BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 20790, 3 June 1929, Page 4

BASKETBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES. Matches in the Saturday competition were played in good weather. There was no outstanding game, but play, in both senior and intermediate games was well up to standard. The resulrs of the matches are as follows :— SENIOR. COLLEGIATE (22) v. ST. PETER’S (6). From the first whistle the .Collegiate team played with a will, the performance, in consequence being better than any previously put up by a team of this club. The combination was good and the passing in all thirds showed a decided improvement. Collegiate had much the better of the game, but .the St. Peter’s defence players were successful many times in keeping the ball away from the opposing shoots. The St. Peter's team shows evidence of careful coaching but lacks the experience of the other senior teams. The centres have not yet learned to watch where they are passing and throw the ball at times right into the hands of the opposing defences. There is good material in the shooting third, but the players are easily upset by the tactics of the opposing defences. The defences play a sound game, and are at present, the strongest part of the team. Collegiate shoots were well on their game and C. Shaw scored some remarkable goals. She was well supported by E. Botherway and R. McGill. The half-time score was 11—2 in favour of Collegiate. MAKAREWA (161 v. ST. MARY’S (4). St. Mary’s played a good game in this match against a much stronger team. The game was more even than 'the score indicates and improved considerably in the second half. The combination of the St. Mary’s team has much improved, but the players do not make use of the strong attacking movement of the Makarewa team. For the first few minutes of play there was no score, J. Cahill at last scoring for St. -Mary’s from a pass from D. Stone. From the next throw-up, D. Dennis secured and passed to R. Waldron who passed to the goal third. Here M. Wright secured and passed to N. Beer who scored a good goal. During the remainder of the first half, the St. Mary’s goal third was very often the centre of play, but the shoots although they worked hard and secured the ball often, were unable to score be,cause of the excellent defence work of the Makarewa players. N. Beer scored three more goals for Makarewa and W. Bell one, before the half-time whistle. The play of both teams improved in the second half, and the ball was sent by swift passing movements from goal to goal. The players in the Makarewa centre thus kept the shoots well supplied with the ball, the shoots on many occasions making good use of their opportunities. St. Mary’s centres were also securing well, but the shoots although they were catching well, were again prevented by the work of the defence players of the Makarewa team, from adding many goals to their score. The final score was Makarewa (16), St. Mary’s (4). Mr Hamilton refereed. BLUFF (14) v. RATA (5). This game was played at Bluff and was by no means as one-sided as the score indicates. Both teams played well, Bluff being more accurate and more sure of catching the ball than the Rata team. The Bluff goal throwers missed many opportunities of scoring. There was a distinct lack of personal contact. INTERMEDIATE. ROSEDALE. (21) v.’KIWI (10). Rosedale had much the better of this game, ’Kiwi playing in a half-hearted manner from the first whistle. The 'Kiwi players can do better having at times given good exhibitions of intermediate basketball. The Rosedale players, although undoubtedly the superior team, did not play with the combination displayed last Saturday. 'Kiwi must be prepared to lose matches until the shoots learn to get away from the opposing defences. Five free throws at goal were given against Rosedale players for personal contact and overguarding. It is hoped that a team which play? such good intermediate basketball will remedy these unpleasant faults. Mr Dennis controlled the game.

MAKAREWA (18) v. COLLEGIATE (1). Play in this game is fairly well indicated by the score. The Collegiate team playing three emergencies, had little combination, and found it almost impossible to get. the ball away from the Makarewa players, or to prevent the Makarewa goal-throwers from scoring. The Makarewa team played the steady game, which has enabled, them to defeat. the other intermediate teams in the Saturday competition. Mr Kinross refereed.