Basketball Title To Rotorua

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30533, 31 August 1964, Page 13

Basketball Title To Rotorua

(From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, August 30. Rotorua won the national women’s first grade basketball championships on Saturday when it defeated Northland decisively in its only match of the day.

After an uncertain beginning, Rotorua settled down well to run out the winner by 30 points to 19. Rotorua (18 points) led Southland (16) and Otago (11) in the final points table.

Straining desperately to retain its third equal placing on Saturday the demoralised Canterbury team sustained its fourth loss in the final game when it was beaten by Otago. 25-19.

A strong, gusty wind made shooting difficult, but the young Otago forward, M. Gardner, goaled skilfully from the outset and Otago seized the initiative. Canterbury forwards were gaining possession from Otago defence infringements, but neither J. Martin nor J. Blair was in form, and Otago’s astute captain, L. Muir, made certain that the Canterbury forwards received few second chances.

Canterbury Beaten Careless passing by the Canterbury centres allowed the Otago defence to intercept and move In to the Canterbury goal and Otago increased its lead to five goals. Frequent infringements by both teams kept the players fairly subdued and robbed the game of any excitement. Few moves reached their objective unchecked but Canterbury’s position improved slightly as a result of penalties against Otago. The halftime score was Otago 11; Canterbury 9. Otago seemed Unwilling to exploit Canterbury's many mistakes and play was drab. Canterbury’s K. O'Reilly made some good saves, but the Canterbury forwards failed with even the easiest of shots and Otago steadily increased its lead to win by 25 goals to 19. The final points were:— First grade: Rotorua 18, Southland 16, Otago 11, Auckland 10, Canterbury 9, Northland 9, Matamata 7, Hawke's Bay 6. Manawatu 2, Wellington 2. Second Grade: Wanganui 21. Hutt Valley 20, Tauranga 16. South Canterbury 13, Auckland Minor 11, Ashburton 10, West Coast 10, Southland Country 9. Waikato 9, Nelson 8, Te Kawau 4, Taranaki 1.

Third Grade: Thames Valiev 14, Eastern Bay of Plenty 12. North Otago 6, South Auckland 6, Poverty Bay 5, Putaruru 5, Canterbury Sub-associations 4, Temuka 4. Fourth Grade: Hutt Valley Minor 16, Marlborough 14, Otago Minor 12, Hokitika 8, Kaikoura 6, Hawke’s Bay Minor 5, Horowhenua 5, Wellington Minor 5, Buller 1. Final Matches Results of Saturday’s matches were.— First grade: Matamata 32, Hawke's Bay 22; Auckland 36, Manawatu 28: Rotorua 30, Northland 19; Southland 26, Wellington 21; Otago 25, Canterbury 19 Second grade: Hutt Valley 39, Ashburton 34; Nelson 36, Taranaki 24; Te Kawau 30, Auckland Minor 27; Wanganui 39, Waikato 24: South Canterbury 26, Tauranga 22; West Coast 22, Southland Country 22; Southland Country 29, Taranaki 13: Auckland Minor 25, Nelson 22: Hutt Valley 28, West Coast 16; Wanganui 26, South Canterbury 21; Waikato-25, Te Kawau 16; Tauranga 28, Ashburton 18. Third grade: Eastern Bay of Plenty 29, North Otago 14; South Auckland 21, Temuka 20; Canterbury Sub-Associations 22, Putaruru 20; Thames Valley 25, Poverty Bay 18: Poverty Bay 25, South Auckland 23: Thames Valley 37, Temuka 11. Fourth grade: Wellington Minor 28, Hawke’s Bay Minor 18; Hutt Valley Minor 25, Kaikoura 22; Marlborough 37, Buller 22: Otago Minor 30, Hokitika 19,

North-South The final tournament game between North Island and South Island was won easily by South, 29-18. Scoring was even in the early stages but at 6-all South achieved smooth combination, and from this point completely dominated play. Four of last year’s successful New Zealand team, L. Muir, wing-defence, P. Edmonds, centre, J. Blair, wingattack and J. Martin, goal-

shoot, with Otago’s M. Gardiner as goal attack, proved much too skilful for the individualistic tactics of the North team.

Leading by 19 goals to 9, the second-half proved to be more an exhibition of basketball than an exciting game. North’s play on attack continued to be faulty and its best moves were frequently the result of South’s indiscreet passes. For Canterbury supporters it was a little ironical that their three representatives tn th|s game attained the form which had eluded them throughout the tournament and that J. Martin, with M. Gardiner’s capable support, in this game netted many difficult shots.