BASKETBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23225, 24 June 1937, Page 14

BASKETBALL

By Attack Contributions are requested for ffjis column from all those interested 1 in basketball. All contributions. i*ldressed to "Attack," care of the Otago Daily Times Office, must reach tsis office not later than Tuesday of each week. \ PERSONAL One regrets to hear that Miss Nellie*, Miller, a member of the Training Col-'" lege Club, will not be able to take the I field again this season. This is particularly unfortunate in that Miss Miller was to participate in the trials game for the representative team. Miss Myra Gillies, a member of the Roslyn team, unfortunately lost her watch at Logan Park last Saturday, probably in the vicinity of the gate. She would be very pleased to recover it. ROSLYN v. ALBANY I The match between the two leading teams in the competition. Albany I and Roslyn, was played at Logan Park under conditions that were not conducive to good basketball. A cold biting wind made matters unpleasant for both players and spectators, but desuite these conditions both teams gave of their best and Roslyn is to be congratulated on lowering the colours of Albany, who has had an unbeaten record for the last three years. Roslyn was at the top of its form and although Miss M. Scott, with a neat shot, opened the score for Albany. Miss B. Knowles evened for Roslyn. From then on till the end of the first spell Roslyn held the advantage, goals being scored by Miss Guthrie 3. Miss Knowles 2 and Miss Gillies 1. while Miss Scott scored for Albany. Roslyn was definitely on top in this spell, its positional play, handling and shooting being superior to Albany’s, which was not playing up to form, both centres and defence being caught out of position on several occasions, while the forwards were ’not combining well and were finding it difficult to break through the solid Roslyn defence. The start of the second spell was marked by a strong attack by Roslyn, but its shot at goal failed. A nice combined movement by Albany followed but the forwards found shooting difficult owing to the strong wind. The ball was soon on its way to the Roslyn forwards, who made no mistake with the shot at goal, Miss Guthrie netting, making the score 7—2. A counter-attack was then launched by Albany, who was now striking something like the form that is expected from this team. Miss Scott netting from close in. 3—7. Roslyn was not to be denied, and soon retaliated. Miss Knowles, who was easily the best player on the court, netting after the ball had passed through several hands in a very workmanlike manner. Score, B—3 Both teams now began to settle down to their work, and the spectators were treated to an excellent exhibition of the code. Miss Scott was the next successful shooter, and brought the score to 4—3. Miss Gillies then scored for Roslyn. this being followed bv a shot hv Miss Guthrie, making the score 10-M. At (his stage there appeared to be only one team on the ground, but Albany came back with great dash. Miss Farquharson netting after every player in the team had handled the ball, making the score s—lo. Albany again captured in the centre. Miss' Macdonald adding the sixth goal. Miss Gillies then finished o(T a good movement, making the score lI—G. Miss Macdonald added another for Albany and Miss Gillies one for Roslvn. making the score 12—7. Albany was now on top, Miss M'Donald scoring twice before (he blowing of the final whistle, the game ending with the score standing at 12—9 in Roslyn's favour. Mrs E. M’Aughlrie ably controlled the game. TRAINING COLLEGE TOURNAMENT The annual tournament between the Christchurch and Dunedin Training Colleges was held this week in Dunedin. The basketball fixture was played yesterday, and proved to be a very fast and exciting game. The play of the local girls reached a very high standard, and exceeded that shown by 1 them in their earlier games. The final

score, 14—9 in favour of Dunedin, was a fair indication of the merits of both teams.

Christchurch threw off, but Dunedin’s defence saved well. Play passed quickly from one end to the other, and within two minutes M. Carrad (Dunedin) scored with a nicely-placed shot. After some ragged play M. Carrad scored again. Six minutes after the opening of play F. Tichbon (Christchurch) scored. N. Ridley (Dunedin) scored next. Good interceptive work on the part of L. Relat (Christchurch) changed the play to the Christchurch goal, and Christchurch added another another point. Score, 3—2. The Dunedin forwards bunched too much to the side line, leaving no one in goal to receive a pass. The ball travelled down to Christchurch shooting third, returned to Dunedin’s goal, where after good passing M. Carrad KDunedin) scored again. Almost im- ' mediately Christchurch retaliated. JScore 4—3. • M. Carrad (Dunedin) added two ?nore goals in quick succession, Score at half time, 6 —3.

