WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Wellington East Old Girls’

Success 1939 CHAMPIONSHIP By Defence. The Wellington women's basketball championship has been retained by Wellington East Old Girls by their defeating Kia Ora last week. The end is_ rather disappointing, because actually Kia Ora has beaten Wellington East Old Girls and it is only the fact that Kia Ora did not function as a team against Island Bay in the first round that the season ends in this manner. These teams are really a good deal better than the. next team in the competition, and there is but little to choose between them. It is Otten a matter as to whether the forwards are able to score accurately. According to one record of this game Kia Ora missed 13 shots and Wellington East 11. Both defence did great service and the change of direction of the ball was made by either defence keeping the ball away from the opponent's forwards. Wellington East altered their team, playing J. Norrie as centre and V. Stone in the defence. J. Norrie certainly played well here except for one or two occasions when a pass from her was not understood by the wing centres and the ball either went out or was intercepted. Playing as speedy a game as this was, girls should learn to judge their distance, because there was some personal contact that might have been avoided.

Fifth Grade Tourniiment. • Great enthusiasm was shown by all the teams in the fifth grade tournament, and there was keen competition. Fifteen out of the available nineteen teams entered, and the scoring, except on two occasions, was close. Blakes defeated St. Francis and Wembley but lost to Aotea, 6;2. In the second life they came out winners, beatin-- Thorndon, Miramar and Taupo. Aotea won the first life, defeating Taupo, Abelco, Blakes and Miramar. Thus Aotea and Blakes met again, when Blakes won 4-3 in a real downpour of rain. The officials thought it might be better to postpone the final, but that didn’t meet with the approval of either team, and they decided to carry right on, wet through as they were. The rain certainly stopped, but the light was very bad and one wonders how they managed even to see the ball. Aotea attacked strongly and won the tournament < -3. These two teams, who are new to Wellington basketball, are doing very well in the weekly competitions, and it is hoped they will'both try a higher grade next The pluckiest team on the field was Miramar. They have had a trying time all season, finding it difficult to pay their fees and have a full team each 'week. However, undaunted they played only eight girls, being short in the centre. They had a bye in the first round, then defeated Gilbys 6-3, Thorndon 3-1, lost to Aotea 5-2, and to Blake s 4-0, a record by no means to be despised. It was good to see so much enthusiasm in Uns the lowest grade of the competitions.

clottings on tile Games. . ' Wembley senior B are losing their dash, and St. Joseph’s are improving. There have been some changes in the Wembley team and with so much wet weather, they have had no chance to practise, so that they are playing as individuals instead of as a team. St. Joseph s have made some changes which have evidently been all to the good, since they are at last playing more as one had expected they would. . Aspro took Taupo too lightly m the first half of their match, being one goal down at half-time. Even if one is the better team, it is not wise to underrate the opponents. However, they evidently realized this and won comfortably in the second .half. Y.W.C.A. beat Furlor, reversing the result in the first round. The game, however, was both uninteresting and poor basketball. Perhaps the very trying wind across the courts contributed to this.

Games Evening. „ „ T,he competition for the Games Cup, which has been held annually since 1932, except last year, took place at the Winter Show Buildings on Monday. It was a success in that the 150 girls competing had a thoroughly enjoyable time in teams of six, getting through loops, putting the elusive potato into, a bucket and running after the ball that’would slip, and so on, but it was not a success when one remembers that there are 1000 girls playing in the competitions each week. The evening, was admirably carried/through by Mr. Cowie, who for many years now has given his services on- this occasion. He was assisted by Mrs. Allen (steward), and Messrs. Dallaston and Brewin, judges. Mrs. H. D. Erwin and Miss (). Wharton were in charge of the competition of goal throwing. A total of 146 entries were received for this and the final between T. Vassa, D. Simmonds, M. Steele, and A. Roberts will be taken on Saturday. T. Vassa put. up a record ; she had three chances and put the ball through every time. The cup was wou by Kia Ora with the referees one point behind, which represented only a few inches.