Basketball TECHNICAL IN LEAD

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29205, 16 May 1960, Page 13

Basketball TECHNICAL IN LEAD

Kakatai, West A In Good Form

Cloudy skies after a morning's rain provided wintry conditions at South Hagley Park on Saturday for the third round of the Canterbury Basketball Association’s senior competition, and the asphalt courts, smothered in wet autumn leaves, did not make for ideal playing conditions. For the most part, however, players were not affected by these hazards and the first game of the afternoon, between West A and Kakatai provided spectators with basketball of a good standard. In a tense second half, West A won by one goal. Technical was much too good for West B and registered its third successive win. Sacred Heart defeated St. Nicholas and Teachers' College had the bye. Results were:— West A 28, Kakatai 27. Technical 32, West B 19. Sacred Heart 25, St. Nicholas 20.

Competition points are:—Technical 6, Kakatai 4, Teachers’ College 2, Sacred Heart 2, West A- 2, West B 2, St Nicholas 0.

West A v. Kakatai Encouraged by an excellent shot by T. Langiord, West A was quick to take the initiative against Kakatai. Although scores were level lor the first few minutes, this was largely the result of good shooting, ratner than capable execution of set moves. With the score West 6. Kakatai 4, West's superior attack soon found definite gaps in Kakatai’s defence and the West forwards, C. McMaster and T. Langford. strongly supported by the centre R. Tozer, had little difficulty in gaining the inner circle to ®? v , e a West a five-goal advantage. Kakatai s centre, without the services of the resourceful H. Price, lacked much of its normal sting, and the passes to the forwards, J. Dunlop and L. Price, were rarely welljudged and kept Kakatai very much on the defensive until half-time, when the score was West A 16. Kakatai 12.

West exerted strong pressure when Play resumed, and with careful teamwork Increased the margin to lead by eight goals. From a good Interception by the centre, E. KirkKakatai gained possession of the West throw-off and this slight opening apparently gave the side the necessary incentive to stubbornly defeat. In typical style Kakatai tightened their play. Better combination between deience J Brownie and J. King denied West's forwards possession and the Kakatai forwards with play now reaching their territory with more regularity responded well, and as Kakatai's play improved. West’s attack deteriorated. With the score West 27. Kakatai 25, Kakatai's three attempts to goal failed, and from the resulting throw-in West forward C McMaster, goaled brilliantly from a difficult position. Kakatai attacked a Bain, and in the final stages was right on top, and increased its score, not without difficulty, to come within one goal of West Final score: West A 28, Kakatai 27

West B v. Technical Splendid defence by B. Allen and M. Islip reduced Technical’s efficiency and in the early stages of play West B had little difficulty in countering Technical’s tactics, and with the forwards, L. Duff and D. Hattersley, shooting well. West raced into a three-goal lead. The West forwards heartened their supporters by their capable handling of the strong Technical defence and. had the early success enjoyed by these youthful forwards been better sustained, the final result would assuredlv had been much closer As the game progressed Technical s attack strengthened, and the forward, L. Johns, goalee! well to level the score at 6-aIL West continued to hold their experienced opbut the increasing pressure exerted by Technical’s astute centres. P Edmonds and M. Fisher, was finding flaws in West’s defence, and Technical forwards were now given maximum support by their efforts. West forwards, dogged by the assiduous defence of B. Rowe and C. Brown, gradually wilted, and by half-time Technical led bv 16 goals to 12.

Denied possession for long periods. West B was quite unable to match Technical in the second spell, and Technical added to its score with considerable ease. With the result assumed the main interest remaining in this game was the well-varied methods employed by Technical to break up West's attack, and the stands remained full until the final whistle gave Technical victory by 33 goals to West B's 19. The referee was Mrs A. South. Sacred Heart v. St. Nicholas A strong wind hampered play in the early stages, and there was much broken play and Indifferent passing. Neither team appeared certain of its tactics, and moves rarely reached their obiective without interference. Both teams were penalised frequently for various minor infringements. Mainly through the good shooting of M. Murray. Sacred Heart held a three-goal advantage for much of this half, but as the spell progressed. further infringements and tighter play by St. Nicholas brought results, and by half-time scores were level at 11-all.

