BASKETBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 27

BASKETBALL

WITHOUT DEFEAT

WELLINGTON SUCCESS

DOMINION TOURNEY

(By "Ring.")

The 1937 Dominion tournament held at Auckland last week resulted in a win for Wellington, who went through unbeaten. The team played well throughout the tournament, their passing and positional play being superior to that of the other teams. With possibly the strongest defence trio in the tournament, supported by a speedy and reliable centre, the forwards were given plenty of opportunities for scoring, fortunately, because in this third, the positional play was not so good as in other parts, two forwards often losing Vr.z ball through two players being in the same position. From the first day's play, when Wellington defeated the New Zealand Cup holders, Southland, and the holders of the Annie Brown Cup, Auckland, the result of the tournament was predicted, and actually was never in doubt. Had the forwards opened up play as did 'the centres and defence, each game would have been won by a large majority. WELLINGTON v. SOUTHLAND. Meeting the 1936 champion team in the first match, Wellington were keyed up for a hard struggle. From the commencement of play Wellington attacked strongly, and early showed promise of being a team to reckon with. Southland's forwards were hard pressed to keep the ball in their third, and found it almost impossible to get the ball close enough into score from easy positions. Forced to shoot from a distance, nevertheless, Southland managed,to come within two goals of Wellington's score, being defeated by 14 to 12.' The greatest credit is due to J. Mitchell, M. Blake, and M. Wilson, Wellington defence, , whose sterling play kept Southland's score down. WELLINGTON v. AUCKLAND. Auckland played well against Wellington, but again the forwards were unable to get clear of the Wellington defence. ■ Speedy passing and the players' understanding of one another's play drew applause from the onlookers. The swift, unhesitating passing of the Wellington side kept them in the lead, to win by 12 goals to 9. WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. This match was played under unpleasant conditions, almost continual rain making the ground slippery and the ball difficult to handle. Wellington again were superior, and won by 10 goals to 5. Both sets of forwards found it difficult to score, the slippery ball affecting their shots. WELLINGTON V. HAWKE'S BAY. Wellington scored a runaway victory 1 from Hawke's Bay, winning by 25 goals to 6, in a game in which they dominated play throughout. Hawke's Bay fought hard, but hesitant passing gave the alert Wellington nine plenty of chances to intercept; and such interceptions were, invariably taken to goal by swift passing, accurate shooting finishing off the movements. WELLINGTON v. OTAGO. This match, played on Saturday afternoon, proved to be one of. the best of the tournament, Otago forcing the attack early and opening up the score. For the greater part of the first spell scoring was even, and then Wellington spurted, and led by several goals at half-time. Otago played brilliantly ' throughout, and kept Wellington in check for the remainder of the game, which, ended: Wellington 14, Otago 10. The table of championship points was as follows: — r. W. T>. L. Pts. Wellington 5 fi — —i 10 Auckland .5 4 — 1 S Canterbury •• s — ; «f Southland -..5 'I — 3 4 Otago 5 1 —' 4 Hawke's Bay -.5 — —- 5 — SECOND GRADE. The Hutt Valley representative team, which played in the second grade, did well to tie with Ashburton for the Hayhurst Cup for runners-up. Games in this grade were fast and very even, no team going through unbeaten. Southland Minor won the President's Shield, and fully deserved their win toy playing fast, open basketball. TEHRD GRADE. The first third gr.ade tournament was closely contested, Wairoa winning the Kinei Trophy, with West Coast; in second place, taking the Armstrong Shield. EXHIBITION GAME. Tournament players and council delegates were keenly interested in the exhibition game played under Australian rules. Miss E. Hull, president of the All-Australian Association, arrived unexpectedly, and was prevailed upon to referee the game, which proved most interesting. At a later meeting of the council, it was decided to advise the Australian authorities that New Zealand was prepared to negotiate with a view to gaining inter-Empire rules. A The invitation "of the Australian Association for a New Zealand team to play at the inter-State carnival at Melbourne next year was accepted, Mrs. H. D. Muir being appointed manager and coach, and Mrs. Bain Challis first aid official. , Mrs. K. S. Mclnnes will also accompany the team. The following team was selected on tournament play:— Forwards. —J. Willson (Wellington), M. Tongye (Auckland), E. Howard (Wellington), L. Meheffy (Southland). Centres. —M. Howe (Wellington), M. Martin (Auckland), E. Neame (Southland), F. Southon (Canterbury). Defence.—J. Mitchell (Wellington), E. Sinclair (Otago), M. Matangi (Auckland), R. Butler (Hawke's Bay). ROTORUA TOURNAMENT. The second Wellington A team successfully defended the Kurungaituku Trophy at the annual Rotorua tournament, although one or two of the games were very closely contested. Their scores in the section matches were:—V. Maketu, 14-2; v. Matamata B, 15-3; v. Morrinsville, 13-2; v. Rotorua B, 8-2; v. Te Aroha A, 3-2. In the semi-final, Wellington defeated Hastings B by 19 goals to 4, and won the final by defeating Matamata A by 17 goals to 15. This last game was a particularly hard-fought game, scoring throughout being even. With only three minutes to go, and Matamata leading by 15 j goals to 13, Wellington's chances seemed hopeless, but Wellington came to light with a brilliant attack, and scored four goals before time was called. Matamata A won the new "Maggie Papakura" Memorial Trophy, for run-ners-up, which has this year been presented by Chief Touihl from ■ the Tukourangi tribe. The trophy fa in the form of a carved kumete.