Top sportsman back in Chch

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33807, 2 April 1975, Page 32

Top sportsman back in Chch

(By

ROD DEW

After an absence of slightly more than three years, the former Canterbury cricket and men’s basketball representative, Alan Hounsell, has returned to Christchurch “for good” and intends to compete seriously in both sports. He has rejoined his old basketball club, High School Old Boys, and this should improve its already impressive forward strength as well, as enhancing its chances! of winning its first provincial club title. Because he wants to concentrate for the next two weeks on preparing himself, he will not be available for the NewZealand club championship qualifying tournament in Greymouth on; April 12 and 13. How-] ever, he hopes to be back [ in top shape for the; important Christchurch! qualifying tournament a fortnight later. A medium-fast bowler, Hounsell, now aged 28, has just completed a successful season with Northern Districts. “From the Plunket Shield point of view, I feel I bowled quite well, even if it was without great reward,” he said yesterday. “The object now is to regain a place in the Canterbury ] team.” BACK INJURY

It is not known at this stage which club he will play for, but he previously was with High School Old Boys and St Albans.

During the last 18 months, while he was based in Auckland, Hounsell

sacnnceo oasketball in the interest of cricket. He suffered a back injury’ and was advised by his doctor to rest from at least one sport. He chose to concentrate on cricket, and in the 1973-74 summer, represented Auckland in the Plunket Shield series. In the season just completed, he played club cricket in Papakura and

was in the Northern Districts shield team. Before moving to Auckland he spent 18 months in Wellington. There he played representative cricket for Wellington and representative basketball for Hutt Valley.

ENTHUSIASTIC Now with his back injury completely healed, he is enthusiastic about resuming basketball. “When I knew I was coming back to Christchurch, I wasn’t giving serious thought to returning to top basketball. But after watching Old Boys in the Easter tournament, all my old enthusiasm for the game has returned. They have got a team of tremendous potential and 1 would like to help it if I can.” He is not sure if he wants to play representative basketball. “Perhaps I will make myself available next season. But initially I would like to concentrate on the club scene.” A good rebounder with a very accurate shot, Hounsell was the leading points scorer in Canterbury basketball in 1971, his last season in Christchurch. His tally of 301 points in a season has not been bettered.