3 qualify for Chch final

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 26

3 qualify for Chch final

Three teams — CocaCola. Mazda (both Auckland). and University (Wellington—have so far qualified for the final of the Old Crow New Zealand men’s basketball club championship in Christchurch from May 31 to June 3. Coca-Cola and Mazda finished first and second, respectively, in the Auckland qualifying tournament (Regions One and Two) during the week-end. Because the two Auckland regional tournaments were combined. the top two teams qualified. Only the winner qualifies in all other tournaments.

A major surprise in the Auckland tournament was the failure of the strong Auckland University side, which contains the highscoring New Zealand representative guard, B. Beard, and a member of last season’s national side, D. Shiel. It won only one match but has another chance to qualify in the Hamilton tournament from May 2 to 5. University, strengthened by the inclusion of the 1973 Canterbury ''Basketbailer of the Year,” J. R. Fairweather, defeated the favoured [Wellington Marist team, 7167, in the final of the Hastings (Region five) tourna[ment, also held last weekend. Marist was expected to [win after its splendid un beaten run in the South Island Easter tournament in Christchurch. CANTERBURY

The Canterbury regional qualifying tournament will be in Ashburton from May 3 to 5. Entries have been received from only three Christchurch clubs—High School Old Boys, Checkers, and the winners of the national final last season, Y.M.C.A. St Patrick’s (Timaru) and Chunters (Ashburton) are the other two in the tournament. A fourth Christchurch club will make its only attempt to

qualify in the Dunedin regional tournament from Mav 9 to 12. Old Boys and Checkers have also entered for this tournament, giving them a second chance to qualify.