Basketballers Return to Manawatu

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 212, 8 September 1938, Page 11

Basketballers Return to Manawatu

HIGH REPUTATION MAINTAINED Members of tho Mauawatu busketoali representative team, captained by Miss dean Barrie, returned to Palmerston North on Tuesday after participating iu the New Zealand uasketuan tournament at T’imaru, their manager, •miss' C. Yautier, having returned on oaturday last. Chatting with “The Times' 1 adorn tfie snowing of tfie team, Miss Vautiei said it fiau uoeu a great experience for tue members and tne form disclosed nad been most gratifying. In their first game against Ttutt v alley on the first day of the tournament, Miss v autier said site considered, Manawatu nad given tho best exhibition of the whole tournament in a last, clean game. The first day had been tne only really good day, unfortunately, as rain aoU eacu. succeeding day. uu that day jean Barrie and Aisla Bfiaw fiad suffered sprains, which was hard luck, auu later tne team had failed to reproduce that first day's form. This gurne fiau ueeu head-lined, Manawatu being down ■1 at half-time to finish 5 up. file doxence aud centres nad more than fieiu ineir own, but the forwards taued to striko form during the touring, Miss V autier considoreu. However, Manawatu won four of theii games and lost three, finishing iu tho lop naif of the B grade. Tne young piayera m tnt team fully justified tfieir mclusiou ana would form a good nucleus for future , representative teams. There fiad beeu great public interest in the tournament, Miss V autier said, and the man in tho street certainly isnew something about tfie game. Bush had fielded a greatiy-improveu team who played a fine, clean game turoughout aud well deserved to win their section (<J grade). A gratifying feature to Miss Vautier as manager was the fact that Manawatu showed a deep regard for tho rules and seldom, h ever, suffered a penalty for infringement, thfis the.* nad maintained their good reputation. Rules to be Modified Bpeaaiug of tne annual meeting o* me in ew Zealand Basnetoau Council, muss vautier said the ruies would be cuußiuerauiy aiooiaeu 10 get us near a* possible to au international oasis. Tub new code embodied a tew changes to orrng the game alignuy closer to the Australian game, and it was fiopeu Australia would accept this cocto. m tins regard Miss Yautier mentioned mat tfie AU Black team fiad given an interesting exhibition ot tfie Australian game at tne tournament as it nad impressed them, with tho permission of tho Australian Association. Tho opinion of the New Zealanders was tnat tho Australian game lacked the speed and grace of the New Zealand game. The footwork rules did not provide for speed and tho game induced considerable contact. The Aus* trail ana had been impressed with tin* manner ot using two hands to throw the ball, whereas across the Tasman there was one-handed throwing. Under the new rules only one shot will be allowed at goal and only from inside a goal circle. Guarding will be viewed as obstruction. At the commencement of a game, or following n score, the play will continue from tin unguarded pass from the end of a Oit. imo crossing the centro. The new rules, Miss Vautier explained, are a concession to the Australian code and a reconciliation with that of England because it is expected in 1940 English and Australian teams wiU be taking part in the New Zealand centennial tournament in Wellington playing under international rules with seven aside. These rules are only on trial and will be finalised in 1940, when English aud Australian executive members will be in the Dominion.