Untidy, Drab Play In Women’s Basketball

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 12

Untidy, Drab Play In Women’s Basketball

In conditions not conducive to bright play, matches were of a uniformly drab nature in the first round of the Canterbury women’s basketball championship on Saturday. Last year’s champion. New Brighton, defeated Teachers’ College, but not very convincingly, Technical had little difficulty accounting for Sacred Heart, Hagley B could not have failed to defeat Cashmere, so poorly did the latter perform, and Hagley A had an easy win over St Nicholas. Results:— Technical 35, Sacred Heart 25. Hew Brighton 31, Teachers College 21. Hagley B 32, Cashmere 14. Hagley A 25, St Nicholas 11. SACRED HEART v. TECHNICAL With many in its team new to senior basketball, Sacred Heart briefly played well to restrict Technical’s attack. Capable defence and deft retrieving of rebounds by K. O’Reilly and A. Cooper kept Sacred Heart on attack, and it gained a slight lead. The Sacred Heart forwards, J. Harnett and C. Taurina, goaled well, but as Technical’s play tightened, the Sacred Heart forwards quickly discarded set moves and the Technical defence, B. Winter and S. Jones, lost no time exploiting their opponents’ lack of cohesion. In the second half, Technical quickly countered Sacred Heart’s hesitant play and for most of this half maintained a 10-goal lead. Splendid shooting by S. Norman and M. Holland, with lively and energetic support from the centres, S. Langrope, A. Davis and J. Beavis, was in marked contrast to Sacred Heart’s increasing uncertainty. Referee: Mrs A. Elder. NEW BRIGHTON V. TEACHERS COLLEGE Play was far from flawless in the early stages and frequent mishandling and poor passing kept both teams unsettled. Scores were level at five-all when New Brighton’s play steadied, and with restrained and careful passing, New Brighton competently attacked.

Superior teamwork by the forwards, J. Buchanan, P. Miles, and K. Tainui, disconcerted the rather inexperienced Teachers College players, and with determined and vigorous defence from M. Neiman. C. Holland and J. Brownie, New Brighton monopolised play to lead, 17-8, at half-time. Heavy drizzle and a slippery ball marred play in the second half, and New Brighton appeared more affected by the conditions than College, whose goal attack, A. Skilling, found the heavy ball much to her liking for shooting. As its score increased, the College attack functioned with increasing skill, and New Brighton was fortunate that its half-time lead was sufficiently large to withstand a spirited challenge. Referee: Miss C. Brown. CASHMERE v. HAGLEY B Cashmere’s impressive debut on opening day was not confirmed in its first competition game. Heavy rain and a slippery ball certainly disconcerted both teams, but Cashmere abandoned positional play at the outset and rarely passed with any discretion, so that Hagley B had only to use its own throwoff sensibly to ,retain the lead. Although Cashmere expended much energy running all over the court, this seldom had any significance on the score. Cashmere's play deteriorated in the second half and the game was most one-sided. Hagley s competent defence of the inner circle denied Cashmere forwards access. Referee: Mrs F. Gough. HAGLEY A V. ST HICHOLAS Hagley A gained an early advantage against St Nicholas and soon led, 9-4. Hagley’s attack functioned smoothly and St Nicholas could find no counter to the skilful play of H. Hutton, L. Morris, M. Morris and L. Dawson. Play in the second spell was very scrappy, with few moves reaching their objective unchecked, the St Nicholas forwards were given better support in this spell and, as usual, L. Weastell was tireless in her attempts to give stability to her side’s attack. The St Nicholas defence, R. Inwood and J. Wilson, were more to the fore in this spell and made some good saves. Referee: Mrs J. Shearer,