Fine Basketball Win By Canterbury

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32030, 3 July 1969, Page 14

Fine Basketball Win By Canterbury

The Canterbury women’s basketball team played bril* liantly to beat Australia, 55-40, in the last game of the tourists’ 15 matches in New Zealand, at Canterbury Court last evening.

Canterbury’s success was gained through the outstanding shooting of C. McMaster and J. Harnett, who were successful with 68 per cent of their shots, while the Australian pair, E. Harris and C. White, averaged only 51 per cent.

McMaster shot 31 of 46 attempts and Harnett 24 of 34. White, a spectacular shot from the perimeter of the circle, goaled 23 of 41 at-

tempts. Harris, who was badly ruffled by the close guarding of M. Simeonidls, the Canterbury goal-keeper, was successful with only 17 of her 36 attempts. The game opened with spectacular play from both teams and the capacity crowd was treated to a dazzling display of fast, combined movements. Successful Team-work Canterbury began the scoring and had a 3-0 lead before Australia replied. Harnett was in brilliant form, but S. Golian, the Australian goalkeeper, held McMaster in check in the circle. McMaster soon settled, however, and her combination with Harnett was the strongest feature of the Canterbury team. Their understanding and ability to move the ball with ease around the Australian defence, coupled with their accurate shooting, continually brought goals.

Australia replied with extremely fast play and a great variety of passes; long, hard, one-handed throws, underhand lobs, and shoulder passes were achieved with equal agility. It caught Canterbury's lead and the score was 7-7 after 12 minutes of the first quarter. The game progressed goal for goal until-quarter-tlme when Canterbury fed 11-10. The Australians looked tired in the second quarter. The Canterbury attack, S. Langrope, at centre, and J. Blair, at wing, consistently fed the ball to the shooters and Canterbury drew ahead to 29-18 at half-time.

Golian, the Australian, left the court early In the second quarter and Y. Llddelow, the captain, moved to goal-keeper. She was replaced at goal defence by K. Thompson. Golian had not been well and it was surprising to see her play. The attecking combination of C. Bennett (centre) and M. Roe (wing), was brilliant. They were extremely fast, often giving the Impression of stepping, but this they did only when they tired in the last quarter. Their control of the variety of passes and ability to judge an opening gave White and Harris plenty of ball, but the Aus-

trallan possession was wasted by indifferent shooting. White was a spectacular shot—when her alm was accurate and was excellent clearing for a pass.

Canterbury's chances In the third quarter because of Canterbury’s, wild passing, but the battle between Harris and Simeonidls left most of the shooting to White. Bennett, by the third quarter, had the measure of Langrope and limited the scope of her attack by codfining Langrope's coverage -to the attacking third. Blair, the wing, took over and fed the ball to the shooters.

Lead Was Maintained However, Canterbury maintained its lead and in spite of the loss of possessloin, the score was 46-30. Canterbury had 11 fewer shots at goal, but scored only one less than the Australians.

Australia tried hard to fight back in the final quarter, but the players were obviously weakening and the strong defence quietly established by Simeonidls, S. Rogers and C. Matoe, held them until the last five minutes of play. Canterbury then drew away to win by 15 points with a worldclass display of attacking basketball.

The Australian team will leave for Melbourne today, after playing 15 matches, including two tests, tn four weeks. It won 11 matches, lost to Auckland. New Zealand (on the second test), and Canterbury, and drew with Hutt Valley.