BASKETBALL Canterbury Defeat Southland, Otago

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30201, 5 August 1963, Page 13

BASKETBALL Canterbury Defeat Southland, Otago

In perfect conditions representative teams from Southland. Otago, and Canterbury competed in the South Island triangular tournament at South Hagley Park on Saturday. By winning both games. Canterbury emerged with top honours but its defeat of Southland was a narrow one and by no means conclusive. However. both Canterbury and Southland. comprising many inexperienced players, appear likely to develop into a strong combination. Otago's play, though often brilliant, was marred by careless infringements Results were:— Southland 21. Otago 15. Canterbury 32, Southland 29. Canterbury 34, Otago 24. SOUTHLAND V. OTAGO With the memory of their drawn game in Dunedin last week-end still fresh in their minds, these two teams played with careful restraint In the early stages Although Otago gained a slight territorial advantage. its forwards were unsuccessful with their early shots, and Southland capably penetrated tiie Otago defences and retained the advantage for some minutes.

When J. Martin netted well from a most difficult shot, Otago's play was enlivened, and fine passing and brilliant ball control brought the scores level and there was little between the teams until half-time, when the score was 9-all. Mainly through the failure of the Otago defence in guarding Southland's resourceful forward. M Gardiner. Southland held the initiative for almost all this half Its steadiness in all thirds wore down Otago's defences. and Southland displayed definite superiority to retain possession for long periods Southland capably increased its lead to win convincingly by 2115.

Referee: Mrs F Gough. CANTERBURY V. SOUTHLAND

With both teams fielding many players new to senior representative basketoall. and both coaches testing untried combinations. the early stages of this game were fairly uncertain, but Canterbury's L. Price and J Cusdin were evading the Southland defence skilfully and gaining good shooting positions to give Canterbury a alight advantage. The Canterbury centres combined effectively and A. Boelee's height was used to telling advantage as she tipped or deflected the Southland throw-off to the ready hands of the youthful S Langrope Gains in this third enabled Canterbury to hold a 5-goal advantage, but the Southland forwards showed improved' shooting to reduce Canterbury's lead to two goals. Enlerorising play by Southland's D Fahey caused Canterbury to fail with moves from the throw-off. and Southland attacked with determination Canterbury retaliated and play was fast and exciting, as both teams struggled tor possession but Canterbury's superiority in taking possession of loose balls earned L. Price additional shots, which she ably netted at half-time. Canterbury led 19-15 Careful teamwork and accurate shooting enabled Canterbury to dominate the early stages of this spell and well-varied moves were capably executed. Southlands defence. H. Mclntosh and N Carroll, were again a strong threat to every Canterbury move, but the unfailing support of Boelee and the inex-

perienced H. Hutton frequently offset the effectiveness of Southland's defensive tactics, and Canterbury increased its lead to eight goals.

Both teams were feeling the strain at this stage, but Southland produced its best form, and with splendid play in all thirds, and particularly by the centres. D. Fahey, C Barron, and A Baird, broke up every Canterbury attack. The forwards. R. McKercher and M Gardiner, mastered Canterbury's C. Brown and L. Shaw and goaled well, but Canterbury held on to win. 32-29. Referee: Mrs A. Little. CANTERBURY V. OTAGO The final game of the afternoon, for the Joan Young Cup, proved something of an anticlimax. Neither team played nearly as well as in earlier games. Immediately seizing the initiative, Otago attacked strongly, and its forward, J Martin, goaled splendidly, to Sve Otago a 3-goal lead ased on short, last passing, Otago's moves, executed always at lightning speed, leave little room for error, but, in this game, speed proved its imdoing. When Canterbury tightened play, Otago's counter-at-tack incurred frequent penalties for infringements of the personal contact rule, and the resultant penalties were easily netted by the Canterbury forwards. to bring scores level at 5-all. The Canterbury forwards. L Price and J. Kimber, were freauently left unguarded by the tago defence, which. unlike Canterbury's, did not confine plav to Ils own third, and R Quirke's follow-through to the centre third to direct plav was a costly blunder which Canterbury shrewdly exploited, with considerable success. to gain a seven-goal advantage. Otago forwards. J Martin and R Ramsay, eould not penetrate the defence of Canterterbury's C. Brown and L Shaw, although they shot well from just within the circle. Possession was fiercely contested when they attempted to pass in. and Canterbury was able to increase the score from several capable interceptions in this third A. Boelee. with fine support from S La ng rope and N Fahey, passed with deliberate restraint, and at half-time Canterbury led 20-11 Surprisingly Otago made little effort In this half to reduce its mistakes or to alter unsuccessful tactics. Canterbury made more effort to adhere to set moves in this spell, and its positional play for part of this half was quite sound. N, Fahey judging passes to the forward. L Price, with capable discernment Early success with difficult shots enabled Canterbury to increase its lead to 12 goals, but this lead was not maintained in the closing stages when Otago's attack again functioned with skill, and a tiring Canterbury side appeared content to play out time tor a comfortable win by 34 goals to Referee: Mias P Gallagher

The teams taking part were: Otago—l. Dodds. R Fitzwater. G. McKenzie, J. Martin. J Murdoch. R. Quirke (captain). R. Ramsay. L. Robertson, L. Skerrett, A Tyrie. Southland C Barron. N. Carroll. A Baird. D Fahey. M. Gardiner, H. Mclntosh. R McKerchar. E Tattersfleld, M Turnbull. E. Turner. Canterbury —J. Kimber. A. Boelee. N. Fahey. J. Cusdin. L. Price. 8. Langrope, L. Shaw. C. Brown (captain), H. Hutton.