BASKETBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 19

BASKETBALL

SEASON ENDS

FINAL GAME

1938 CHAMPIONS

With the completion of the third grade competition on Saturday, when Wembley defeated Kia Ora by 29 goals to 9, the matches in the Wellington basketball championships came to an end.

It was unfortunate that, through defaults and byes, Kia Ora had only one match in the last five weeks, and therefore were not able to put up the strong opposition expected in a final. They were unfortunate, too, in not having the services of W. Cloake, defender, and K. Lane, forward, both of whom were the sick list. Nevertheless, the team fought hard, but the superior combination of the Wembley team gave Kia Ora no opportunity to score well. Wembley's quick, confident passing, with good positional play, made them well worthy of gaining the third grade championship, and much of the credit must be given to F. Connor, wellknown. Kia Ora and Wellington repre-, sentative defender, for the excellent coaching she has given Wembley. Bramac, also coached by F. Connor, won the fourth grade championship.

The week previously Wembley played Inglewood, Taranaki, and were again successful, winning by 27 goals to 20. Inglewood played well, but Wembley were just that much more decisive to give them the victory by seven goals. The team was entertained by Mrs. D. Kohn (vice-president of the Taranaki Association) during the stay in Inglewood.

LIST OF CHAMPIONS. The various grade championships were .won as follows: —

Senior A.—Wellington East O.G. Senior B.—lsland Bay O.S. A Third grade.—Wembley. Fourth Grade.—Bramac. Fourth Junior. — Stylecraft and Twinloek, equal.

. Fifth Grade.—Guildford. ' The club championship was won by ;he Taupo Club.

Two new trophies were presented this season, the Tawariki Cup for competition between the senior grades (A, B, and third), and the Lankshear trophy for the junior grades (fourth, fourth junior, and fifth). These were to be won by the team with the highest percentage of goals to its credit during the season.

. The results for the first ten teams in the senior section was most interesting, four out of the seven senior A teams gaining places, four senior B, and two, the finalists, of the third grade. Wellington East A came top with 26.7. University A 24.2, Kia Ora thirds 22.9. Wembley thirds 22.3, Island Bay B 21.5. Aspro B 21.14, Kia Ora A 20.9, Island Bay A 20.7, Furlor B 20, Training College A i9. The junior section for the Lankshear . trophy was won by Twinloek fourth junior 22.9, Stylecraft fourth junior 20.5, Ferguson and Osborne fifth 20, Aitkens fourth 19.9, Rawleighs fourth 19.5, Berhampore A fourth 18.2. CENTENNIAL i£ TOURNAMENT., The' plans -for the holding of the 1940 tournament •in Wellington as part of the Centennial celebrations^ have received a severe setback because of the difficulty in obtaining indoor accommodation for the games. When the suggestion was first made that the Centennial tournament should be held in Wellington, and when the request was received from the Exhibition authorities that national bodies should do their utmost to make the celebrations a success, it was supposed that every effort would be made to provide necessary accommodation. Recently the association has learned that there is no indoor court or large hall available, and it is doubtful if the assembly hall at the Exhibition would be available. In this event, it seems practically impossible for Wellington to stage the tournament because, with teams from Australia and England participating, it is essential that the full programme be carried out whatever the weather. Wellington is very badly off in the way of indoor facilities, and each year, though the association grows, the position becomes steadily worse. ' South Island centres appear to have the advantage in indoor courts, Invercargill being able to arrange for three indoor courts, Dunedin for two full-sized courts and possibly more, and Christchurch having a big Drill Hall. Both Auckland and Wellington find it impossible to get inside courts. From '" this it would appear likely that rearrangements of the plans for the Cen- ; tennial tournament will have to be 1 made. 1 In the meantime, full inquiries are < being made as to the likelihood of j some assistance in retaining the tourna- ] ment for Wellington by the guarantee \ of indoor accommodation. LAST FUNCTON. 1 The last basketball function of the ' season will be the annual dinner given i by the W.B.A. for the Referees' Asso- 1 ciation, to be held on Monday, October j 10.' i