BASKETBALL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 7

BASKETBALL

Women’s Games Begin Today

The Canterbury Basketball Association’s competitions in all grades will begin today. The senior competition should be very even with eight teams, these being West Old Girls (two), Sacred Heart, Technical, Teachers’ College, St. Nicholas, Kakatai and Digbys. Technical, last year’s champion team, is including two 1958 second grade players, S. Lightfoot and L. Conradie, in the senior side. C. Brown, whd did not play last season because of a leg injury, is also playing again, and with the more-experi-enced players, J. Fuller, P. Edmonds, M. Fisher and P. Dorward, will form a good side. West Old Girls A has only one change from last season, with L. Duff (from the second grade team) replacing J. Wright as shooter. M. Clark, N. Murray, R. Tozer, K. Williams, B. Gunn and P. Telfer are playing again. Digbys has gained two Otago forwards, A. McKenzie and J. Smith. With the Canterbury representative H. Arthur, and last year’s senior players, B. Roberts, C. Payne, F. Payne and S. Orsbourne, Digbys will form a strong team. A. Hughes and M. Copper are not playing this season. Kakatai has one new player, F. Fletcher. This side beat Technical on the opening day, and displayed good combination. Two reliable shooters are J. Dunlop and L. Price, while other members of the team will be M. Neiman, H. Price, G. Ford and E. Kirkwood.

Teachers’ College has gained several players including A. Blair (Canterbury representative) and C. Clapham and A. Stewart

(Poverty Bay representatives). Two promoted senior reserve players are A. Humphries and M. Dalzell and, with last year’s players, A. Struthers and M. Tuuta, again available, the side will be the strongest from the College for several years. Sacred Heart will field a strong side again, with B. McAleer, M. Murray, M. Fahey, and E. Back from last year’s side. M. Dwan, the only newcomer, is from the senior reserve team. P. Gallagher is not available because of injury. St. Nicholas has a young team, whose performance in the handicap tournament last week was encouraging. J. Rodgers, G. Leathaby and E. Woods have senior experience to help the promoted players A. Cotter, G. Potts, L. John and G. John. West Old Girls B, the promoted team from senior reserve, is notable for the players’ understanding of each other’s play. If this side maintains its form of the grading day, it should do well in the competition. Today’s draw is: West Old Girls B v. Sacred Heart, 12.45 p.m.; Technical v. West Old Girls A, 1.40 p.m.; Teachers’ College v. St Nicholas, 2.30 p.m.; Kakatai v. Digbys, 3.20 p.m.