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Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 16

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Canterbury Wins

(N.Z. Press Association >

TAURANGA. Canterbury won -the New Zealand women’s indoor basketball championship for the first time, except for a fourway tie at Masterton some years ago, when it beat Hutt Valley, 47-37, at Tauranga yesterday. Playing its last game of the five-day championship, Canterbury did not always look comfortable but came through with the best record of the tournament—six wins and a loss.

Canterbury’s task was made easier when Auckland surprisingly was beaten, 42-39, by Wellington yesterday. Auckland was expected to beat Wellington, and then to playoff with Canterbury for the title.

Auckland fought back from a 14-point deficit at half-time but Wellington held on to its narrowing lead over the last few minutes.

Wellington’s international, M. Ward, played magnificently, scored 18 points. Tauranga won the reserve grade championship, when it beat Wanganui, 51-44, and was unbeaten in the championship. The North beat South, 45-43, in an exciting finale, and took the trophy for only the second time since it was presented in 1961. The tournament team announced after the last match was: J. Taylor, J. Baker, B. Ross (Canterbury): M. Ward, P. Heath, G. Jennings (Wellington): J. Pellew, S. McPhee (Wairarapa); C. Butler (Auck. land); E. Murray (Hamilton).