BASKETBALL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 132, 5 June 1924, Page 11

BASKETBALL

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT

In spite of the severe weather conditions the annual tournament of the Wellington Ladies' Basket Ball Association was held in the Drill Hall on Tuesday. There was a good attendance of spectators throughout the long day's play. The first match commenced at 9.10 a.m., while the last match finished at 7.20 p.m.

Thirty-nine teams competed, comprising, with emergencies, nearly 300 young ladies. The teams all wore distinctive uniforms, and effective blackboard announcements kept the audience informed of all matches. Though handicapped by having the use of only one ground, the officials kept the tournament running smoothly from.first to last, there being no waiting or delay, throughout the long day.

The senior championship was won by Y.W.C.A. "A" team, while Banks College annexed both intermediate and junior championships. The runners-up were:—Senior, 'Varsity; intermediate, Gilby's College; junior, Boseneath.. A pleasing feature of the tournament was the good showing of the suburban teams, some. of whom have been playing only one season. Eiwa (Miramar) gained the semi-finals in intermediate grade, .and made a very good showing. Eoseneath, runhers-up for the junior, championship,' is another new team showing great promise. ■„...

A fairly high standard of play was noticeable throughout, and one or two games were superb. Early in the first senior round Y.W.C.A. "A" drew with 'Varsity, 8-8. The teams scored - evenly point for point and the pace was the fastest ever seen in Wellington. This was easily the finest game of the day, and probably one of the finest ever played in Wellington. It was fitting that these strenuous contestants should meet in the final for the senior championship, but 'Varsity were visibly tiring after the long day and Y.W.C.A. "A" disposed of them fairly easily at 8-2. A great measure of the winners' success was due to the skilful goal-thrower, Miss Edna Bell. For 'Varsity the goalthrowers did good work, but were insufficiently fed by their centres, who seemed to be well smothered in the final game.

In the intermediate grade, the finalists, Banks College and Gilby'a College, worked' steadily through ' the rounds, meeting in the first round to play a drawn game without score. The final game was not up to the best of the work o£_ either team. The results, Banks 4, Gilby's 1, was rather lucky for the winners, but they fully deserved the 'win.

. The junior final —Banks' College v. Roseneath—was the brightest of the junior games. Miss-- R. Fisher, the smart little goal-throw for Banks, materially contributed to the success of the team.

During the progress of play the selectors were engaged in picking possibles and probables for the representative team to visit Christchurch in July. Amongst the beaten teams some first-class talent can be found, and the selectors duly noted certain candidates for representative honours. . . .

The honours for the best player on the day's play lie between Miss E. Bell and Miss K. Beaver, both of Y.W.C.A. Club. The best groups of players were the senior Technical College defenders and senior Y.W:C.A. centres.

_ The day's play was marked by an entire absence of mishaps or accidents, and reflects the greatest credit "on the management. ■ A flashlight photo of the players was taken during the afternoon. . The .officials of the day were:—Manager, Mrs. M'lnness; timekeepers, Mrs. Crumpton and Mrs. Marks; referees, Miss Tompkins, Miss Madson, Miss Tait, and Mr. Brearjey; ground steward, Mr W.-W. Waddilove.