BASKETBALL WEST COAST WAS SUPERIOR TO BULLER: KAWATIRI CUP MATCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 3 (Supplement)

BASKETBALL WEST COAST WAS SUPERIOR TO BULLER: KAWATIRI CUP MATCH

West Coast retained the Kawatiri Cup last Saturday with a comfortable win over the challengers, Buller, by 35 goals to 8. Superior' combination and excellent team work was the feature of the Coast success. They played together as a team, every player displaying top form. Play was very fast throughout the match, but once Coast had possession the Buller team had few chances to intercept. The local defence was too strong for the Buller forwards although J. Burns shot some fine goals when given the opportunity.. N. Brown was the best of the Buller centres playing only her second game of the season. Of the Buller defence L. Pankhurst showed plenty of speed. Although Coast had the better of the match right from the start, the Buller team never gave in, fighting hard for possession until the final whistle.

M. Malloy and D. Clarke played excellent games for West Coast. West Coast B. 15 defeated Buller B 10 after a close match in which both teams played clean basketball. The Buller team was two short and two local players, V. Stirling and H. Hornsby, made up the team. For West Coast A. Biddington was outstanding in the defence. V. Madden "and. G. Walker played well in the forward third and C. Trotter was the most reliable centre.

West Coast also won the junior match defeating Buller 15-3. Buller played one short however, and. were at a disadvantage. N. Buckley at centre for West Coast was most impressive. The Coast forwards, although shooting well, disappointed by their poor positional play. The Buller team was young but shov. r ed promise for next season.