BASKET BALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 4

BASKET BALL

By Watch. FIRST GRADE As many of the representative players had not returned from the north, no., first grade matches were played last Saturday. Enthusiasm among first grade players usually wanes considerably after the New Zealand tournament, and this year seems to be no exception. Competition matches are finished, the Walker and Hall match has been played, and the annual tournament is over. There remains only the handicap competition, another round of which might be played next Saturday. On the following Saturday, September 16, no first grade matches will be played, as that day hag been set aside for the junior tournament. SECOND GRADE Until last Saturday it was uncertain ■who ■ would win the second grade cup. Many of the teams in this grade are very evenly matched, and interest has been maintained right throughput the Season. Cup points last week showed Caversham and Blue Triangle at the top, and it remained for these two teams to play off to find the victors. The match was played on Saturday last at University Court with Mr J. Breeze as referee. The game was not such an ; eyeii one as had been expected, but' although Caversham had a decisive victory by 16 goals to 5, they had to work hard for all their points. The Caversham team has played a fine game all season, and the captain, Mias N. Stewart, is to be congratulated on. her team’s success. The Blue Triangle players were worthy opponents for the final match, but lacked slightly in finished play, especially in the forward third. Of the other matches played in this grade only one result was sent in, the score being First 18, Tinopai 13, THIRD GRADE There has been no doubt as to the cup winners in this grade. Early in the season Musselburgh established a lead and still holds top position with an unbeaten record. Last week Musselburgh played Mutual, a team well down in the list, and won by the small margin of 9 —6. Woolworths and Central had an even game at Arthur street; the former team winning by 7 goals to 6. FOURTH GRADE , The Fourth Grade has proved one of the most interesting to . follow. D.1.C., Normal 1,-and Roslyn have been running very close for, cup points. Blue Bird struck form rather late in the season, otherwise they might have been in the first four.. As it is, they have given the others something to work for. A few' week ago they played an excellent game (to defeat D.1.C., and it was unfortunate that they, had to default their last match to Normal, who thus gained an advantage of two points over D.I.C. On Saturday last Blue Bird played Roslyn at Forbury. Unfortunately, the court had been top-dressed with a loose, sandy gravel, which made swift movement oyer the court almost impossible. Blue Bird played one short in the centre; ■ and Roslyn had an easy victory. The Roslyn forwards made full use of .their height by using long,. high passing. Many-low passes were intercepted by quick defensive work, Miss J. Davies being outstanding. . A good game was played between Normal I and D.1.C., the former winning by -11 goals to 6. Normal II had a narrow win against Central, with only one goal to spare <lo—9). Tinopai played .'well to defeat Rawhiti by 17 goals to 13, and Wesley accounted for Gipsy by 12 goals to 7. FIFTH GRADE St. John’s had an easy victory against Wesley by 14 goals to nil, and Blue Triangle, defeated North-East Valley by ,12 goals to 7. KNOCK-OUT TOURNAMENT On Tuesday evening a knockrout handicap tournament was held in Q Shed at the- wharf, the proceeds to be given to the Sports Queen Fund.' Fourteen teams enteredi and keen competition ensued. The results are as follows;,: — First Round. —Athletic. (+ 3) 4, Triangle (+ 3) 12; Roslyn (+ 4) 7, D.I.G. (4- 4) 8; First (+ 3) ; 7, Roslyn (+ *2): 8; First (-f 3) 5, Albany (4- 2) 9; St. John’s (+ 5) 5; Albany (scr). 10; Ex-Girls’ (scr) 4, Rawhiti (+' 2) 3; Rawhiti (+ 4) 9, Wesley (+ 5) 6. Second Round.—Triangle 12, D'.I.C. 8; Roslyn 7 r Albany 5; Albany 7, Ex-Girls I; - Rawhiti; a bye. Third Round.—Triangle 8; Roslyn 7; - Albany 20, Rawhiti 4. ' ■

