MEN’S BASKETBALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 282, 26 August 1939, Page 7

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Knock-out Competition Begins INTERESTING GAMES

(BY

Time Oct.)

Now that the men’s basketball championships for 1939 have concluded in Wellington, chief interest centres in the knock-out tournament, which began in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium ou Tuesday before a large crowd. The competition is open to both A and B grade teams, and the meetings between representatives from both grades provided some very interesting games. First round results are: —Mormons A 34, Taubmans A 4; Kubs 19, Residents 10- Wellington Swimming Club IS, Marunui 11; Y.M. Gym 34, McCrea 2; St. Joseph’s A 5, Bristol 4; Hobos 21, taxes B 12* Taxes A. won from iraining College” by default; Advances B 9, St. Joseph’s B 15; Advances A L>, Standard Motor Bodies 10; Boys’ Department 20, Woolwortbs A 9; Woolworth? L> In, Mormons B 0; Y.M. Club 22, Taubmans B 10 The outstanding exhibition of the round was given by the strong _ Mormons A team, who are early favourites as winners of the competition. They have recently been strengthened by the arrival of Gotterill, a tall Mormon from the Auckland district, and there is no doubt that they are now srouger than at any other time this season. Taubmans, though heavily defeated, played well and were not dw 81 Residents, a B grade side, performed exceptionally well in holding the Kubs combination to a 19-10 victory. It is doubtful whether the Kubs wero all out, but the Residents certainly were not outclassed. , An interesting though not high-ciass exhibition of basketball was given by the two swimming club sides, Maranui and Wellington. Maranui, who were the winners of the B grade competition, were expected to win, but on the night proved somewhat of a disappointment, unless they are concentrating on winning the separate knock-out competition for teams beaten in the first round- of the main tournament. Hatchwell, for Wellington Swimming Club, was in good form, and his height was a disconcerting factor for their opponents.. The promising St. Joseph’s team scored the first B grade win of the tournament, when they beat Bristol by q. single point. This success was not unexpected, as St. Joseph’s have been training strenuously for some time, and it is doubtful if there is a keener team of basketball recruits than the members of this club this season. „ , McCrea, Another keen B grade side, were unfortunate to strike the Y.M. Gym. team jn their best form of the season, and thus they suffered a heavy defeat, in'a game which was not as one-sided as the score would indicate. Y.M. Gym., on the form shown, should go quite a distance in the competition. The most exciting game of the evening was that between Hobos and Taxes B. Hobos have recently gained the services of Cross, a Waikato representative at the last New Zealand championships, and m this game D. Page, their skipper and star player, stood down for a well-earned rest. The Taxes team, however, soon forced him to change his mind, as, starting off in top gear, they quickly obtained an eight-point lead. With certain defeat facing the Hobos a hurried SOS was sent for their skipper, and his outstanding ability was sufficient to turn defeat into victory for his side. Tbe display given by the Taxes team was more m keeping with their true form, aud they should be a hard team ,to beat in the minor knock-out competition. In tbe games played on Wednesdaj’ night the Boys’ Department gave a good display to beat Woolworths A, thus being tho second B grade team to beat an A grade side in the first round. All the losing teams Will .now begin a separate competition of their own. after which friendly games will be arranged for tbe sides who lose their second games. Both knock-out competitions will conclude with the lilial games on September 19. Matches for Next Wed*.

Tuesday: 7 p.m.. Boys' Department v. Mormons; 7.25, Woolworths A v. Maranui : 7.50. Kubs v. Wellington Swimming Club; 8.15, Hobos v. Advances A; 5.40, Woolworths B v. St. Joseph’s A : 9.5, Y.M. Gym. v. St. Joseph's B ; 9.30, Taxes A v. Y.M. Men’s Chib. Wednesday: 5.30 p.m., Taxes B v. Taubmans B; 5.55 p.m., Advances B v. Taubmans A ; 6.20, p.m., McCrea v. Standard Motor Bodies; 6.45 p.m.. Bristol v. Residents; 7.10 p.m., Mormons B v. Training College.