BASKETBALL West Old Girls’ Teams Share Lead

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30443, 18 May 1964, Page 8

BASKETBALL West Old Girls’ Teams Share Lead

The second round of games in the Canterbury Basketball Association's senior competition, played on Saturday at South Hagley Park, produced some interesting results. The main game between New Brighton and Technical drew many spectators, possibly because it had been selected to be telecast, but the result was seldom in doubt and Technical was a convincing winner.

St. Nicholas, though not at full strength, showed improved form to beat Riccarton Community Centre, and West B was much too sound, for a slightly weakened Teachers’ College side. West A narrowly beat Sacred Heart in the best game for many a season. Results:— St Nicholas 30, Riccarton Community Centre 21. West B 27, Teachers’ College 17. Technical 34, New Brighton 27. West A 31, Sacred Heart 30. Competition points after two rounds are:— West A 4, West B 4, Technical 4, Teachers’ College 2, St. Nicholas 2, New Brighton 0, Sacred Heart 0, Riccarton Community Centre 0. Riccarton Community Centro v. St. Nicholas The first halt was marred by a large number of minor infringements, but Riccarton on the whole was making some effort to retain combination and the forward, A. Wyatt, was in good form. Scores were level until 12-all, when the St. Nicholas centres, S. Jones, E. Hook, and N. Baker, took charge. The St. Nicholas forward, L. Weastell, goaled well. Improved positional play in all thirds, particularly in defence, enabled St. Nicholas to increase ■ its score, and Riccarton displayed little resolution and, with the exception of P. Hansen, scant care once possession was achieved. Mainly through the better play of St. Nicholas defence, B. Altchison and G. Bashford, Riccarton’s forwards, were well subdued in this half.

Referee: Mrs B. Little. West B v. Teachers' Calieaa In an even first half occasionally marred by indifferent passing. West B was able to gain a slight advantage. West's defence, L. Farr and S. Kenyan, kept the College forwards well guarded in this half and centres, D. Borrie, A. White,

and J. Neame, vert alert and aclle. College did not reproduce its lively form of the previous week and perhaps because of the abiance of ons forward, many of ita moves failed in this area af play. West tightened up play In the second spell but for ■ time good defensive play by B. Donnelly and H. Pooler checked the scoring rate. -As the spell progressed, College relaxed its efforts, and the west forwards. S. Dunn and L. King, goaled well from all round the circle. College was well served by J. Morrison and A. Britten. Referee: Mrs F. Gough.

Technical ». New Brighton Unable to reprodace its form of last season. New Brighton was quickly forced to adopt a defensive role. Playing with intelligence and assurance. Technical’s defence, C. Brown and B. Winter, made the New Brighton forwards work hard for every scoring chance, and their determined efforts to intercept shots at goal resulted in New Brighton's normally reliable forwards losing accuracy: Technical's forwards. J. Kimber 'and J. Kelly, although under constant pressure from the New Brighton defence, J. Browne and W. Neiman, were most accurate, and were helped to some extent, by the number of penalties incurred by New Brighton. Stronger support from the centres, E. Dell, L. Walker, and F. Fletcher, enabled tha New Brighton forwards to penetrate Technical’s defence occasionally, and J. Blair and L. Price gave glimpses of their best form. Technical'* play throughout was superior in all thirds, and its lead was never seriously threatened. Again the forwards, J. Kimber and J. Kelly, shot accurately. Referee: Mrs B. Ditford. Sacred Heart v. West A

Making amends for Its Indifferent display of the previous week, Sacred Heart got away to a good start when West was penalised for holding the ball too long, and J. Martin goaled from the edge of the circle. West, with strong teamwork, retaliated and soon levelled the score. From this moment there was little between the teams and the lead fluctuated with the throw-off almost to half-time.

West took the initiative on the resumption of play and swiftly Increased Its lead to six goals, but Sacred Heart retaliated and with all thirds combining well reduced West s lead to two goals. Play became fast and exciting, with the Sacred Heart centre and forward thirds dominating play, but. possibly because of the closeness of the score, falling unaccountably at critical moments. West’s defence, M. Islip, managed to regain possession after Sacred Heart's missed shot, and West went into a two-goal lead. Sacred Heart counter-attacked fiercely, and was in possession when the final whistle sounded. Referee: Mis* C. Brown.