,„ ' ! Filial. ■ ; ;■ ’ ! Albany 7, Triangle 6. TOURNAMENT NOTES .. The Dominion tournament, looked forward to with such high hopes by the members of Otago’s representative team, is now hut a pleasant memory. Much has already been written of the high standard of play attained in the final games and of the excitement created when Southland, ob the first day, defeated the holders of the New Zealand Cup, and thereby practically nullified Otago’s chances of retaining the cup. "Why did the Otago team fail to strike form? ” is.a question that has been asked by enthusiastic supporters of the home team. To , interested onlookers at the games played at Gisborne it was obvious that the Otago players had. none of that dash which had characterised the team play in the previous year at Invercargill. Some spectators who had witnessed several Dominion tournaments were definitely of the opinion that the team was suffering from "staleness.” It would be useless to make excuses for the team’s failure to strike, form. Practically all the teams playing in the major section had travelled some considerable distance to reach Gisborne, and that alone could not have been responsible for Otago’s failure to, put up a good showing against such teams as Wellington- and Auckland. A general description of the play of the various teams in the major section might prove of interest to readers. Auckland, the cup winners, played a very spectacular type of game, and from their very first appearance on the courts delighted the hundreds of onlookers. Last/year, at Invercargill, the Auckland .players were very disappointing in the form they showed, but, there was no doubt about the- fact that this year they had made a remarkable recovery. Once more their game showed all that, sparkle and dash which characterised it in years gone by. The pace they set was a very fast one, and frequently when the play wasi going against them they succeeded in reversing it by very clever pieces of interception. Their defence third was a strong one, all three players being particularly speedy on their feet and capable of clearing, frequently from very difficult positions. Thev seemed able to follow the play of the opposing forwards and adopted tactics which circumvented the attacking movements of, these players. All three centre players proved themselves capable of playing excellent basket ball. They had a thorough understanding of each other’s play, and brought to fruition some very fine movements. The whole three players were selected to play for the North Island team, a fact which surely speaks, for itself. In the forward third. Miss I. Stuart, who represented Otago last year, was the outstanding player, and proved herself an excellent goal-getter. Her plan of play was to. capture the ball from a movement initiated in the centre-third. She then made use of a neat pass to one of her supporting forwards, and usually succeeded in securing possession again in an excellent scoring position. Her speedy footwork and her finished handling ot the ball made her a great favourite with the crowds. The other forwards played excellent basket ball, and all tin ee combined to make the trio one of the most outstanding in the tournament. All nine players are to be congratulated upon the showing they made. The games in which they were participants always attracted a large crowd of spectators, a,nd the brilliance of many movements earned out by the eup-winmng team held the onlookers enthralled from start to. finish. Wellington were runners-up in the major section, suffering defeat once only during the progress of the tournament, at the hands of the speedier Auckland team, when lack of height seemed to be a contributing factor towards their defeat. Those who have followed Dominion tournaments during the course of the- last few years were interested to. note the appearance in the defence-third of Miss C Turner who has been, for some years past one of Auckland’s most outstanding players. Again. Miss Line captained the team, and proved herself very well worthy of this honour, her field work in the forward-third being particularly out-

standing. This team played very fine basket ball, but lacked just that finish which would have carried them to the top position in the tournament. In spite of that they put up a great fight against Auckland, and succeeded in holding this team until the last few minutes; of the game, when Auckland drew ahead and wrested victory from them. . Southland.—This team came into prominence early in the tournament by defeating Otago on the first day of the tournament. In this game they played very fast and clever basket ball, and, haying early established a comfortable lead, they were able to keep the Otago team from scoring sufficient goals to. make up the leeway. After this match it was felt that great things could be expected of this team, but they were unable, to maintain their speed and dash against. Auckland and Wellington. In spite of this ,they earned for themselves quite an honourable position, being placed third in the major section. Canterbury.—The Canterbury, players this year were a very much improved team. In the past they have been a team, of individualists, producing occasional clever movements, but lacking that conesion necessary for success. . This year they showed excellent combination nnd gave a very good account of themselves in all their matches. In their first match, against Wellington, they lost by the narrow margin of only one goal, Wellington scoring the deciding goal just before the call of time. , , , ~ , , Otago.—The matches played by the local representatives have already been fully reported. Nearly all matches in which Otago suffered defeat were lost by a very narrow margin, and while the team was beaten by nearly all the major provinces, it certainly was never disgraced. At times it was obvious that combination was lacking. Clever movements, initiated in one third, failed frequently because .the players in the next third were not in a position to capture the play at the critical moment. In the defence third, the players seemed unable to break through, attacking movements opened up by their opponents. In spite of this, they stuck grimly to their game, and made the opposing forwards work hard for every goal scored. : Hawke’s Bay.—ln spite of the fact.that this team had no wins to its credit, it really put up a very fine performance in every game played. All members of the team played with dash and vigour and ati moments made some excellent movements, but’ they were matched against very finished teams, and found it somewhat difficult to keep up with the pace set by the speedier- teams.