BASKETBALL

Putaruru Press, Volume XIX, Issue 1149, 6 September 1945, Page 8

BASKETBALL

DOMINION TOURNAMENT Notes And Comments (Contributed.) The decision of the Matamata Basketball Association to send a representative team to th e Dominion tournament was justified by the results. The 1941 team won the third grade trophy and applied for regrading into the second grade. This gave the 1945 team the opportunity to meet seven teams all based on centres much larger than their own. ' The winners, Manawatu, have Palmerston North as their centre, Poverty Bay has Gisborne, South Canterbury Timaru, Hutt Valley Lower Hutt, Taranaki New Plymouth, Ro-torua-Bay of Plenty draw from Rotorua and Whakatane, and Ashburton from a town three or four times larger than bur own. Matamata had two wins and a draw, and two very close games with two other teams, gaining fifth place, equal with South Canterbury and Hutt Valley. Had the team had a little more experience of tournament play the result might have been a great deal better, but the experience gained this year will be very valuable for the future. Though unavoidable, it was unfortunate that the team had to play on the day of arrival after two full days travelling. Next year the tournament is to be held at Tauranga, so that participation will be a much simpler matter. Games Described The tournament teams and matches were as follows: Goalers, M. Beverley (captain), J. Cowley, J. wiiliams, M. Emslie; centres, N. Pond (vice-captain), j. Sampson, N. Dobson, D. Oranswick; defenders, T. McCarthy, D. Cockerton, V. Kirk, G. Devine.

Matamata v. Poverty Bay: A draw 13—13. Matamata had slightly the better of the play with 28 shots at goal against 26 by Poverty Bay. M. Beverley 6, M. Emslie 7. There ’were 20 interceptions (N. Pond 5, T. McCarthy 5), and very few penalties. Matamata v. Ashburton: Won 19 —7. Matamata had the best of the game throughout, with 33 shots at goal to 15 by Ashburton. There were 31 interceptions (T. McCarthy 7, D. Cockerton 7, V. Kirk 5). The centre Qombingtipn improved, The goal was spoilt by two players baing frequently at the goal when the third one held the ball at the line. This resulted in a long throw, often inaccurate. Scorers were M. Beverley 9, J. Cowley 4, M. Emslie 5. Matamata v. Rotorua-Bay of Plenty: Lost 9—ll. This was a very hard game, in doubt until the whistle blew. The team was upset through the frequent penalising of one very experienced player whose play has never before been questioned, and who played a brilliant game throughout the tournament. D. ■Cockerton intercepted eight times, and was outstanding throughout the game. , tQoals were scored by M. Emslie 6, M. Beverley 2, J. Williams 1. Rotorua had 28 .attempts at goal to Matamata’s 20. Matamata v. Manawatu: Lost 11 —29. Manawatu came through the tournament unbeaten. This was Matamata’s best game of the tournament, the play over the field being almost even (Matamata 30 attempts .at goal, Manawatu 34). Manawatu’s goaling was -very .accurate. Tjifiy scored 12 in a line, and missed .only .one goal, ip the first half and four ' in the second. Both teams played. a clean, fast game. There were fine interceptions on both sides (D. Cockerton 10, V. Kirk 7). It is interesting to note that Manawatu do not allow long shots at goal. Any player who cannot get near the goal to shoot is not considered for the team. M. Beverley scored all 11 goals for Matamata in this game, M. Emslie injuring a thumb during the game. Manawatu will almost certainly play in the first grade in future, having won the second grade twice in succession.

Matamata v. Hutt Valley: Lost 21—24. Matamata had. the best of this game at halfrtime, when the score stood at 15—7. This was the most uneven game from the point of view of attempts at goal (Matamata 30, Hutt 41), but this was largely due to the fact that the goaling combination was not very successful, a great many shots being sent right past the goal-post. M. Beverley scored 20, J. Cowley 1. There were .24 interceptions altogether (T. McCarthy 7, D. Cockerton 5).

i' Matamata v. Taranaki: Won 21— 15. This W3s a verv nleasant game, clean, with few penalties. D. CoekI erton was brilliant in interception. gaining 10 of the 29 durincr the 1 game. N. Pond also played brilliantly intercepting five times. This is outstanding in centre play where the onen court allows little chance to intercept. Matamata: had 30 attempts at goal to Taranaki’s 28. M. Beverley scored 14, J. Cowley 7, missing only one shot. -i

Matamata. v. South Canterbury. Lost 9—17. Again Matamata had the best of the play (31 —27) but the goaling was not accurate enough. M. Beverley scored 7 goals, M. Emslie 3. There were 24 interceptions (D. Cockertcm 8, G. Devine 5, N. Porid 5). Games Analysed An analysis of all games played shows that Matamata had 2uß attempts at goal ag.ainst 199 by opponents, and therefore a silgnc advantage in neiu play. Matamata actually scored 103, opponents lro. From this it can be interred tnat tne team on the whole is superior in tne grade, the goaling a little below the average. Had A. Gray, who was selected but who was unfortunately unable to play, been present the team would almost certaimy have come through. A good deal of the time was spent in trying out goaling combinations, no combination present having had any experience previously. Young goalers in the district should take to heart the lesson learnt by this year’s team. Coaling ' should be taken as hear the goal as possible, never at a distance. Speed in the goal third is absolutely essential. The ball should reach shooting position before the defenders get to position. Goals should be high, dropping almost straight. If a goal is too short or if it spins out, the igoaler should rectify the fault at once. Full time should be taken for goaling. Coalers should always aim to bring themselves to an advantageous position when taking the pass before shooting. It is difficult to sum up the contribution made by each player to the success of a team. Some points are easily judged—e.g., goaling—but equally important in the goal is the ability to feed into the goal. This was the weakest department of the team's game. The centre was always adequate and worked up a good combination. N. Pond directed the play from the throw-off and intercepted on an average of three times a game, interception in the centre court being most ■ difficult owing to the fact that play is open. J. Sampson and N. Dobson averaged 14 interceptions, and ably supported N. Pond in opening moves. In the defence, the back defender has most opportunity, but the average of seven a game by D. Cockerton was brilliant and contributed greatly *o the result. T. McCarthy, with somewhat less opportunity, must share the honours with an average of. 44 interceptions. The defence third was the best over the tournament, V. Kirk contributing an average of four interceptions and G. Devine 34. Intercepting in the goal is a very difficult feat. M. Beverley and J. Williams have an average of one a game.

Absence of penalties also contributes, to a game’s success. The Matamata team had a good record throughout the tournament. On the whole the referees made a> clear statement when a fault occurred and the players noted it well. The record of penalties was not complete, but it shows very little difference -between players throughout the tournament.