Improved positional play by Sacred Heart’s P. Lawson, N. Fahey, and B. McAleer forced St. Nicholas into error, and Sacred Heart gained a distinct territorial advantage. With its throw-off failing frequently, St. Nicholas forwards were denied possession for long periods, but when play reached their area, forwards A. Cotter and J. Cusdin handled

Sacred Heart’s defence with ease to goal from good positions. With the score at Sacred Heart 17, St. Nicholas 13. Sacred Heart s tentative approach to the game disappeared, and in the final stages they gave some glimpses of the polished teamwork which made the side the competition winners last season. Thoughtful passing and improved positional play in the forward area brought immediate rewards, and Sacred Heart increased its margin to make the final score: Sacred Heart 20. St. Nicholas 20. The referee was Mrs F. Gough.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS

Lower grade games on Saturday resulted:— Senior Reserve.—Section 2: Papanui High School 20. Technical 20; Papanui O.G. 20, Digby’s 16; Sacred Heart 46. West Old Girls 22. Section 2: Digby’s 28, Kakatai 22; Sacred Heart 34. Com. Centre 28; St. Nicholas 22, South Brighton 22. Second Grade.—Section 1: St. Mary’s Old Girls 26, Teachers’ College C 21; Celtic A 21. Sacred Heart 12; Shirley North A 25, Papanui Old Girls 29; Otautahi 27. Cranmer 13. Section 2: West Old Girls D 19, Technical C 14, Junior Comets 26, Otautahi B 19; Shirley North B 22, Rangi-ruru A 11; Papanui High B 21, Zipps A 19. Section 3: Sumner A 14. St. Nicholas C 13; Therese's A 24, St. Mary’s College A 14; Canberra A 20, Teachers' College D 19. Third Grade.—Section I: Sisepa 28. Gay lands 27; Argyle Textiles 32, Com. Centre B 11; Drayton Jones 35. Celtic B 6. Section 2: Mairehau A 1, Pegasus 0; Malrema A 25, Kiwi 13; Kakatai C 37, Sacred Heart E 15; Papanui High School C 27, O'Briens A 19. -Section 3: Sumner B 26, Technical High A 26; Shirley North B 34. Sisepa A 9; West O.G. E 28, South Brighton B 12; Sockburn A 1, Rangi-ruru B 0. Section 4: St. Nicholas D 24, Belfast A 13; Technical E 1, Dental Nurses 0; West O.G. F 32. Digby’s D 15; Bank of N.S.W. 22. Zipps C 8. Section 5: West O.G. G 19, St. Mary’s College B 14; P. 0.5.8. A 23, Sacred Heart F 9; Holy Trinity A 21, Mairehau B 12. Section 6: P. 0.5.8. B 19. Teachers College E 6; Technical F 15. Shirley North C 14; South Brighton C 29. St Therese’s B 21. Fourth Grade.—Section 1: Shirley North E 19, Cathedral B 7; Sumner 24, St. Josephs Papanui 15; International Harvester 20, Technical G 19; Papanui High F 34, Sisepa B 11. Section 2: Papanui High D. 27. L.W.R. 7; Y.WC.A. A 23. Kakatai D 18; Sacred Heart H 20. C.D.L.A. 19. Section 3: Kakatai E 22. West O,G. L 13; St. Mary’s College C 1, Dental Nurses 0; Technical H 17, Sacred Heart 1 7; Mairema B 1, Rangi-ruru C 0. Section 4: Holy Trinity B 14, South Brighton D 9; West H 16, Ernest Adams 15; Woolworths 30. Mairehau 0. Section 5: West O.G. I 15. Holy Trinity C 15; Sunnyside Nurses 21, Rebels 4; G.G.H. 25. St. Patricks 17. Fourth Grade B.—Section 1: Papanui H.S. E 20. Sumner D 18: Technical H.S B 1, Pegasus B 0; West O.G. 31, Sacred Heart G 9. Section 2: St. Theresa G 12, Y.WC.A. B 11; Opawa A 19, Edgeware 13; Para 18, Chinese Youth 17; West OG. J 1, St. Johri 0. Section 3: Shanandora 21, I.G.A, 10: Hollanders 25, St. Nicholas E 18; St. Mary's O.G. B 1, Technical High C 0; Opawa B 15, State Advances 6. Fifth Grade.—Section 1: St. Joseph’s C 30, Shirley North F 21: Papanui High A 18, St. Nicholas F 6; St. Joseph’s B 1. Technical 5A 0; Addington 18, Zipps E 17. Section 2: South Brighton E 28, Sacred Heart K 12; Kakatai F 18, Addington B 6; Papanui High 5 B 14, Celtic D 13; Sumner E 1 Technical 5B 0. Section 3: Sacred Heart 19. Sockburn 12; St. Therese 1, Shirley North 0; Papanui High 32. West 11; St. Mary's 19. Celtic 2; Technical 27, Kakatai 10. Section 4: Papanui High E 20. St. Peter’s 15; Papanui High D 19, Sumner 17: Sockburn 30. Technical 10; Sisepa 7. West 7. Section 6: Telegraph 1. Sunnyside Nurses 0. Sixth Grade.—Section 1: Sumner 23. Technical 7; Kakatai 21, St. Nicholas 8; Papanui 26. Celtic 4; West 17. Belfast 11. Section 2: Tui 18, Addington 9; Sacred Heart 12, Otautahi 2; St. Nicholas 16, Kakatai 6; O’Briens 17, Papanui High 15. Section 3: South Brighton 15, Technical 3; West 14. Sumner 4; Sacred Heart M 10, Sisepa 6.