ANOTHER ALL BLACK

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1246, 11 September 1947, Page 6

ANOTHER ALL BLACK

MISS DIXIE COCKERTON Joins Distinguished Company Advice was received in Ma la mat ;i on Monday that the selectors to the Xew Zealand Basketball Association had chosen Miss Dixie Cockerton, of of Matamata club, as a. menjber of the Xew Zealand team. The selection is particularly meritorious as the Matamata team played in the B grade at the recent Dominion tournament. Miss Cockerton had previously been selected in the North Island team, an honour won in previous years by Mrs. Pond, of Hinuera, a team-mate, who was not able to travel with the Matamata representative team this season, owing to illness. This is the first time that a New Zealand women's basketball team has been selected for a long period, the last team being chosen before the out break of war. Miss Cockerton is a school teacher, on the stall' of the Tirau School, and is prominent in a number of sports. She has represented Matamata at baseball and cricket and in the opinion of a Waikato authority would gain New Zealand honours in the former game with more coaching and experience. A competent judge has rated her cricket ability very highly, hut her form in this game is' handicapped by the fact that She also plays baseball and thus is inclined to a “ cross-bat ” stroke. Her fielding, however, is of the highest standard and would gain her a place in very many men s teams- In one game last year she won the match for the Matamata girls’ club by taking three brilliant hard-driven catches on the boundary for each of which she had to travel some distance. Itecently Miss Cockerton has taken up golf and in view of her powerful hitting at baseball and cricket her progress will be watched with interest. It is interesting to note that the Matamata district has earned quite a reputation for producing high-class exponents of . various sports. In rugby Dave Solomon won All Black honours and Bill Carlson and Bill Warrender went close in trial games. Dr. “ Jimmy ” Laurenson and the Misses Margaret and Nessie Beverley have won the highest honours in tennis, and Miss Joyce Clothier toured Australia last season with a New Zealand cricket team. In athletics, “ Duff ” Potter, of the Matamata club, likewise distinguished himself in long-distance foot races.