In the second half Dunedin opened w.ith the pass, and N. Ridley Dunedin) scored. Score, 7—3.

■.Speedy passing again enabled N. Ridley (Dunedin) to score. Christchurch brought the score to B—4. The OUnedin team were combining well and; passing steadily. Scores were adffled alternately, then Dunedin got twji in quick succession. Score, 11—6. Qhristchurch forwards were continually blocked by Dunedin’s solid defence, and were compelled to shoot front too far out. Dunedin scored two morq. and then both sides scored alterniitely. Good combined play between the Dunedin forwards enabled N. Ridlelv to score 1 again. Christchurch scored two goals in quick succession, and attain after ragged play. The, score at time was Dunedin 14, Christchurch 9. Both', teams took a little while to settle down, and there was at first a gooq deal of fumbling. Dunedin soon bej;an to steady, but Christchurch never suemed quite to find itself. The Dunedin team produced greater speed than in its previous matches, the most marked '.improvement being noticed among tl-jo forwards, who were unfortunately without N. Miller, whose field work is particularly brilliant. J. Allan, who replaced her, played a splendid game in the field. M. Carrad’s shooting was, a<s usual, unfailingly reliable, and her fivld work much improved. N. Ridley (also shot well, while the three combined well. D. Swift was the most outstanding of three very fast centres. Jail of whom passed with great accuracy and intercepted well, though at tinxes there was a tendency to play too mjuch down the side line. It would be difficult to single out any defence ini particular. All three played most steadily and accurately. Christchurch 'rfiid not succeed in combining as well as they usually do, and, on the whole, had the advantage of height. Dunedin was, however. quicker ajnd more accurate in every third, constantly forcing Christchurch to have trecour.se to the long pass. The strongest Christchurch play was in the-, centre, where the handling was sure* but in the second half both sides achieved some brilliantly speedy passing—particularly in centre and goal. Of the Christchurch defence G. Avery, vaho is well known among local players} as an ex-Otago University player, outstanding.

Y.VV.C.A. The Y.W.C.A. Grade learn played a greatly-improved game last Saturday, and had the game form been demonstrated in its earlier game the team would have given much sterner opposition to the opposing sides. One could see the elTects ofi the coaching which it has enjoyed, andj with greater application to the points which are being stressed it will be\ possible for the team to raise the standard of its play even more yet. Q. Phelan, in the centre. showed more of her old form and seemed to have improved within the last week. She certainly possessed a great deal more vim and dash, and wavs responsible for many nippy openings. Myrtle Todd, playing her first gamut; for the season, seemed to strengthen the centre also. Her position in 'the 1936 team was in the defensive third, where she gave yeoman service, but after her display on Saturday one fcyals that she will do just as effective Work in the new position. 1 Another player showing marked improvement is Audrey Butler, who last year played for Puruhati (Second Grade), the few games si c has played in the First Grade have increased her

speed, and, although she is still rather slow in passing to her fellow forwards, she has conquered her old habit of shooting as soon as she received the ball irrespective of her own or her companions’ positions.

Y.W.C.A. staged a very enjoyable indoor handicap tournament last Tuesday, when practically all the teams under its jurisdiction (both club and interhouse) participated. The tournament was organised and controlled by Mrs E. M'Aughtrie and Miss H. Hyslop, who must be complimented on the excellent arrangements made. The 18 teams taking part enjoyed three games each, the successful competitor being Methven’s, which was playing on the top of its form. The other finalist was Y.W.C.A. Third Grade. The hall was packed to overflowing, and, despite the distractions, the standard of play was very creditable, this being particularly noticeable on the part of the interhouse teams, who all show greatly imnroved form. Y.W.C.A. enjoyed another gala night on Thursday, when the senior team played Y.M.C.A. Residents. Two games were played one according to the association’s rules, and one following the men’s game The Residents won both games, the score of the nine-a-side being 15—13 in their favour. In the five-a-side game the girls lacked combination and were not sure of their positions. The men, of course, had the advantage in height, but nevertheless a great improvement was noted in Jheir play.

SOUTHLAND’S QUEEN CARNIVAL Miss Ethel Neame (Collegiate) was the successful queen in Southland's Queen Carnival. Second and third positions were won by Miss Dorothy Meffin (J. R. M'Kenzie’s) and Miss Joyce Kelly (Rata) respectively.