BASKETBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 56, 3 September 1936, Page 25

BASKETBALL

N.Z. TOURNEY

CHANGING FORTUNES

GAMES IN REVIEW

' (By "Ring.") The 1936 New Zealand tournament is a thing of the past,.and the Canterbury Association is to be congratulated on a well-organised tourney. From the first day, when Wellington, the New Zealand Cup holders, were defeated by Canterbury by only two goals, and equally close'games were played by the other teams, the interest in the ultimate result was high, and right throughout the interest was maintained because of so many games being won by only one goal margin., :

Southland, the winning team, drew with 'Auckland, •and only defeated Otago and Wellington by one goal. Auckland, the runners-up, drew with Southland, defeated Otago by a penalty goal on time, and were defeated by Wellington 13-11. Canterbury, who defeated Wellington 13-11, just managed to account for Hawke's Bay by 15 goals to 14 and lost to. Southland, Otago, and Auckland. It was a tournament of fluctuating fortunes, and the uncertainty of the final result certainly added to the excitement. The South Island teams ..this year have shown a marked improvement in their, play, and Southland, who have been knocking, on the door for several years, were fortunate in fielding the same nine as in last year's tournament. Wellington's two losses were against Canterbury, 13-11, and against Southland, 11-10,/ and as the table of points shows, were well at the:top in the total of goals scored. . Throughout, the team played a fine open game," and earned high praise for their .speedy passing and clean play.-. Very few penalties were given against ..Wellington players for personal contact or over-defence, and although defeated for the trophy, were by no means disgraced. Five of the team, M. Wilson, M. Blake, E. Ruddell, M. Baron, and J. Willson, gained places in the North Island team, M. Blake having the honour of captaining the team. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. Pts. Ch. P. W. D. L. F. A.- Pts. Southland 0 5 1 — 92 5" 11 Auckland 6 4 1 1 07 SI 0 Wellington ....'6 4 — 2 110 72 8 Canterbury .... 0 3 — 3 02 S4 C Otago 6 3 — ■ 3 91 "S G Hawke's Bay .... 6 1 — 5 SS OS 2 Walkato ....... 6 — — G Tl 1(3 0 NEW ZEALAND TEAM. At the annual council meeting, held at Christchurch last week, it .was decided that, in view of the fact that the I Australian" Association had also had their first conference last week, an endeavour should be made to have [ co-operation between Australia and New Zealand to get uniform rules. With this object, it-was decided., to arrange for a team to. visit Australia during next season, if suitable arrangeI ments with the Australian , authorities could be made. As the visit, to be of. any; advantage regarding rules, Would need to be early in the Atistralian season and prior, to their next annual meeting, the middle of next June has been suggested v as a suitable time for-the commencement of the tour. Players will assemble in Wellington about 10 days before, and undergo some intensive training. NEW ZEALAND SELECTION. At a banquet, at Christchurch on Saturday evening ;wliicli; brought _the tenthbasketball. *■'tournament organisedl by the New Zealand Association to a .conclusion, the following . twenty-one. Dominion representatives > were, ■ announced to tour Australia next; s6a.» 'son:— ■' •■' ■■-■■■'■■' ;■ ■■'■ '.■"'-^ ■■-iii. vForwards.—L. Mehaffey and J.;Tyrell (Southland), B. Gluestein (Canterbury), J. Willson (Wellington), R. Tong (Hawke's Bay), E. Howard (Otago), J.j Glasgow (Wanganui). Centres.—A. Malthus (South Canter,bury), "E. Ruddell (Wellington), J. Southonl (Canterbury), E. Roseveare (Otago),'G. Symes (Hawke's Bay), E. ; . Neame (Southland), M.Martin (Auckland), . •■'... Defenders.—G. Thompson and E. Sinclair (Otago), R. Stephenson (Canterbury), J. Kelly (Southland), M. Blake (Wellington); M. Matangi (Auckland), M. Wilson (Wellington). : • The selectors have been far-sighted in their choice, comments a southern writer, and have mainly limited: themselves to the best of the-younger talent offering, but nevertheless the players selected should give their supporters no qualms during their: tour, and the valuable experience thus gained should stand them in good stead if the projected tour of the iEdmbnton Grads, the world-famous ■ Canadian team, comes to fruition, at. the time of the New Zealand Centenary. ; In every department, there are exceptional exponents of 'the iame, and it should be easily'possible'^to mould a first-class ' combination ; : from ' the material available. ~..-. ' CONSISTENT SHOOTING. Probably the most outstanding player of the championship: series: was L. Mehaffey, of Southland, whose consistent shooting and;. splendid powers of anticipation have ..thoroughly earned her a place in the, team. ■In the North Island versus, South Island fixture, on Saturday afternoon, it was a goal by this player at.a crucial moment that took the score from level to one point in the Souths favouralmost at the final whistle. .'..■'' •,. The inclusion of B. Gluestein, another fine forward, also came' as no surprise. She proved,,to,.be an.accurate scoring machine ior Canterbury in the interprovincial '. matches, • and in the North versus South, game she combined excellently with L. .Mehaffey. Of the other forwards chosen, J. Wilson, of Wellington, , has perhaps had the best record of the senior . tournament. All honour is due to-:J. Glasgow, of Wanganui, who .went straight from second grade, section 1, into the New Zealand side. PLENTY OF TALENT. Centre play has been noticeably strong throughout the tourney, and it must have been over-supply of talent rather than under-supply that bothered the selectors in this section. E. Roseveare is probably the most experienced player in this department, and she plays a good game, tossing the ball fast and accurately and always to the gap. Though handicapped by a slightly sprained wrist late in the tournament and in the inter-island fixture, her handling was clean and free. Wellington's representative, E. Ruddell, has proved herself one of the nimblest on the courts during the championship, with an excellent coverages of her base. In the centre ranks, also, a second grade section 1 player has won a place. A member of the victorious South Canterbury team, A. Malthus has been largely responsible for her side's fine performance in winning every game it played, being quick to seize every chance. The defenders chosen should < militate, against-any high scores-being, registered against the touring -;,team,v all those selected being of even calibre and hard-to pass for a scoring chance. The :6tandard;pf has, been good at the tournament, and the selectors must j

