BASKETBALL Progress Could Be Made In Many Departments

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 6

BASKETBALL Progress Could Be Made In Many Departments

Games were a little patchy, and were marked by the usual lack of accuracy in goal shooting, and by some poor field eombination on the part of the three members in one third, each of whom should handle the ball in succession as it passes down the field, in a good standard of play. It was pleasing to see that there was not nearly as much personal contact this year as was evident al the commencement of play in. .1946. The association hopes that this will disappear entirely from West Coast play as the season advances and coaches have a chance to combat and eradicate this great menace to good basketball.

In the senior grade the new team to come up from Senior B. is Karoro A. whose light, fast players made a very good impression against Convent O.G. A. Against Runanga A. whose team is practically unchanged, Technical O.G. A. minus two of its seasoned players was not at all impressive. This team has yet to learn that there are two parts to play—attack and defence. They lack the' former. M. Ellery in the centre, was perhaps the worst offender here, though none of the team except D. Clarke, was up with the ball all of the way. Runanga can still take care over personal contact and blocking, which is hardest .in the defence third. The rule as passed at the New Zealand Tournament, states that the defence may not move her hands at all until the ball has left the hands of the forwards; that she may not watch her partner, and that she may not take up a., position in front of her with intent to block. i j This makes the position of a defence player one of extreme skill in anticipation far more than the old ’ game of guarding an opponent, and it is hoped by the Referee’s Council, [ that it will help to do away with personal contact—a factor which has been so noticeable in Coast senior ’ games. For Runanga, B. Armstrong ’ was an extremely accurate scorer. ; Taylorville, playing their first ’ matches on their home ground, show- ’ ed that they are much improved, and ’ should provide a good standard of ’ play in all matches. Cobden and Woolworths’ played a keen, close game, at Cobden, ending in a draw, which was very indicative of the play. These two new teams ’ need to learn the 9ft. rule, and to watch personal contact very carefully, otherwise they will lose their ! matches to the other side in free passes. They have some fast players, and some accurate forwards, who are, however, a litle rough. ’ St. Mary’s A. showed up well in the Senior B. grade. They should be well to the fore throughout this grade and qualify for A. grade if they can keep their present team throughout the season. Blaketown showed that they are very nearly the grade for Senior A. play, in a keen, close game with Runanga B. It may be that they can yet find a place there, as the placing of teams is not absolutely final. Lane, Walker, Rudkin A. will need to show more passing in their centre third and less high throwing in the forward area, if they hope to make their mark in their new grade. They have the ability to do this, and should show much improvement as the sea-

son advances. Dobson is fielding 'a good team thi year, and should do well if thei centres can be as quick as their for wards, of whom E. Bernard was out standing. Magpies showed that they will d well as they play more together, bu on the whole, Technical High Schoc teams show weakness in their for wards, who, in C. D. and B. bunci too much, stay too far behind thei defence, and do not come out to tak the ball fom their centres. The; could be far more accurate in thei goal throwing, too. The standard o C. and D. play is below that of thes> two teams last year. G.T.H.S. A however, is a good, fast-moving team with a weakness in their centre thin which should be eliminated will training, but with an excellent addi lion to their forward third, whici was already strong, of J. Scott, whplayed very well in her first compel! tion- game. This team shows a ver; clean, fast type of basketball, am with plenty of practice, should have ; very good season. Runanga C. have some good in dividual players, and with practice will be a challenge to any third grad' team, though Karoro B. will alway be strong contenders in their grade. REFEREE’S CO-OPERATION The use of Cobden, Blaketown Taylorville and Runanga courts wil greatly assist the association thi year to play off its forty team game on Saturday afternoons. The co operation of referees is asked for, s< that nobody put down to referee i game will slip up on her job. Game not starting on time will have to pla? a shorter spell, and teams more thai seven minutes late for a game shouk be ruled off, as this inevitably hold: games up, and people with buses anc trains to catch at 4.30 p.m. have tc leave before their match can be coni' pleted. This should not be necessary if everyone aims at being on time. Referees are asked to lock for thei’ games and get their card ready, sc that they do not have to wait for thi: when the game should be starting Pennies should also be handed to the referee before the game starts. CONVENT OLD GIRLS A. Team.—P. Mooney, P. Crooks, T. Rea, M. Anderson, N. Rea, M. McCarthy, K. Pollock, M. Tunnell, K, Close. B. Team.—R. Mooney, E. Hamilton, P. Fitzgerald, D. Hamilton, J. De Goldi, P. Meldrum, G. Dunn, S'. Brown, M. Keating. C. Team.—A. Zampese, P. Cornish, P. Keating, B. Roche, M. Conaghan, M. Roberts, J. McLuskie, J. Guerin, K. Conaghan.