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Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 15

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Basketball Leaders

(N.Z. Preu Association) GISBORNE. Hutt Valley Is shaping as the team to beat in the first grade of the national women's basketball tournament. On the first day yesterday, Hutt had a comfortable win over Wanganui and then upset Rotorua, 31-26 in a thrilling game In the afternoon.

It was not the best of days for Rotorua, co-holder of the New Zealand Cup, as it was held to a draw by Manawatu in the morning. Auckland, Wellington, Hutt Valley and Canterbury are the unbeaten teams in the first grade and a vital game today will be between Canterbury. which looked very Impressive beating South Canterbury and Wanganui, and Wellington, which won well against Otago but beat South Canterbury by only one goal. Canterbury Country had two very good wins, as did South Waikato, which shares the lead in the third grade with Canterbury Country. Results:

Flrrt Grade.—Auckland 40, Manawatu 23; Southland 25. Manawatu 24; Wellington 29, Otago 23; Canterbury 43, South Canterbury 21; Hutt Valley 39. Wanganui 20; Botorua 31, Manawatu 31; Auckland 34, Matamata 15; Otago 30, Southland 23; Canterbury 30, Wanganui 19; Wellington 23, South Canterbury 22; Hutt Valley 31, Botorua 2«. Third Grade. Canterbury 42, Marlborough 28; Poverty Bay 22, Ashburton 18; Waikato Sub-associations 28, Western Bay of Plenty 28: South Waikato 38, North Otago 10; Wairarapa 29, Te Kawau 21; Canterbury Country 31, Ashburton 16: Waikato Sub-associationo 26. Poverty Bay 21; Western Bay of Plenty 22, Wairarapa 21; South Waikato 29. Te Kawau 25; Marlborough 38, North Otago 24.