Rex Scores Surprise Victory

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 18

Rex Scores Surprise Victory

The defeat of Univer&ity A by Rex was the major surprise in the ninth round of the Canterbury men’s bas-ketbaH A grade competition in Cowles Stadium last evening. University A failed to consolidate its first half lead, going down 27-33 after a long, hard struggle. But this was only one of several extremely close matches. Old Boys defeated Orients by two points with a basket in the last three seconds of the game and Burnham was somewhat lucky to head Rangiora, 34.32.

Y.M.C.A. and Y-Boys provided the only one-sided match, Y.M.C.A. winning handsomely. 60-28.

Points after nine rounds are: University B 15, Y M.C.A. 12, University A 11, Burnham 10, Old Boys 7, Rex 6, Rangiora 4. Orients 4, Y-Boys 3. Although University A had only three of its usual team present because of the holidays, Rex played some of its best basketball! this season and thoroughly deserved its unexpected win. It was trailing, 23-27, at half-time, but rallied strongly in the second spell to come through with colours flying.. Without its key players. University As combination was understandably poor and all the scoring was left to its three regular players, M. Askew. J Stead and J. Gleason. AW three played weW, but could not match the all-round strength of the Rex team.

P. Lund-Jackson was a tower of strength for Rex. He made good use of his height in rebounding and although his play need's a little tidying up, he was also very effective on offensive. B. Woolford and M. Harley also demonstrated ability to score freely. Scores: Rex 33 (P. Lund-Jack-

son 14, B. Woo-liford 8, M. Harley 7, J. McEvoy 2, G. Jones 2), beat University A 27 (M. Askey 14, J. Stead 10, J. Gleason 3). Old Boys Upset Undoubtedly the most inspiring clash of the evening was that between the two newlypromoted teams, High School Old Boys and Orients. Old Boys dominated the first spell and appeared heading for an easy win when it led, 20-13, at half-time.

However, several combination changes appeared to upset the Old Boys' players and Orients were able to capitalise on disjointed play to narrow . the score. C. Hi! began to sink his jump shot, the Oid Boys’ defence began to show flaws and Orients were only traiiiUng by two points with four minutes to go. Old Boys settled down slightly, increasing its lead, but Orients came again, and with one minute to go took the lead for the first time, 30-28. A. Hounsell netted the vital two points five seconds from time. Orients then made a costly error in leaving its basket unguarded and with the final horn about to blow, G. Orchard went in with a beautiful lay-up to score the vital points. Scores: Old Boys 32 (G. Orchard 16, A. Hounsell 11, R. Milligan 3, J. Francis 2) beat Orients 30 (C. Hi! 18. Y. Lee 5, A. Young 4. P. Kim 2, C. Chee The Canterbury representative, C. p. Dyson, again engineered Burnham’s narrow win over Rangiora. Without his brilliant if individualistic approach his side would have lost by a considerable margin. Rangiora led in the early stages, but there was never

much between the two teams R. Spark was in outstanding form to score exactly half his side's total.

Scores: Burnham 34 <C. P Dyson 18, J. W. Wright 6 J. G. Nichol 6. R. D. Tait 2, D. A de Felice 2) beat Rangiora 32 'R. Spark 18, D. Lamb 10. G. Norris 2, A. Nocks 2).

Y-Boys began disastrously against Y.M.C.A., and was 10 f mints down before it opened ts account. It improved slight iy in the second spell, but was still no match for the Y.M.C.A players who, led by J. Smith. R. Entwistle and N. Saunders, continued to score freely. Scores: Y.M.C.A. 60 (J. Smith 15, R. Entwistle 12. N. Saunders 12, J. Spencer 10, R. Roylance 8, P. Ross 3) beat Y-Boys 28 <B Stead 12. K. Baker 8, C. Harlev 6, A. Wilson 2).

Lower grade results: Senior Reserve.—Y-Boys B 39 Rangiora 25; Y.M.C.A. B 35 Teachers’ College 20: Y.M.C.A C 35, Rex B 27; Wlgram 21. Orients B 20.

Under 20.—Shirley A 26. Y.M.C.A. F 20: Christ’s College B 16. Christchurch B.H.S. B 14; St. Andrew's A 26. Christ's Col lege 12; St. Andrew's B 18, Rex E 11; Christchurch B.H.S. A 55. Y-Boys F 5; Shirley B 19, West High School 15.