Sport Aranui has narrow win over Halswell

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 34

Sport Aranui has narrow win over Halswell

The defending club champion, Aranui, captured a narrow but vital win over its arch-rival, Halswell, 48-45, in the opening round of the championship section of the women’s A grade basketball competition in Cowles Stadium on Saturday. University had too much teamwork for Checkers, winning comfortably 66-42, while Burnham held out a late challenge from the vastly improved Rangiora to win 46-45.

Noticeably absent in Saturday’s games were the top eight women's league team members. Despite an enforced three-week break in the league, the Canterbury coach, Russell Berry, decided that his players were not benefiting from playing in the competition as he had planned, so he has barred them.

He is giving his team three strenuous workouts a week and has had a scrimmage against Aranui. Canterbury, after a powerful start, has slipped and shares second place with the Basketball Institute, four points behind Auckland. It will travel to the capital to play Wellington this Saturday for the start of the second round. The first round of the Patron’s Trophy competition was shared by Aranui, University and Halswell. The Burnham-Rangiora clash was by a father and daughter combination of Nick and Vanessa Warren. Mr Warren, a former national league referee, has been training his daughter, aged 15, for several seasons.

They had called several B grade games together, but Saturday’s game was their first A grade enounter. Miss Warren, who is showing good potential as a referee, is also playing B grade basketball for Aranui, but has only recently recovered from an early season injury. Aranui 48 (W. Lester 16, D. Knops 12, T. Beukenholdt 10, A. Webley 4, T. Costain 4, L. Richardson 2) beat Halswell 45 (R. Walker 13, M. Collins 12, R. Forde 8, M. Van Vuuren 4, S. Thomas 4, N. Guenole 2, S. Elliot 2.) Referees: Sharyn Harrow and lan Graham. Aranui was slow to settle, with Halswell dictating the early play to pull out to an 11-4 lead after five minutes. Mandy Collins and Sally Elliott scored early baskets. Halswell’s "General,” Rose Walker, also shot one of her three three-pointers, while the lively Raylene Forde slipped in two further baskets before Aranui’s defence moved into action and shut down Halswell with tight man-to-man play. Aranui then ran its feared fast break, rattling in eight unanswered baskets to race to a 24-15 lead in the 16th minute.

Wendy Lester worked hard to slip in 12 of her 16 points in the first half with support from Tina Beukenholdt and Diane Knops.

Beukenholdt returned to her former forward role, and drove strongly for Aranui,’ while Vicky Cowley marshalled Aranui’s play from the rear. By half-time, Aranui led 30-23. Aranui continued to dominate the third quarter while Walker kept Halswell within striking distance, trailing 3240 after 14 minutes. Walker, Sandra Thomas and Forde kept the pressure, on for Halswell, forcing Aranui to play its top line-up the entire last quarter. Louise Richardson grabbed some vital rebounds, while the everreliable Knops scored baskets to keep Halswell at bay in the closing minutes. The exhausted Aranui players were relieved to hear the final hooter. University 66 (N. Hanham 15, J. Harris 15, C. Patterson 11. T. Lockington 6, R. Van der Monde 6, T. Whittaker 4, R. Buick 4, A. Campbell 2, D. Palmer 2, D. Lintsen 2) beat Checkers 42 (S. Schrool 19, S. Constable 9, B Carr 8, D. Chase 4, P. Currie 2). Referees: Meril Drummond (Woodend) and Peter Crowhen. University stole several balls and set up some quick penetrating play against a depleted checkers line-up to race away to a 13-0 lead after only six minutes. Stephanie Schrool arrived late, but quickly slotted 13 out of her match tally of 19 in the first half to give Checkers’ scoreline some respectability. She was encouraged by her idol. Sharon Constable, shooting accurately from just outside the keyhole as University’s tight defence made it hard to penetrate. Schrool will become more valuable if she can improve her driving and lay-up skills. Checkers wasted many opportunities, failing to run its patterned team moves, while University’s entire bench got into the play to race away to a 41-18 lead at half-time. Justine Harris and Nicola Hanham dominated University’s efforts, with some forceful play in the second spell, both finishing with 15 points, while Charlotte Patterson contributed a reliable 11 points. Debbie Chase took the court in the second half for Checkers, having again been delayed on her postie’s run, and combined with Constable to restore some discipline to Checkers’ efforts. Penney Salton was well under par and Barbara Carr played poorly. Checkers managed to restrict University to just 25 pomts and matched that with to keep honours* even in the second spell.

Burnham 46 (M. Dunn 11, A. Richards 6, V. Scrimgeour 6, P. Milner 6, L. Williscroft 5, C. Hall 4, M. White 4, C. Woodham 4) beat Rangiora 45 (D. Walker 19, A. Woodham 12, J. Fitzpatrick 5, M. Pipe 4, S. Grant 3, S. Frost 2.)

Referees: V. Warren and N. Warren.

Burnham revenged its earlier defeat by narrowly beating Rangiora 46-45 in the early game. Anita Woodham gave Rangiora an early start, but slow methodical play from Burnham levelled the game at 11-11 after the first quarter.

League player Darlene Walker penetrated strongly and assisted by Woodham, pulled ahead 24-17 after 17 minutes. But two late baskets by Burnham reduced the half-time score to 24-21 to Rangiora. Rangiora threatened to pull clear clearly in the second spell, leading 34-26 after six minutes with several confident shots from Woodham. Puhi Milner, who has retired several times but is forced to help out her depleted side, marshalled a good team effort from Burnham with five players each scoring a basket to sneak ahead 37-34 after 12 minutes.

The lead changed hands several more times before Marie Dunn, who was unwell, landed a three-pointer to give Burnham a 46-39 lead with four minutes remaining. Michelle Pipe and Jane Fitzpatrick strived in vain to give Rangiora a winning edge in the closing minutes.

Walker finished with a valuable 19 points and Woodham 12 for Rangiora while Dunn was the only Burnham player to , reach double figures.

RUGBY UNDER 18 The Canterbury under-18 Maori rugby team was chosen after a trial at Burnside Park yesterday morning. The team’s first match will be against North Canterbury at Rugby Park on June 28, a curtain-raiser to the match between the corresponding senior teams. The squad is: Backs: Andrew Lawson (St Bede’s), John Cole (West Melton), Tama Tairua (Lincoln H.S.), Marshall Smith, Aaron Downs (Burnside H.S.), Aaron Orangi (Christchurch 8.H.5.), Vaughan Spice (Marist), Marcus White (Shirley 8.H.5.), Nigel Gottey (Otautahi), Steve Knight (Riccarton H.S.), Clete Spice (Cathedral College). Forwards: Albert Hoera, Junior King, Barry Cameron (Otautahi), Nicholas Munro (Merivale), James Lamb (Shirley 8.H.5.), Jeremy Gardiner (Christ’s College), Mark Hammett (St Thomas), Dallas Ruruku (New Brighton), Sean Tairoa (Leeston), Gene Pukeroa (Linwood), Tom Miller (Christchurch 8.H.5.), Mark Abraham (Rangiora H.S.), Robbie Flynn (St Bede’s).