BASKETBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 5

BASKETBALL

By Attack

“Attack ” invites all those interested in basketball activities to forward contributions for insertion in this column. All contributions, addressed “Attack,” Times Office, must reach this office not later than Tuesday of each week. FIXTURE June 6—King’s Birthday Tournament, at Logan Park. PERSONAL Mrs R. S. Mclnnes was the guest of the Management Committee at afternoon tea last Saturday afternoon, when opportunity was taken of obtaining her views on the development of an international set of rules for the game. NOTICE TO PLAYERS The secretary of the association asks all captains, club officials and members to take note of the following:—Players must leave the grounds in a scrupulous condition. All orange peel and like matter should either be carried away or be placed in the receptacles which are available at most of the courts. Recently officials of the association were seen going round the courts and gathering in bags of orange peel. This, surely, is not a duty for those who give their time so willingly in the development of the game. Goal posts must also be laid on the ground at the completion of the game, with the rings uppermost. At Training College and Forbury School the poles must be put away in their respective receptacles. j, r. McKenzie s club The J. R. McKenzie’s Club is again fielding both a First Grade and a Third Grade team. The club supports all the projects of the association and, in fact, is usually the first to reply to its requests. It was unfortunate to lose the services of three of last year’s First Grade players—L. Lauren (defender), 'V. McAuslin (left-wing) and P. Reidy (forward)—their places being taken by K. McMullan, P. Smith and T. Hastie, who have been promoted from the Third Grade, and who are showing good promise in the higher grade. Thelma Hastie, in particular, is adapting, herself to the speedier play and is proving difficult to keep at bay. The defence third is still controlled by Anne Reidy, whose expert handling of the ball has been very noticeable in the games which have been played. M. Hastie gives solid support to A. Reidy and makes adequate use of her height. The other member of the defence third is P. Smith, one of the newly-promoted players. . . „_ TT The forward third consists of T. Hastie (from Third Grade), Isabel Barron and Mabel Morrison. The two lastnamed players are both hard workers, M. Moprison, perhaps, having slightly more initiative. The centre-third is showing more finish about its play. Both I. Millis and E. Morrison are combining very well with K. McMullan, the new player, and all are uniting in some excellent work. The team, on the whole, is showing marked improvement on last year’s play and is looking forward to a successful season. The Third Grade team is a comparatively new one, and so far has not attained last year’s standard of play; but in all probability as the season advances this will be remedied, and a very good combination will be developed.

KING'S BIRTHDAY TOURNAMENT Players are reminded of the handicap tournament to be held at Logan Park next Monday. . Play will be commenced at 1.30 p.m.. and all those wishing to fepend their holiday in this manner should enjoy a pleasant day. The previous King’s Birthday tournaments have been among the most enjoyable organised by the association, and everyone entering this year will have a full day's play. SATURDAY’S GAMES Excellent conditions prevailed for the opening matches last week, but a steady drizzle set in during the afternoon, which marred the closing stages of the last series of games. The game which excited most interest was that played between Albany I and Roslyn, last year’s winners and runners-up. The play did not reach the standard expected, Roslyn, in particular, not producing the form shown last year, so that the play was not of such an exciting nature. From an early stage in the game Albany obtained a lead which, by better handling of the ball and speedier play, it was able to maintain throughout. Mary McDonald excelled in her long shots at goal, while Marjory Sinclair, in the centre, played a sterling game. The Roslyn forwards, Barbara Knowles, Lorna Guthrie and Myra Gillies, did not receive a sufficient amount of the ball to improve their position, but otherwise their play was good. Elva Sinclair played most attractively in Albany’s defence area, and Clarice Batch,elor’s play showed definite improvement. Otago Girls’ High School was handicapped by its lack of height in the forward area. The team played very pretty basketball of an excellent type, and if the forwards can speed up their play to overcome their disadvantage in height greater success will follow. J. R. McKenzie's did not strike form for the first few minutes, but once it opened its score it added six goals before the school team found the net again. In the second half, it played with greater confidence, and added nine goals to its opponent’s two. Y.W.C.A. seemed to play far more to form and with more confidence than it did the previous Saturday, setting a standard of play that Albany II found difficult to maintain. Albany ll’s defenders, who had a difficult task in keeping off the Y.W.C.A. forwards, were the brightest members of Albany’s team, playing a good game and at times intercepting very well. Y.W.CA. was superior in the centre third, although Albany II played gamely and now and again Indulged in some good passing. The score in Y.W.C.A.’s favour of 11 —1 at half time and 22—2 at the end of the game indicates that play was very similar in both halves, Albany finding it difficult to score, owing to the strength of the Y.W.C.A, defence and also to lack of feeding from its own centres. Both Albany and Y.W.C.A. forwards would do well to remember not to get behind their opponents and to make their passes much shorter and quicker and more towards the goal. When Defiance and Woolworths met last Saturday both appeared to be in good form, but Woolworths, with its superior speed and combination, defeated Defiance by the comfortable score of 24 goals to 6. Defiance forwards. particularly Joy McKenzie, were fast, and proved themselves accurate shots at goal on the few occasions that they managed to get past Woolworths’ defence Violet Wig was' the most outstanding defender on the field, and was ably supported by June Mitchell and Barbara Moran. The centres on both sides showed excellent ability at snappy passing and intercepting. The Woolworths players excelled themselves right at the beginning of the game by getting the ball to their forwards, who scored within half a minute of the first whistle. Connie Wig and Joyce Himburg show good promise, and Morven Cornish, a new player to Otago, played a firstclass game. Defiance’s defence is definitely of the right type, and showed much promise. Ellie Godfrey being very prominent. Woolworths’ well-known forwards. Ngaire Clark, lona Fogarty, and Olga Ferguson, played together for the first tim° this year, and showed themselves, with their outstanding combination, to be on the very top of their form. Gladys Williamson was prominent in Defiance’s centre, but both Dolly Hill and Nancy Crighton played first-class games ANNUAL REPORT The following complete the importar‘ extracts from the annual report:— It presentative Fixtures.—The annual fix ,ires against Southland were played in Dunedin on the Logan Park courts on August 7. The representative game resulted in a win for the Southland team, which, on the day’s play, showed superior form, and deservedly captured

