Leading Players Lost To Senior Mens Basketball

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 11

Leading Players Lost To Senior Mens Basketball

TT is with considerable surprise and not a little sorrow that men’s basketball enthusiasts have received the withdrawal from senior competition of a large number of players who have served the sport faithfully over a great many seasons, players whose names have become synonymous with the game in Canterbury.

Such men as P. Doogue (Y.M.C.A.), R. Burnby (Y.M.C.A.) and the brothers P. Fox and H. Fox (Rex) will be missing from senior matches this season, although, with the possible exception of Burnby, they still plan to continue playing in the lower grades. Burnby, who was the top points scorer, equal with his team mate, P. Simpson, and a South Island representative last season, has not been entered in any grade by his club. His loss is per-

haps the greatest of all for he was undoubtedly the outstanding player in Canterbury last season. Doogue, who was the province’s outstanding guard last season and captained

the South Island team in its annual match against the North Island, has decided against playing any further first-class matches and has moved down to the seniorreserve grade to make way for some other up-and-coming player. However, he will retain a direct association with the Canterbury representative team for he has been appointed its sole coach-selector—a position he is well qualified to fill. The Fox brothers have long been pillars of strength for the strong Rex club. Last season, H. Fox, at 36, was the oldest player in the senior grade by a considerable number of years but he was still greatly respected

by opposing players. His accurate long shots often got Rex out of trouble. He was the captain of the New Zealand representative team which toured Australia in 1956. His vast experience and tactical mind will be sorely missed. P. Fox, who was 30 last season, has also had a

bright career, representing Canterbury on a number of occasions in the late 1950’5. Both brothers are also competent referees and coaches. H. Fox, who is the holder of a New Zealand referee’s badge, has been entered in the B grade and P. Fox has been entered in the C grade for this season. Other players, who were very prominent in the senior grade last season and who will not be available this year, include W. E. Smith (University), the captain of the representative side in recent years and a final trialist for the New Zealand team which toured South-east Asia in 1962, D. Sharp (University), a Canterbury and South Island representative last season, L. Anderson (University), and M. West (Rex), former Canterbury representatives.