TAURANGA SURPRISE IN N.Z. BASKETBALL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23339, 23 August 1950, Page 10

TAURANGA SURPRISE IN N.Z. BASKETBALL

(P.A.) PALMERSTON N., Aug. 23. Making a first appearance in the first-grade the Tauranga team sprang a surprise when the New Zealand women's basketball championships opened in Palmerston North yesterday by defeating Wellington 23-17 and holding last year's title holders, Auckland, to an exciting 10-point draw. Tauranga meet Canterbury and Wanganui today.

A cold wind made conditions very unpleasant and was responsible for many handling and shooting lapses. The entries this year constitute a a record with 36 teams competing. There are teams from nine major associations with 12 contesting the second grade and 15 in the third grade.

Results: — First Grade.—Canterbury 17 v. Wanganui 4: Wellington 25 v. Southland 13: Manawatu 19 v. Wanganui 8; Auckland 26 v. Otago 12: Tauranga 10 v. Auckland 10: Canterbury 27 v. Hawke’s Bay 5: Tauranga 23 v. Wellington 17; Otago 37 v. Hawke’s Bay 7.

Second Grade. —Horowhenua 23 v. West Coast 13; Hutt Valley 14 v. Marl"borough 14; Waikato 15 v. Nelson 13; South Canterbury 24 v. Rotorua 39; Matamata 12 v. Taranaki 8; Taranaki 29 v. Waikato 14; Matamata 21 v. Rotorua 11; Matamata. 23 v. Poverty Bay 11; Taranaki 18 v. Southland Minor 11; West Coast 13 v. Hutt Valley 10; Horowhenua 18 v. Marlborough 16; South Canterbury 24 v. Nelson 17: West Coast 24 v. Marlborough 13; Southland Minor 17 v. Poverty Bay 8. Third Grade.—Kaikoura 16 v. Otago Minor 14: Temuka 21 v. Putaruru 14; Te Kawau 18 v. Waikato 18: South Auckland 15 v. Hawke’s Bay Minor 7: Manawatu Minor 16 v. Otago Minor 3; Thames Valley 17 v. Temuka 16; Thames Valley 17 v. Taranaki Minor 8; Canterbury Minor 13 v. Eastern Bay of Plenty 7: North Otago 22 v. Wairarapa 12: Putaruru 11 v. Kaikoura 10; Canterbury Minor 21 v. North Otago 12.