Basketballers not available

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33533, 14 May 1974, Page 5

Basketballers not available

The Canterbury men’s basket* ball team will be below strength for its first representative fixture of the season—the Canadian Goodwill tournament in Blenheim against Nelson and Hutt Valiev on May 17 and 18. » The province’s only final New Zealand trialist, S. Ferguson • Y.M.C.A.), will be away training with the national squad in Auckland. The 6ft 4in Y.M.C.A. forward. B Shipley, may not be available. A New Zealand trialist last season, he wants to limit his representative commitments this season. Two other notable players are not available—the Y.M.C.A. captain, R. Manthei. who was Canterbury’s first-string guard last season, and the former New Zealand junior representative, R. Cooke. In contrast, the talented Canadian play-maker, R. Allen tYJtf.C.A.). might now be available for Canterbury. The ship* booking he had back to Canada: has now been put back, and he is expected to be included in the squad. Y.M.C.A/s other Canadian guard. W. Larsen, will still be| leaving before the end of the; season His present departure date is in August. J. Uttley (Old Boys) and M. Seaward (Mairehau* were both; invited to train with the Canter-: bury squad announced at the week-end, but both declined. Seaward, a former New Zealand Junior representative, is to con-; centrate on the Canterbury colts