have ' been • feced •• with an unenviable task. Prior to making the announcement the president of the New Zealand" Basketball; Association, Mrs. H. D. Muir, said the object of the tour was to demonstrate to the Australian authorities the way the game was played in the Dominion, in the hope that Australia and New' Zealand will co-operate^ in the matter of uniform rules. SATURDAY'S GAMES. Senior A.—Wellington Technical O.G. t. L*nlversity. Mount Goo]c So. 1, 2 p.m., Miss Sturroc.l;; Wellington East O.G. v. Kia. Ora A, Mount Cook Xo. 2, 1.30 p.m., Mrs. Dyer; Kla Ora B v. Wesley, Mount. Cook No. 3, 2 p.m., Miss Armstrong; Awatea win by default. Senior B Final.—Postponed. ~ Third Grade Final.—Furlor v. Queen Anne, Mount Cook No. 1, 2.20 p.m., Miss Sturrock;< Olympic win by default; third grade game to be replayed; St. Pat's v. St. Joseph's, Mount Cook Xo. 2. 3.20 p.m., Mrs. Dyer. Fourth Grade.—Section 2, section final, Foneke v. Rovers, Mount Cook No. 4, 2 p.m., Mr. Ede. Fourth Grade Semi-final.— Brymay v. Stylecraft, Mount Cook No. 3, 2.20 p.m., Miss Armstrong; Empire Box r. Tawariki, Mount Cook No. 2, 2.20 p.m., Mrs. Dyer. Fourth Grade, Section 4.—Unfinished game, Wellington Collese ttG. v. Kuox Keut Terrace, Mount Cook No. 3, 3.20 p.m., Miss Armstrong. The following fourth grade teams wJH compete in a Yankee tournament for the fourth Junior Cup. Teams ■ must register at Hataltal at 2 p.m.:—Section 1: Melrose. Kirkcaldiea, Koala, Johnsonville, Kla Ora, D.I.C. Section 2: Rawleighs, Wellington East 0.G., St. James, Swifts, Wesley, Zimmes. . Section 3: Knox Johnsonville. Mckcnzies, Aotea Roa, Kia Toa. Section 4 : Teaspur, Prestige, Wellinston College 0.G., St. Josephs,; Knox Kent Terrace, Koseneath. Fifth Grade, Semi-final.— Ferguson and Osborn v. Newtovm, Mount Cook ISO. 5, - p.m., Mr- Howe: Olympic v. Thorndon, Mount Cook No. 4, 2.20 p.m., Mr. Ede. . ~ Section 3, Postponed Games.—Hibernians v. : Symington B. Mount Cook No. 5, 2.20 p.m., M'\ Howe; St. Annes v. Knox, Mount Cook >.o. 4, 3.20 p.m., Mr. Ede. ' ■_ , ~ Section <1. Postponed Game. —Y.W.C.A.. (A), "■Would--the following referees^kindly be at Hauital at 2 p.m.:—Miss Wills, Mrs. Inch, Miss Campbell, Miss David, Miss Press, Miss I. Avena 1 Miss McXab, Miss Webster, Mrs. Brewin,'Mr. Budden, Mr. McPherson, Mr f Bryant, Mrs. McDonald, Miss Dingle, Mrs. Martin, "BeKtrtiT^SSitlfe.-Foatfli.-B.aerepro-i .nntmivfl'practice; Mount Cook Nn- 1. 3.20 p.m.