Indoor Basketball LAST MATCH TO DECIDE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30221, 28 August 1963, Page 17

Indoor Basketball LAST MATCH TO DECIDE

Lead Shared In A Grade With only one round to be played, two clubs share the lead in the Canterbury men s basketball A grade competition. After last evening’s matches. Y.M.C.A. and University A have 32 points each, while Y-Boys and Rex share third position with 18 points each. In the final round, which will be played after the New Zealand championships are concluded, YM.C.A. and University A will meet and the winner will become the 1963 champion club team. If Y-Boys wins its final match it will take third position as Rex has drawn the bye.

There were no surprises in the A grade matches last evening. University A showed good form to beat Rex. 25-12. and

Y-Boys easily defeated Burnham, 35-18. Wigram beat University B by default. In its match against Rex. University A reached a fairly high standard, although not as high as it set in the middle stages of the competition. The team generally moved well and was commendably quick off the mark. Rex’s mistakes, and there were many of them, were often turned to University A’s advantage. Rex appeared badly disjointed, possibly because of the inclusion of two senior reserve players, and rarely proved a danger. University A was also fielding two players from its “B” team. P. Sharp and J. McArthur, but they coped remarkably well and were definitely not weak links. W. Ward. Holmes was the top scorer with 16 points. W. Smith, who scored 11. was competent but allowed his opposite number a little too much leeway on defence. H. Fox and R. Smith were the best of the Rex side, scoring eight points each. The team obviously missed the services of P Ward, a current Canterbury representative, who is out through injury. Y-Boys unexpectedly had little difficulty in overwhelming Burnham, playing better basketball than they have done for a number of games. Their team-work was much improved but a good effort was spoiled to a certain extent by too much dribbling at the wrong time. For Y-Boys, K. Ewing did some excellent work under the baskets, especially on defence. J. Smith was the top scorer with 12 points. A Pollitt moved well to score eight. The leading Burnham scorer was P Dyson, with eight. Points in the A grade as at the conclusion of the twentieth round are: YM.C.A. 32. University A 32. Y-Bovs 18. Rex 18. Burnham 10. Wigram 6. University B 4. Other results:— Senior Reserve Jaycees 33. Y.M.C.A. 27; Stars 19. Rex 18; Rangiora 46, Police 31.