BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21420, 15 June 1931, Page 9

BASKETBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES. OPENING OF NEW COMPETITION. Saturday marked the opening of the new basketball competition, which has been enlarged considerably in consequence of the adoption of the universal half-holiday. Altogether 14 games were played in the four grades, 12 taking place at the Waihopai Courts and two being decided at Makarewa. In the first grade Kiwi narrowly defeated Rata, a hitherto undefeated team, and Collegiate vanquished Makarewa, in a keen game played on the Makarewa School Courts. Kennington, a new club, had two teams entered in the fourth grade competition and one of them, the A team, defeated Kiwi. Results of. the games are as follows:— FIRST GRADE. KIWI (12) v. RATA (10). Kiwi —R. Reid, R. Murdoch, K. Jones (forwards) ; R. Wilkes, S. Murdoch, E. Dempster (centres); G. Twemlow, L. McGregor, E. Thomas (defenders.) Rata —M. Rodger, M. McCurdy, K. Macpherson (forwards) ; M. Royds, M. Basstian, K. Webb (centres) ; M. Shand, G. Basstian, G. Bamford (defenders). Froln the first throw-up the Kiwi centres fed their forwards and R. Murdoch goaled. S. Murdoch secured and sent to E. Dempster to K. Jones, to R. Murdoch, who goaled. The centres sent the ball to their home‘third. M. McCurdy was awarded an unguarded throw but her shot missed and the ball went over the end-line. The ball travelled to the Kiwi home-third and they looked certain to secure a goal but G. Bamford, by a brilliant jump, knocked the ball out of touch. From the throw-in the Kiwi forwards secured and K. Jones goaled. The Rata forwards attacked their goal but a passing movement between M. Rodger and M. McCurdy broke down. For an infringement by a Rata defender R. Reid was awarded an unguarded throw at goal and succeeded. A few moments later M. McCurdy scored Rata’s first goal from an unguared pass. At the end of a swift passing movement by the Kiwi defenders, centres and forwards, R. Murdoch goaled. From the throwrup the ball travelled to the Rata home-third where M. McCurdy goaled. While the ball was in the Rata defence third G. Bamford secured and sent to K. Webb, to M. Royds but S. Murdoch intercepted the next pass and in doing so went out of her third. M. Rodger missed a shot in front of her goal, the ball going out of touch. M. McCurdy secured from the throw-

in and tried a long shot. She missed, the ball rolling around the ring. Kiwi started a passing movement from the throw-in and the ball went to their forwards. The Rata defence was sound and R. Murdoch attempted a shot from what seemed to be an impossible distance and succeeded. With the ball once again in their home third the Rata forwards attacked vigorously. K. Macpherson passed to M. Rodger, to M. McCurdy, to K. Macpherson but they were unable to get near their goal and the shot missed. Half-time was sounded with the score: Kiwi 8, Rata 2. Kiwi signalized the opening of the seccond half by attacking strongly but Rata opened the scoring, M. McCurdy converting. Kiwi were not to be deterred, however, and a few moments later, K. Jones goaled. At the conclusion of a period of solid attacking M. Rodger stored for Rata. Each team scored another goal each in the space of a few minutes. The height of the Kiwi defenders was proving a drawback to the smaller Rata forwards. R. Reid goaled and the score stood at Kiwi 11, Rata 5. From a throw-up Rata sent play to their forward third and M. McCurdy goaled. G. Bamford secured in the Rata defence third and sent to M. Royds, to K. Webb, to M. Rodger, who goaled. After M. McCurdy had converted from a long distance out she scored again making the score Kiwi 11, Rata 9. In the semi-darkness Kiwi commenced passing and in their home third K. Jones was awarded an unguarded throw and goaled. From the throw-up Rata sent the ball to their forwards for K. Macpherson to goal almost on time. Kiwi 12, Rata 10. Mr N. Hamilton refereed

COLLEGIATE (22) v. MAKAREWA (17). Collegiate—Molly Wright, Mabel Wright, J. Blackburn (forwards) ; E. Shepherd, D. Deegan, J. Adamson (centres) ; R. Henry, E. Small, J. Hunter (defenders). Makarewa —L. Sheffelbein, L. Glennie (forwards) ; R. Waldron, R. Clark, L. Ward (centres) ; M. Bassett, M. Clark, I. McDonald (defenders.) The game was fast throughout but the keenness of the players in both teams made the game develop signs of roughness. In the early stages the game was even but the Collegiate centres began to show superiority and the ball went to their forwards more frequently. The half-time score was: Collegiate 10, Makarewa 6. In the opening stages of the second half Makarewa attacked strongly and scored three goals in quick succession. Play was fast and. there was some good passing. The game ended with the score Collegiate 22, Makarewa 17. Mrs R. S. Mclnnes was referee.

SECOND GRADE. i COLLEGIATE (18) v. MAKAREWA (16). ‘ Play was very even throughout the ball travelling regularly up and down the field. The Court had been newly marked out in 1 ' the morning and was slippery, causing a ! good deal of sliding among the players. C. ' , Aitkinson was outstanding in the Makarewa ■ , centre third but the Collegiate forwards lost a good deal of their combination near the ' 1 end of the game. The Makarewa forwards ' played well. At half-time the score was Collegiate 9, Makarewa 8. Mrs R. S. Mclnnes refereed the game. PIRATES (12) v. ST. MARY’S (7). . The half-time score was Pirates 7, St. ' Mary’s 3, but the former increased their superiority, and their lead, in the second i half. The passing of the St. Mary's team was good but the Pirates centres and forwards were too good. Pirates showed evidence of better combination than their opponents. Mr N. Hamilton refereed the . game. RATA (17) v. KIWI (16). This was a very fine game but the Rata forwards marred their play by losing too many opportunities. There was little difference between the teams but tne Kiwi forwards were more accurate than their opponents. Kiki were leading at half-time by seven goals to five. Mr Weir was referee. SECOND GRADE REPRESENTATIVE TRIALS. The following players are requested to attend practice at the Drill Hall on Thurs- ' day next at 6 p.m.:—A. Abbey Jones, A. Latta, P. Smith, A. Jack, C. Garth (Pir- ' ates), M. Godward, L. Compbell, G. Strath- ’ ern, R. Butson, H. Ryan (Collegiate), N. Basstian, F. Hinchey, S. Warden, J. Kelly, K. Cutt (High School), I. Foster, J. Anj drews, N. Rodger (Rata), E. Brown, J. Hilton (Kiwi), M. Fitzgerald, J. Deegan (St. Mary’s), K. Mcßandle, C. Atkinson (Makarewa). THIRD GRADE. : ST PETER’S (13) v. KIWI (4). St. Peter’s were only three goals ahead ’ at half-time, the score being 3 —o, but. in the second half they showed an all-round ■ improvement and won easily. Kiwi played , with only two forwards. Mrs Batchelor con- : trolled the game. ! COLLEGIATE (20) v. CENTRAL (0).

Central were leading at half-time by nine goals to four but the combination of the

Collegiate team proved superior in the second half. Mr Calder refereed. ST. MARY’S (11) v. EXHIBITION (8). St. Mary’s were leading at half-time by six goals to three and maintained their lead to win easily. The handling of the Exhibition defenders was good. Mrs Johnston refereed the game. Pirates won from Bluff by default. FOURTH GRADE. Bluff (20) v. St. Peters (17). Kennington A (14) v. Kiwi (11). Makarewa (31) v. Kennington B (5). Collegiate (14) v. Central (5). St. Mary’s (17) v. Rata (14). Haynco (8) v. H. and J. Smith’s (1).