MEN’S BASKETBALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 7

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Taxes No. 1 Increase Their Lead - SOfJE SURPRISE WINS (By Time Oct.; The Wellington men’s basketball competitions’ were continued on Tuesday night at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, when a large attendance saw some, hign-cla'ss and interesting games. Chief interest centred in the second meeting of the two leading teams, Taxes Dept. No. 1 and Hobos, and by winning a fine game faxes have further increased their mad m the championship. Once again the Mormons displayed fine basketball. Another feature of the evening was the surprise wins of Y.M. Gym and Woolworths over Kubs and Wellington Swimming Club respectively.

Woolworths 17, Swimming Club 7. Woolworths scored a surprising but well-merited win. After the. recent great-ly-improved form of Wellington & summing Club, it was generally expected, that they would add another win to their record, but Woolworths, displaying plenty of energy, proved equal to upsetting their taller opponents, who were forced to manyerrors and at no stage were they able to adopt their usual tactics. Scorers for Woolworths were Shillson and Wiren 8 each, Hunt 1; for Swimming Club, Deavoll 6, Hatchwell 1. Taubmans 13, State Advances 10. A very interesting game resulted, and at orin period it appeared that. Advances might I also gain a surprise win. Taubmans, however, defended well, and despite the loss of one player for excessive fouls they- gained a narrow victory. State Advances exhibited a pleasing improvement in form, but are still inclined -to rush matters at vital moments. Scorers for Taubmans were: Carmichael 9, Dally 4; for State Advances, Pocock 4, Gaelic and Bardsell 3 each. Y.M. Gym. 17, Kubs 10.

Playing with only four men, the Y.M. Gym. team scored a surprising and impressive win over Kubs. The game throughout was very exciting and the basketball very good. J. Hanna was again in top form and appeared, to be everywhere when required. A highlight of the match was his brilliant goal from 40 feet out in the closing stages' of the game. From a team containing two New Zealand and two Wellington' representatives, Kubs’ form was very disappointing, and a. long way from their best. They are not displaying at present the form shown in the first round. Scorers for Gym. were Hanna 8, Fleming 4, Boyd 3,, Lo Soeuf 2; for Kubs B. Wilson 6, D. Wilson 3, McConchie 4, Lawson 3.

Mormons 24, Taxes Dept, No. 2 15. This match also provided a very entertaining contest, with the superior tactics of the Mormons finally prevailing. In the first spell the Taxes team countered the height of their opponents by frequent bursts of short passing and at half-time led by 11 points to 8, but early in the second spell the Mormons forged ahead, and maintained their lead till the tin al bell. Bodell was again in brilliant form, and was personally responsible for lb of his side’s points. The team s meeting with tlTe championship leaders .next week should prove the match of the season. Scorers for Mormons were Bodell lb, Scott 4, Dastrup and Reid two each; for Taxes Lane 8, Sloan 4, Beveridge 2, Jackson 1. Training College 23, Bristol 21.

This game proved to be one of the most exciting of the night. After a slow beginning, during which Bristol hud obtained a handy lead, Training College gradually- reduced the deficit, and, amid much applause, gained the winning basket as the 'bell sounded for full time. Though the 'basketball displayed was not brilliant the game was very exciting and fast. Dandy and McMillan were outstanding for the Bristol team, and Beard appeared the best of a very hard working Training College team. Scorers for College were: Beard 10, Bryers 6, Larsen 5, Thurston 2; for Bristol, Dandy 11, McMillan 6, McKenzie and Barnett 2 each.

Taxes Dept. No. 1. 25, Hobos It In the final game of the evening, between the two leading teams. Taxes gamed a well-deserved win over their worthy opponents. The game quickly resolved itself into a contest between the zone defence tactics of the Hobos and the man-to-man defence of the Taxes team, and on the night.the tactics of the Taxes team proved superior. It was an excellent exhibition of basketball played in the best of spirit, bv two exceedingly good teams. For Taxes J. Cameron played an outstanding game, and be was very well supported il>y his fellow attackers, J. Beasley and J. ’Ormiston; the defence of the guards, B. McKenzie and F. Jack, was at all times alert and energetic. The Hobos side was capably handled toy D. Page, and each member gave of his 'best. Scorers for Taxes were: Cameron 10, Beasley <, McKenzie 4, Ormiston 3, Jack 1; for Hobos Page and Hall 5 each, Roberts Z, Blain and 1 Jones 1 each. B Grade Results.

' Taxeu Dept. No. 3 S, Taubmans 4; Stale Advances S, Woolworths 4; Bt. Joseph’s 8, Mariinui 4; Macraes 12, B°ys Dept. 16; Standard M. Bodies 11, Y.M. Club 8; Mormons G, Residents 5. The defeat of Maranui by St. Joseph s deprived that team of the lead in the B grade section which it had held since early in the season. The game did not reach the standard expected-, mainly because both sides endeavoured to rush matters too much. St. Joseph’s, however, fully deserved their win, as they undoubtedly played the better basketball. Their outstanding player was their captain, J. Fox, who played extremely well on attack ; in defence T. McSweeney was very solid. Maranui pinned all their hopes in long passes from end to end of the court, and when these tactics failed they appeared unable to provide an alternative attack. Next Week’s Matches.

The draw for the third series of sec- | ond-round matches is:— ; A grade: 7 p.m., Bristol v. State Ad- j vances; 7.30 p.m., Training College v. Woolwortbs; 8 p.m., Hobos v. Gym.; 8.30 ! pan., Wellington Swimming Club v. ( Taubmans; 9 p.m., Taxes No. 1 v. Mor- j mens; 9.30 p.m., Taxes No. 2v. Kubs. I B grade (Wednesday): 5.30 p.m., MacRaes v. Taxes No. 3 ; 5.50 p.m., Standard Motor Bodies v. St. Josephs; 6.10 p.m., Woolwortbs v. Taubmans; 6.30 p.m., i Y.M.C.A. v. Mormons; 6.50 p.m., Residents v. Maranui; 7.10 p.m., State Advances v. Boys’ Dept. 1 Positions ot 'Peaxus. A GRADE I.

P. IV. I). L. Points. Ch. F. A. pts. Taxon Nv. 1 ... 13 12 1 0 341 150 24 Hobos 13 10 2 1 358 147 21 Taxes No. 2 ... J.'! •J 4 0 24)6 208 18 Mormons 13 fl 4 0 250 227 18 Hubs 13 8 4 1 202 162 17 Gym 13 6 7 0 236 215 12 A GRAM IL Training Coll. 13 5 8 0 '194 202 w Wellington S.C. .13 «") 8 0 217 296 10 Woolwortlis ... 13 ;i •» 0 117 255 io Taubmans .... 13 5 8 0 1441 290 10 Bristol 13 2 11 0 151 2SO 4 State Advances 13 1 12 0 120 310 2 B GRADE 1 St. Joseph'« ... 13 11 2 0 173 69 22 Ma ran ill 13 10 2 1 144 80 21 Standard Motor Bodies 13 8 4 1 129 126 17 Mormons 13 7 •) 1 100 112 15 Y.M. Men’s Club 13 7 11 0 131 134 14 Residents .... 13 6 6 1 02 88 13 B GRADE II. I Buys’ Dept 13 •7 1 154 136 15 ’ McRaes 13 7 5 0 1(58 J3«> 14 TaubiiHin.R 13 •1 9 0 92 130 ,s State Advances . 13 4 0 0 64 .125 8 » Taxes III " 2 0 0 32 9 Woolworth.? 13 1 11 J 69 2<M •1J.I