Y.M.C.A. Loses Chance In Men’s Basketball

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. Loses Chance In Men ’s Basketball

Y.M.C.A. ended its challenge for second place in the Canterbury A grade inter-club men’s basketball competition when it was convincingly beaten by the strong University side, 46-29, on Saturday afternoon.

With only one day’s play remaining, it can now finish no higher than fourth. Second place, however, is still undecided. Y-boys and Old Boys at present share this position with 24 points each, six behind the 1968 champion side, University.

Weakened by the loss of players through representative commitments, Old Boys were far from convincing against the bottom team. Rex, and for a time looked likely to go down. However, they finally gained control to win, 40-30.

Y-Boys, too, had difficulty overcoming an early challenge by Burnham but with less than half the game completed they settled down and with some of the brightest play of the day they completely overwhelmed their Army opponents, 73-46. The 73 points which Y-Boys scored was the highest reached by any team in the grade this season. Points are: University 30, Y-Boys 24, Old Boys 24, Y.M.C.A. 21, Old Maroons 13, Burnham 6, Rex 2. Below Strength UNIVERSITY A 46: A. Taylor 13, J. I.andells 12. J. Stead 10. H. Kawaguchi 4. G. Wong 4. D. de Lisle 3. Y.M.C.A. 29: D. Rattray 15, B. Hepenstall 5. A. Ryde 5. D. Symonds 2, J. Thompson 2. The requirements of the representative team, away at the national tournament, took a heavy toll on players from both teams and it was hardly surprising that the standard of the game was below that usually

expected from them. It was a rather lifeless encounter and even the replacement players from lower grades, who should have been trying to make an impression, appeared not to be playing at full effort. However, the game did have its moments. Y.M.C.A. set the early pace and it was only after a hectic struggle that University got in front and was able to lead. 17-10, at half-time. When play resumed, Y.M.C.A. rallied strongly and closed the gap appreciably. Unfortunately, it did not last and University was soon back in control and racing effortlessly ahead. A. Taylor played soundly In the second spell after recovering from a very shaky patch in the first half. As the end man on the fast break he proved extremely valuable. J. Landells and J. Stead also played impressively.

Y.M.C.A. had only one effective offensive player. D. Rattray. His shooting ability and general finish Was far better than that of anybody else in his side. Without his contribution. the game would haye been no better than a rout. Highest Score Y-BOYS 73: K. Ewings 17. R. Dew 16, K. Baker 12. C. Morris 10. K. Williams 8. N. Vincent 8, W. Morgan 2.

BURNHAM 46: B. Rose 14. A. Robertson 12, P. Trass 11, M. Simons 6, M. Horan 3.

Although Y-Boys achieved thu highest team score of the season in this game, Burnham was far from disgraced. • The 46 points it scored in defeat were as many as any other winning side scored on the day and it could take pride in the manner it kept Y-Boys down in the first spell.

For a time Burnham, without many of its regular A grade players, actually led the scoring. It was obvious that this could not last but it was not until very shortly before halftime that Y-Boys took control. They led 29-20 at half-time.

In the second half, however, there was only one team in it. Y-Boys. moving the ball better and faster than they have done for weeks, cut the Burnham defence to ribbons. They were soon so far ahead that they were able to neglect their de-

fence without any danger of being overtaken. K. Ewings played an outstanding game in the centre. He was fed well, made the most of his opportunities and rebound ed strongly. K. Baker produced probably his best form of the season. Usually sound but unspectacular. he played with great aggression and had the Burnham defence in constant trouble with his driving and cutting. C. Morris, N. Vincent and K. Williams also played their parts well.

For Burnham, B. Rose was the dominant figure. He sank some lovely long shots and used his height intelligently. It was mainly through his efforts that Burnham was able to match its opponents in the first spell. P. Trass and a lower grade player, A. Robertson, gave the Y-Boys defence more than a few anxious moments, too. Old Boys Struggle OLD BOYS 40: K. Milligan 12. I. Simson 6. I. Gunthorp 6. M. Gleason 6, S. Taggart 6. P. Bell 2, R. Skurr 2. REX 30: J. McEvoy 10. G. Jones 10, P. Lund-Jackson 6. D. Verey 4.

The sparkle which has become associated with Old Boys’ play was strangely absent on Saturday and they had a long dour struggle before finally getting the better of Rex. Key players were missing but it wag still a surprise to see them having such a difficult time against Rex.

In the early stages, Rex held the lead and at half-time Old Boys only led by three points. G. Jones and J. McEvoy were in outstanding form for Rex and the Old Boys defence seemed unequal to the task of keeping them under reasonable control. The second half was similar to the first with Old Boys creeping slowly ahead.

ft. Milligan provided most of the drive in the Old Boys side. He scored with several excellent set shots and proved too mobile for his taller markers. Rex might well have been able to score its second win of the season had he not been there. The other Old Boys players were reasonably sound but accomplished little that was really constructive. Jones and McEvoy were Rex’s