THE SECOND ROUND

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 20

THE SECOND ROUND

REARRANGEMENTS NECESSARY

EFFECT OF POSTPONEMENTS

Another ivet Saturday last week caused a second postponement of the games, and everyone is hoping that Wellington will bo favoured with fine weather this weekend. The majority of fixtures are still the same, but the loss of two playing days so early in the second round has made it impossible to play the complete second round in the senior B and sixth grades. As a result it has been decided that the top half of each section shall play off to decide the finalists for the championship, in a yankee tournament. This procedure was decided on as being the fairest to all teams. It was possiblo for a team to bo at a disadvantage through having struck all hard games since the end of the first round, while another may have played all weaker teams. All other teams will bo set down for matches, and in addition, since several extra byes result from the changeover teams may apply to the management committee to play friendly games instead of having byes. Whenever possible- the committe owill arrange such games, but will require to bo notified a week prior to the match. Executive Meeting. The meeting of the executive of the Wellington Basketball Association held on Monday night was well attended, the following being present: Miss M. B. Armstrong (in the chair), Mesdamea H. D. Muir, A. Muir, Misses 8011, Wilson, Cheoseman, Sturrock, Line, McLean, Lawlor, "Wharton, and Mr. Moller. Miss Armstrong reported that Mrs. Smith and she had attended: the tournament at Porirua on Saturday, but owing to the rain it had not been possible to play the games. A friendly game between a team from PlimmertonPaekakariki and a Judgeford nine was played, ■ but owing to the state of tho ground and the difficulty in handling a wet, heavy ball, it was imi>ossibl6 to judge the standard of play. The North Wellington Association had decided to defer affiliation to the Wellington Association until next year, when it is hoped to gain the full advantage by joining up early in the year. In all, they have nine ; teams playing in their competition, composed of the- following:—Pare,mata 1, Tawa Flat 1, Judgeford 1, Porirua 2, Plimmerton 2, Paekakariki 2. To give an idea of the enthusiasm of these country teams, the Judgeford team pays 12s 6d .each Saturday \o be brought in to one of the more central districts by lorry, and the majority of the players, unlike town players who have learnt to play the game ut school, are girls who have never played before. The North Wellington Association intends having a tournament at the end of the season and hopes that a number of entries will be received from Wellington teams. As North Wellington were unable to send a team, in to play here on August 12 it was decided to arrange for the third grade representative team to meet the leading secondary schools' team if possible. An apology was received from thoWillsco Club, and it was decided that a copy of the letter be forwarded to the Referees' Association. Mrs. A. M. Muir, Misses M. E. Armstrong, E. McLean, and O. Wharton were appointed a committee to arrange for entertainments for visiting teams. It was decided that players be urged to' arrange billets for the visitors as early as possiblo. Travelling arrangements for the senior A representative team were left to Mrs. A. Muir, Misses Armstrong, and Bell. Correspondence from the New Zealand. Association stated that six entries had-,been received for tho major association tournament, Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. In the minor association group, eight associations had entered teams —Poverty Bay, Wairoa, Manawatu, Wairarapa, AVaikato, Nelson, Marlborough, and South Canterbury. Owing to the unprecedentedly large number it was necessary to Commence the minor tournament a day earlier,- and the executive suggested that a start should be'made with this draw on Wednesday, August 23. The major association tournament would commence on Thursday, August 24. New Zealand Tournament. When the 1932 council decided that the next tournament should be held at Gisborne, opinions that there would be a very poor attendance were freely expressed. Because of the difficulty in travelling to Gisborne, everyone was fully prepared to have some of the more distant and smaller associations absent from the Dominion meeting. Contrary to all expectations, a record entry has been received, no fewer than fourteen associations having signified their intention to be represented. This means that' players of all associations have been working hard to raise the .money, and the results of their efforts can be admired. Particularly is this so in the three young associations from the South Island—namely, South Canterbury, Marlborough, and Nelson. The last-named have just become members of the New Zealand Association, and are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm. TJie decision to play major and minor association tournaments means that the 1933 fixture will be the most strenuous of tournaments, as the strengths of the six major association teams—Otago (holders of the- cup), Wellington (run-ners-up and holders of the Annie Brown Cup), Auckland (seven-years champions), Canterbury, Southland, and Hawke's Bay—will bo much the same, so that no easy game will be played.

Of the minor group, Waikato, Nelson, and Wairoa arc untried, while South Canterbury, Marlborough, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa, and Manawatu have all gained experience at previous tournaments. The holders of tho president's trophy, Ashburtou, are not defending their title this year.