Indoor Basketball CANTERBURY BEATEN IN CLOSE GAME

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29893, 6 August 1962, Page 13

Indoor Basketball CANTERBURY BEATEN IN CLOSE GAME

Wellington, last year’s national champion, beat Canterbury, 4841. in the men’s representative basketball fixture at the W. J. Cowles Stadium on Saturday night. The match developed into a relatively uninspiring affair, although it was closely contested. Wellington trailed for most of the game, and it was only in the latter stages that it gained the initiative. Canterbury missed the services of W. WardHolmes. K. Baker, and P. Dyson, and played below its best form, while P. Simpson, the No. one centre, was suffering from influenza.

Wellington, however was without its four New Zealand representatives. and even though it was behind for the greater part, it still gave the impression that it could win. With one exception, this was the squad which will contest the New Zealand championships at Hutt Valley, starting on August 25. It was the former Canterbury and New Zealand representative. R. Salt, who paved the way for Wellington’s win. Salt played an excellent game. He drove beautifully, and scored freely with his jump shot. G. Heiberg, the Wellington centre, also played well. Heiberg played a pivot game, cut nicely when the occasion warranted, and leapt well for the rebounds. Canterbury relied mainly on set plays in the first half, and although it was leading at the interval, it sceemed that something was lacking. The plays were not functioning properly, and the bail control left much to be desired. The Wellington defence, however, was of a high standard. W. Smith was impressive on attack, but he let Salt slip past several times on defence. R. Zachariassen played a fine allround game, and P. Doogue was his usual solid self on defence. R. Darsono played particularly well, leaping high for the rebounds, and finding the basket regularly while he was on the court. M. Bach was another who could have had more time on the court.

Canterbury changed to a fastbreaking game in the second spell, when possibly a blending of set plays and fast breaks would have brought more success. The teams were:— Wellington.—R. Salt (captain), G. Heiberg, D. Young, A. McClay, P. Betts, A. McLean, R. Hunt. Coach: R. Bracken. Canterbury.—W. Smith (captain), P. Doogue, R. Zachariassen, L. Anderson, P. Simpson, R. Darsono. M. Bach, P. Aragias. Coach: A. Forrester. R. Sait scored 21 points for Wellington, and G. Heiberg scored 10. For Canterbury. W. Smith scored 12. R. Zachariassen eight, and Darsono nine. The referees were Messrs M. Hensliall and M. A. McDougall. President's Match In the curtain-raiser, the S resident’s squad, which conlined former Canterbury and South Island representatives, proved too experienced for the youthful Canterbury B team. The match provided a bright spectacle and the emphasis was on attack throughout. It was just that the president’s squad should win, 60-51.