the Southland Cup. The B Grade fixture was a very fast and open game, Southland, however, again capturing the victory and winning the game with a margin of 5 goals. The North Otago fixtures were played in Oamaru on August 14. The game between North Otago and Otago B Grade was very evenly contested, the final score being 16—11 in favour of North Otago, the winners of the Taverner Cup. The North Otago B-Otago C Grade game was won by the Otago team, which thus become the first holder of the silver cup presented by Mrs Kinder. The South Otago-Otago C Grade fixture was played in Dunedin on August 28, and after a most exciting and even game resulted in a win for the South Otago team. The West Otago-Otago C Grade fixture was, for the first time, played in the sub-association’s district (at Heriot), and proved to be a very enjoyable game. The standard of play in the country distncr showed a definite improvement, but the home team was not able to rest the victory from the visiting side. New Zealand Tournament. —The 1937 New Zealand tournament was held at Auckland from August 30 to September 4. Weather conditions were fair, excessively heavy rain on one day . causing the games to be abandoned, but not before the competing teams had demonstrated their ability to rise above great handicaps. The Otago team did not strike form until well on in the tournament, so that its final position in the championship table was not very high. The form displayed in the latter games was of a very high order, and was of an equal standard with that of the championship team. Wellington is to be congratulated on recapturing . the New Zealand Cup, the form attained by it throughout the tournament being highly commendable. Auckland won the Annie Brown Cup, for runner-up, and also deserves congratulations for the position attained. Heartiest congratulations are extended to Miss Elva Sinclair on gaining New Zealand honours, and on being selected to tour Australia with the New Zealand team. Miss J. Clayton also deserves congratulations for inclusion in New Zealand trials. Misses E. Sinclair and J. Clayton and A. Edie also represented the South Island in the North v. South fixture. Selectors and Coach. —The selectors of the 1937 representative team were, Mrs F. Bartlett, Misses S. E. Foster and M. Fleming, the coach being Miss Foster. The selectors for the B and C Grade teams respectively were Miss O. Abbott and Mr J. Breese, Mrs A. Lockhart and Miss M. Gardner, the coach being Mrs E. McAughtrie.

Referees. —The association expresses its gratitude to all those who acted as referees in the competition and tournament games throughout the season. Congratulations are extended to Mrs E. McAughtrie on her gaining the New Zealand referees’ badge. Presentation of Trophies and Social. —The presentation of trophies took place at a social evening held in the Y.W.C.A. Hall. In place of the Fifth Grade banner (for the annual tournament), a silver cup was presented. In future, the policy of the association will be to replace filled-up banners with trophies of a like nature. Other social functions held during the year were a party at Mrs R. S. Black’s on the occasion of the visit of the Southland teams, and a luncheon at the Savoy and afternoon tea at. Logan Park on the occasion of the visit of the South Otago team. INTERHOUSE BASKETBALL Owing to the slippery condition of the courts, only two matches were played in the Y.W.C.A. interhouse fixtures last Saturday, other matches being postponed until later in the season. Standard did not extend Blackies 1, as was expected, Blackies I winning bv 9 goals to 5. K.P., which has not lost in the second section this season, played a good game, defeating Regal by 11 goals to 4. Ryta Reid, in the forward third, and A. Reid, in the centre third, are both dependable players for K.P., and with a little more experience should develop into very good players. All interhouse teams wishing to enter for the tournament on the King’s Birthday please leave word at the Y.W.C.A. before Saturday.