WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Two Goals Separate Top Two Sides

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31393, 12 June 1967, Page 6

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Two Goals Separate Top Two Sides

Two styles of basketball, both equally efficient and both beautiful to watch, were exhibited in the seventh round of the Canterbury Basketball Association's senior competition on Saturday, when the two leaders of

the competition met. New Brighton and Technical were equal on points until yesterday when New Brighton defeated Technical 36-34. Technical’s game was fast and accurate and because of Its speed was more flamboyant and better to watch than the New Brighton style. However, New Brighton’s play was more thoughtful, and precise, qualities which won it the game.

The game was never predictable, and was unbelievably even. Sacred Heart was defeated by Hagley A, but this game gave little Indication of the abilities of the teams as both were hampered by missing players. Teachers’ College defeated St. Nicholas, and Hagley B had a bye. Results:—

Teachers* College 39, St Nicholas 22. New Brighton 36, Technical 34. Hagley A 38, Sacred Heart 27.

LOST FORM AGAIN St. Nicholas, after an Improved game last week, seemed to lose form again this week and the match was almost entirely one-aided.

Teachers' CoUego had the first tnrow-off, and went ahead rapidly to 7-0, having little to tear from the weaker St. Nicholas aide.

Neither team was playing particularly strongly, and poor ball-handling and Inaccurate shooting wae evident on both sides. However, Teachers’ College was held together by J. McKay, who played her usually consistent game.

At various stages In the game, St. Nicholas managed some good runs and S. Jones and J. Wilson both played strong games but this was not sufficient to hold Teachers' College who led strongly by half-time. After half-time, St. Nicholas managed to gain some goals, but Its scoring rate was one goal to three. TOP TRAMS MIET Technical had the first throwoff, and a faulty pass lost it ths ball. However, obstruction by a New Brighton player returned the ball to give Technical the first goal, taken by S. Norman. Technical's defences were somewhat weak, but A. Boslee was strong enough In the early parts of the game to hold the team together.

In the first stages of the game. New Brighton's passing was poor, and frequently this gays the advantage to Technical. J. Blair was holding the centre well for New Brighton, and this was to prove very useful later In the match.

Brighton, mecfiuse of defence difficulties on Technical’s part, pulled up well end evened the score to 4-4, with L. Woodhead Playing beautifully. Technical, full back as New Brighton took its lead to 10-6. Although Technical’s game was well worth watching. One particularly fine run from Boelee to Davit, S. . Langrope, and finally to Norman showed the form which was to keep Technical well In the match even considering New Brighton's lead.

Boelee, captaining Technical, continued to keep her team moving, but she could not hold her team against New Brighton’s hard defence, and New Brighton, at half-time, was leading 18-17.

Early In the first half Technical strengthened its play and took the lead at 19-18. New Brighton's shooting was not as accurate as it had been in the first half but it managed to keep the scores even.

Technical went further Into the lead, especially as New Brighton was being penalised frequently for contact, and the score reached 25-21 to Technl-

However, the New Brighton ?oal shoots regained their orra, and Woodhead, positioning herself in the ring before she received the bail, managed to bring the score to 26-24. The later stages of the game were Immensely exciting with each team working hard to keep the score even, from 27-all to 29-aU, with each team alternately taking the lead. New Brighton, however, in spite of the loss of attong defence. C. Holland, who retired with a leg Injury, managed to hold the lead, and finally won, 36-35.

This promised to be a reasonably matched game since Sacred Heart and Hagley A are approximately even in the competition. However, Sacred Heart was well off form, allowing Hagley to win relatively easily. Sacred Heart was under some difficulties, ea Me goal shoot, J. Jones, who la particularly accurate, was absent. Sacred Heart was also mlMing another player, N. Fahey, and the resulting unfamillerlty wan disastrous tor Sacred Heart's game. Hagley also had a new player. L. King, who was replacing L. Dawson. But King managed to combine well with L. Morris, to keep shooting efficiency maintained.

Hagley had a generally strong combination from centra, with M. Morrla and E. Rowley, a New Zealand representative, and these two managed to keep the ball well out of the hands of Sacred Heart. The score was not a fair indication of the relative abilities of the two teams. Neither was at full strength, and it will net be until the last round when the two teams will meet again, that there will be a true indication of their relative abilities.