Difficult task for women’s basketball team

Press, 18 April 1986, Page 10

Difficult task for women’s basketball team

By

BRUCE MARTIN

The Canterbury women’s basketball team will have a tough road ahead of it this season as it endeavours to requalify for the first division of the league. Canterbury now finds itself relegated to the second division after a surprise decision of the New Zealand Basketball Federation’s annual meeting late last year. It brought in a full national league a year ahead of schedule. Canterbury finished runner-up to Hamilton in the inaugural league in 1984 but last year slumped to finish in sixth place in the southern division, thereby failing to qualify for the cross-over matches which determined the two finalists. Auckland, Napier, North Shore and Hamilton from the Northern division and Otago, Wellington and Southland reached the first division, while Porirua was pushed aside to allow an Emerging New Zealand players’ side, based in Hamilton, to take the eighth place in the grade. Hamilton eventually beat Auckland in last year’s final to retain its title, while other top placings went to North Shore and Napier.

Canterbury will now play home and away matches against Porirua, Nelson, Hutt Valley, Palmerston North and a second Wellington side in the southern section of the second division. The northern section of division two comprises Whangarei, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga, Papakura and Waitemata. The top side from each division will then contest a promotion — relegation series on August 9-10 with the bottom two sides of division one. Last year Canterbury had to rebuild with a very young and inexperienced side with a 1987 national league in mind, but it was this inexperience that let it down late in several matches after leading much of the way. Canterbury finished with a three win, five loss record, including two good victories over Southland. Phil Whiteside has again been appointed coach. Canterbury’s first encounter, against Hutt Valley is not until May 25, at Cowles Stadium.

Other home games scheduled are against Palmerston North (June 21), Porirua (June 29), Nelson (July 12), and Wellington II (August 2), while away games will be against Nelson (June 14), Hutt Valley (July 5), Wellington (July 6), Palmerston North (July 19), and Porirua (July 20). The nucleus of this year’s Canterbury side is expected to be built around Diane Martin, Leonie Erb, Megan Cassidy and Shona Richards from last year’s side, but many new faces will have to be found to replace Margaret Costain and Sonja Akkerman who have been lost to the New Zealand Institute side. Angela Pule has returned to netball, while Sue Bennie and Connie Erb are believed to be unavailable. More players are expected to make themselves available for the side this season, as there will be little or no interference with the club competition. Mr Whiteside will allow league players to play for their club side,

a matter of much contention over the last two seasons. If Canterbury is to regain its rightful place in the first division, then local players must make a concerted effort to make the strongest team available. The problem of compatibility among coach and players has caused the weakening of many past Canterbury teams. Mr Whiteside has served Canterbury solidly over the last three seasons and he deserves total allegiance if Canterbury is to make the grade. The performance of three local clubs at last year’s national club championships showed that Canterbury has the depth to challenge the strength of the North Island teams, providing it fields the strongest side possible. Mr Whiteside sees the acquisition of an imported player necessary to rebuild a Canterbury side strong enough to qualify and compete in division one of the league. However, inquiries by the national coach, Mr James Logan, to find a suitable American player have so far failed. The added burden on the C.B.A. financial re-

sources would also have to be closely investigated with the league already having cost the association more than $7OOO annually.