Basketball Team In Better Form

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 14

Basketball Team In Better Form

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, August 26. Displaying much improved form, .the Canterbury senior basketball representatives emerged from the second day’s play at the New Zealand tournament with two well-deserved wins.

Their defeat of Auckland in the morning, was particularly meritorious in view of Auckland’s afternoon performance against the favoured Rotorua side when Rotorua was fortunate to remain unbeaten. Breaking Auckland's attack immediately, Canterbury gained the initiative with smooth combination and excellent shooting by the forwards, C. McMaster and J. Martin, to establish a five-goal lead. Auckland's initial uncertainty was overcome when the New Zealand representative, B. Mc-

Namara, forced the Canterbury forwards into error, and the Auckland forwards, G. Fleming and L. Hauraki, goaled brilliantly from difficult positions to reduce Canterbury's lead. Simple Errors

As Auckland's play tightened Canterbury was forced into simple passing errors and Canterbury's lead was reduced to one goal. Play became fast and exciting, and Canterbury's K O’Reilly and H. Hutton combined soundness and keen anticipation to prevent Auckland’s breakthrough. so that Canterbury led. 18-16, at half-time.

Canterbury attained excellent form in the second spell. For the first time in the tournament its centres —C. Brown, P. Edmonds and J. Blair—were a strong attacking unit, and their intelligent positional play forced Auckland to abandon set moves, enabling Canterbury to retain a territorial advantage for vital minutes. Auckland's tenacious defence was adept in regaining possession of missed shots, but the Canterbury forwards were In brilliant form. Gradually Canterbury's five-goal lead was increased. but when the score was 36-27 Auckland launched a fiery counter-attack. But in the closing stages, under heavy pressure, Canterbury successfully resisted every skilful Auckland attack and won. 37-31. Costly Infringements In the afternoon game, the early minutes were hard and even, but the Hawke's Bay de fence conceded penalties when ever the Canterbury forwards gained possession in the circle, and McMaster and Martin en joyed almost complete freedom in shooting.

The Canterbury defence again defended with vigilant skill, and Brown, Edmonds and Blair strongly supported every Canterbury attack. Victory was gained by the heavy margin of 38-17.

Results were: First Grade. —Otago 34, Hawke’s Bay 17: Canterbury 37. Auckland 31: Northland 3«. Wellington 29; Rotorua 29, Southland 15: Matamata 33. Manawatu 32: Otago 28, Wellington 24: Rotorua 30, Auckland 2S: Canterbury 38, Hawke's Bay 17; Northland 29, Matamata 18:. Southland 35, Manawatu 13. Second Grade.—Wanganui 32. Hutt Valley 27; South Canterbury 31, Taranaki 28; Auckland Minor 24, Waikato 24; Nelson 35, Ashburton 30: West Coast 12. Tekawau 10; Tauranga 27. Southland Country 17; Taranaki 24. Ashburton 24: Auckland Minor 35, South Canterbury 27: Wanganui 26, Tauranga 16; Waikato 27. Southland Country 27: West Coast 28, Nelson 25; Hutt Valley 26, Tekawau 17. Third Grade.—Thames Valley 24 North Otago 19; South Auckland 27, Putaruru 24; Temuka 39, Poverty Bay 25; Eastern Bay of Plenty 44, Canterbury SubAssoclatlons 17; Thames Valley 41, South Auckland 19: Eastern Bay of Plenty 26, Putaruru 20: North Otago 23, Poverty Bay 14; Temuka 27, Canterbury SubAssociations 22. , Fourth Grade —Hawke s Bay Minor 19, Buller 16; Marlborough 18, Otago Minor 10; Hutt Valley Minor 33, Horowhenua 25: Hokitika 34, Wellington Minor 26 - Otago Minor 38, Horowhenua 10; Kaikoura 37, Wellington Minor 20; Hutt Valley M nor 50. Buller 6; Marlborough 21, Hokitika 17.

Women’s Indoor Basketball (N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN. August 26. Results in the New Zealand women's indoor basketball B grade tournament at Dunedin Rotorua 21; Wellington 23, Pahiatua 15; Canterbury 47 Southland 25; Mid-Canter-bury 43, Hutt Valley 30; Hamilton 41. Nelson 18: Horowhenua 33, Palmerston North 29; Eastern Southland 37 Marlborough 30; Hamilton 46, Mid-Canterbury 31.