Rotorua Unbeaten In Basketball Tourney

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 15

Rotorua Unbeaten In Basketball Tourney

The champion, Rotorua, remained unbeaten and Canterbury lost its second game, again narrowly, when the second day’s play of the Dominion basketball tournament was held in Christchurch yesterday.

The courts were wet and slippery for the early morning games and this contributed to the close scores.

Rotorua was frequently bested by Otago in a hardfought game but held on to win, 36-30; while Canterbury went down to Auckland, which in the afternoon held Southland to a draw in a fast, exciting game.

In the second grade, Auckland Minor and Hutt Valley were both unbeaten but their closest rival, South Cantergrade, although it is expected loss at the hands of the littlefancied Western Bay of Plenty team. Temuka and South Auckland remained unbeaten in the third grade and Marlborough leads in the fourth grade, although it is expected that the Canterbury Sub-asso-ciation team will offer strong opposition when these teams meet today. Competition points for first grade teams are: Rotorua 8, Southland 7, Auckland and Otago 6. Canterbury 4. Hawke’s Bay and Wellington 3. Manawatu 2, Matamata and Wanganui 1. BELOW FORM On a slippery, wet court both Rotorua and Otago failed to produce the expected type of plav Rotorua was considerably below form in the early stages. Its inability to eliminate simple passing errors gave Otago every chance, but it, too, failed to capitalise on the opponent’s mistakes. ,

Rotorua nonchlantly increased • n early two-goal lead to six. but thereafter the Otago defenders. L. Howell and V. James, contained Rotorua’s forwards for long periods and play became even, but dull. Half-time score. Rotorua 20. Otago 17.

Otago, which had suffered a severe setback on the first day v hen the centre. R Oliver, was injured, overcame its first spell lethargy to challenge Rotorua’s lead. As Otago’s pressure m creased. Rotorua came to life and provided spectators with glimpses of its best form. Good centre court play by Otago’s B Sinclair and E.'Murray gained interceptions for their forwards and M. Gardiner and H. Agnew goaled well to bring Otago within two goals of Rotorua In the final minutes, Rotorua was seen to advantage and its brilliant forwards, M. Solomon and C. Whata, produced their most competent attacking play to gain a win. 36-30 AUCKLAND WINS Canterbury was without its capable captain, C Brown, who suffered a leg injury in the game against Southland on Tues day and this loss necessitated the playing of the youthful C Holland in this key game. Auckland's mobile forwards. G. Davey and L. Hauraki. with

fine support from M. Parkinson, gave the Canterbury defence no chance at all and Auckland gained a five-goal lead. Canter bury achieved good cohesion in the ensuing period and the forwards, J. Kimber and C. Memaster, outplayed the Auckland defence to bring the scores level at 12-all.

For the remainder of this half. Canterbury enjoyed a slight advantage which it failed to con solidate and by half-time, Auck land was again offering a strong challenge and gained a one-goal advantage. Auckland 19. Canterbury 18 Auckland’s high degree of attacking competence forced Canterbury to take up a defensive role and Auckland rapidly in creased its lead to seven goals Canterbury’s goalshooter, McMaster, suffered an ankle injury and Canterbury, rather unluckily. had to concede posses sion when play resumed. But. to its credit, its play In ithe closing stages seriously ; threatened Auckland’s lead, and (with only one goal separating | the teams, it was perhaps un fortunate that after three tie balls, Canterbury had to con cede possession and Auckland goaled to give it their first vic tory (43-41) over Canterbury since 1947. SPEEDY ATTACK Againgst the young and in experienced Manawatu, Canterbury played its second-string team and completely outclassed its luckless opponents. With J Martin moving into the goal attack position, it was notice able that most of Canterbury’s previous hesitancy on attack was now less apparent and the Manawatu defence was quite un able to match the Canterbury forwards’ speed and ability. S. Jones and the wing-attack.

M Hansen, distinguished themselves in their first tournament games, and many Canterbury supporters were convinced thai this combination of players was markedly superior to that fielded in previous games. Canterbury’s shooting of 63 goals in this game is the highest score made so far in the tournament. AUCKLAND ON TOP The feature game of the second day was undoubtedly the Auckland-Southland game in the afternoon. In marked contrast to the Auckland-Canterbury game, the Auckland forwards were well held by Southland’s M. Paterson and H. Mclntosh. Frequent infringements repeatedly altered the trend of play but the Southland defence were more prone to error than Auckland’s and Auckland’s forwards, L. Hauraki and G. Davey, were faultless shots.

Play was of a high standard throughout and the position at half-time was a true indication of the run of play with Auckland leading 18-16. Honours in the second spell rested almost wholly with Southland. Its admirable passing and flawless positional play frequently bested Auckland and the apparent ease with which goal-attack D. Fahey penetrated the circle kept Southland in the lead.

Auckland played very coolly in the closing stages when, infringements by Southland gave Auckland scoring chances and it was perhaps fitting that Southland were bustled into errors by the same tactics which they had used so successfully against Canterbury on Tuesday and the result, a draw, was not undeserved. Results:

First Grade.—Rotorua 37. Otago 30: Matamata 38. Manawatu 33: Auckland 43. Canterbury 41: Northland 37. Wanganui 24; Southland 35. Wellington 23: Otago 29, Hawke’s Bay 25: Rotorua 44. Matamata 22: Auckland 34. Southland 34: Wellington 33. Northland 25: Canterbury 63, Manawatu 26: Hawke’s Bay 25. Wanganui 25.

Second Grade.—Western Bay of Plenty 25. South Canterbury 23: Waikato 37, Nelson 27: Thames Valley 39. Ashburton 32: Hutt Valley 44. Southland Country 29; West Coast 36. Te Kawau 12: Auckland Minor 29 North Shore 18: Western Bay of Plenty 32: Southland Country 53. Ashburton 23: South Canterbury 34. Nelson 29: North Shore 31, Thames Valley 28: Hutt Valley 40. Waikato 29: South Canterbury 32. Ashburton 17: Auckland Minor 28. Te Kawau 20: Western Bay of Plenty 26. Nelson 33

Third Grade.—South Auckland 31. Central King Country 12; Temuka 32, Poverty Bay 19: Waikato Sub-association 44, Wairarapa 25: Temuka 34, Central King Country 6: Taranaki 30. Waikato Sub-association 23; Poverty Bay 23, Wairarapa 20. Fourth Grade.—Canterbury Sub-associations 44, Wellington Minor 17: Marlborough 39. Horowhenua 23: Wairoa 31. Buller 21: Hokitika 38. Hawke's Bay Minor 20: Otago Minor 39. Kaikoura 17; Canterbury Subassociations 45. Buller 47: Horowhenua 27. Hawke’s BayMinor 18; Marlborough 28. Wairoa 21: Otago Minor 33. Wellington Minor 17; Hokitika 27, Kaikoura.24.