Three top clubs win

Press, 4 May 1981, Page 24

Three top clubs win

Three predictable wins marked the sixth round matches of the Cooper Henderson women s division one basketball competition played at the week-end at Cowles Stadium.

However, the competition leader, Aranui, was almost caught offguard by an improved team performance from University. Aranui pulled away in the last four minutes to win, 45-35, while Checkers and Mairehau chalked up wins over Rebels and Continental Cater-ers-Rangiora respectively. Aranui (12 points) remains two points clear of Checkers, which in turn are two points ahead of Mairehau. These positions could alter this Saturday, when the champion, Checkers, battles out the top spot with Aranui. Checkers should reverse the earlier 27-39 loss as this time it will have both its national- team players, Leslie Hannen and Beth McLeod.

The top women's grade appears already settled down to another three-team race with Rangiora (4), University (2) and Rebels (yet to win), destined for the bottom three placings. An interesting development in the new six-team second division is the top three teams from last year's competition, Checkers B, Halswell and Hagley, comfortably ahead of the three teams, Hotshots, Christchurch United and Mairehau High School which dropped from division one.

Aranui 45 (C. Stenstrom 12, A. Beukenholdt 10, D. Mackay 6, V.

Cowley 6. P. King 4, L. Richardson 4, A. Brokenshire 3). University 35 (T. Costain 13, R. Walker 10, C. Proctor 4, M. Porteous 3, V. Brand 3, K. Mason 2). Aranui opened strongly with Adrianna Beukenholdt in tight control but as University put on the pressure from just behind half-way, Aranui’s co-ordinated play fell off badly. ' University, 4-12 down, shot ahead with persistent attacking play to lead 14-12 after 15 minutes, but Cia Stenstrom pulled Aranui back to lead 20-16 at half-time.

Stenstrom, playing only her second season of basketball, made valuable inroads through University’s tight defence to re-establish Aranui’s dominance under the boards. University lacked a competent outside shooter to combat the height problem.

University lost Chris Proctor with her fifth foul and the team’s performance slackened badly, Aranui making good use, too, of University’s 10-foul trouble. Thelma Costain tried to rally University but by then Aranui’s big girls had control of the game.

Beukenholdt. apart for her opening performance, did not have a good game for Aranui, missing the teamwork of her sister, Tina, who is sidelined with an injured knee. University's whole line-up gave its best with Rose Walker and Costain to the fore. Checkers 56 (L. Hannen 17, S. Constable 12, B. McLeod 10, M.

Dwane 4, P. Roberts 4, P. McLeod 2). ' Rebels 40 (H. Steele 18, J. Douglas 10, M. Williams 6, B. Carr 4, P. Tapra 2). The number of fundamental errors by both sides in this game was apalling. Shots were right off target and Rebels especially, rebounded its boards unopposed. Rebels made good use of its opportunities early in the game and it took Checkers till the eighteenth minute to go ahead and to lead 2116 at half-time.

Checkers got into top gear early in the second spell and nearly ran Rebels off its feet. Leslie Hannen made sure of any loose ball in the keyhole, while the Checkers captain, Sharon Constable, playing in the unaccustomed forward position, scored prolifically. For Rebels, Muriel Williams showed signs of life late in the game with several spirited drives while Juliet Cumings rebounded strongly.

Mairehau 72 (D. Broughton 14, I. Lee 11, P. Barry 10, K. Richardson 10, J. Cook 8, S. Bennett 7, M. Stokes 6, S. Kemp 4, B. Palmer 2).

Continental Caterers-Rangiora 36 (K. Smith 14, S. Blackadder 8, R. King 6, M. Ives 4, J. Harris 4). For the opening live minutes Rangiora looked likely to cause another upset win, jumping ahead to 14-4, but eight minutes later, Mairehau had raced away. Both sides played a fast breaking open game, but both, especially

Mairehau, were guilty of neglecting their defences. Mairehau's better team-work and accuracy allowed it to lead 38-15 at half-time. Donna Broughton’s strong arm gave Isobel Lee, Patsy Barry and Karen Richardson a feast of ball on the end of the move.

Kim Smith and Sandra Blackadder showed signs of life for Rangiora. Mairehau’s winning margin of 72- was only one point different from the first round encounter of 73-

Lower grade results were:— Division two.—Hagley 30, Christchurch United 14; Checkers B 37, Halswell A 29; Hotshots A 61, Mairehau High 33. Division three.—A grade: Aranui B 24, Burnham 19; Y.M.C.A. A 44, Burnside A 30; Mairehau B 20, Checkers C 13: University. B 50, Burnside High 26. B grade: Halswell B 45, Rangiora High 33; Continental Caterers B 52, Mairehau High B 28: Hotshots B 21, Polytechnic 12; Aranui C 54, Y.M.C.A. B 17.

Division four.—Albion 29, Halswell C 12; Mairehau C 18, Rebels 12; Brighton A 21. D.S.W. 14. Division five.—Brighton B 23, Taxes B 12; Teachers Old Girls 34, Hagley B 10; University C 28. Continental Caterers 10, Division six.—Air N.Z. 30, Linwood High 22; Checkers D 20. Burnside B 4; Kevstars 18, Taxes C 4.

Division seven.—Halswell, D 18, i 1.8. M. 4; Railway 30, Taits 12;; Brighton C 18, Burnsco 12. • 1