a determined bid for the title.

Hawke’s Bay and Otago, with eight points, took third place, and Canterbury and Wellington were next with six points each.

In the second grade contest, Taranaki and Wanganui shared the honours, with Manawatu and Tauranga second and Nelson third. West Coast and Marlborough were at the bottom of the ladder.

In the final first grade match, Auckland scored three goals in the first one and a half minutes of the game against Southland, and never looked like losing. Southland lost 10 throw-off passes.

Auckland’s team combination was the deciding factor, especially in the forward third. The players threw the ball round crisply, and shot from any angle. Southland’s defence was weak while Auckland’s forwards were right on the ball. The Southland captain, E. Fahey, was her team’s outstanding player. The final score was Auckland' 32, Southland 22.

North v. South As an exciting climax to the tournament, South Island 27 beat North Island 20. South began better than North and led 14-9 at halftime. The team*- superiority was due to the outstanding defence of the Otago representative, A. Tyler, There was little doubt that North’s defence lacked combination, and this was another factor which made for South’s victory. Goals were scored for South Island by F. Brown (13), E. Fahey (8) and M. Fisher (6). North Island scorers were K. Wai.(3,’,A.N ’ Erce 8 <7), and O. Morris (10).

West Coast, which had drawn with Eastern Bay of Plenty and Marlborough on Wednesday, put on a hard-working display at the week? end, but could not. beat Tauranga or the visting Fijian team. In the game against Fiji, West Coast did not settle down in the first half and at half-time the score was Fiji 13, West Coast 4, although each side had had 16 attempts at goal. The inexperienced Coast side made some silly mistakes in this half but in the second half they played better, while the Fijians made more handling mistakes. The final score was possibly a sign of the wearying effects of the tour: Fiji 19. Coast 16.

' Fiji also beat Tauranga, 28-17. The final points table was:— First Grade.—Auckland, 12; Southland, 10; Otago, Hawke’s Bay, 8; Canterbury, Wellington, 6; Southland County, 4; Hutt Valley, 2. Second Grade.—Taranaki, Wanganiu, 18; Tauranga, Manawatu, 14; Nelson, 12; South Canterbury, 9:

Horowhenua, 8; Eastern Bay of Plenty, Matamata, 7; West Coast, 2; Marlborough, 1.

Results of Saturday’s games:— First Grade.—Aucklano 32, Southland '22; Hutt Valley 20, Southland Country 15; Hawke’s Bay 22. Canterbury 12. Second Grade.—Tarahaki 21, Matamata 12; Tauranga 25, West Coast 15; Manawatu 30, South Canterbury 20; Wanganui 22, Eastern Bay of Plenty 12; Nelson 25, Marlborough 10; Marlborough defaulted to Taranaki; Manawatu 31, Matamata 21; Nelson 28, Estern Bay of Plenty 16; Horowhenua 20, South Canterbury 18; Wanganui 21, Tauranga 14.

Other Games.—Fiji 28, Tauranga 17; Fiji 19, West Coast 16; South 27, North 20.