THE HARRIERS

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 15

THE HARRIERS

(By

“Hare.”)

INVERCARGILL OLEH

LAST SATURDAY’S BIG MUSTER

Last Saturday saw the biggest muster since the formation of the Invercargill Harrier Club, participate in the sixth run from the St. George School. The distance covered was approximately 9-J miles, and was over the best country so far experienced. From the school east some good open country was had first, and the trail then led along the road toward the Seaward Bush endowment. Through the bush the two packs had a non-stop run on an excellent track about 11 miles long, eventually emerging at Tisbury. Continuing on the newlyformed road for a short ’distance the paper was followed across country to the railway line about half a mile above Tisbury station, where the trail branched on to the road and thence home to the school.

The going was not difficult at any stage and the fast pack under Crceser, the deputy-captain, and Black covered the distance in good time. The captain, B. Provo, was in charge of the slow pack, the members of which, considering it was practically their first run, performed creditably. R. Creeser continues to lead the pack home, but others who are never far behind are J. Loudon, W. Pickard, G. Mcßurncy and J. M. Black.

It is pleasing to note that more are now taking advantage of the training run at the Showgrounds each Tuesday night. If mem. bers wish to get as fit as possible they should have at least one other run each week besides the run on Saturday. If it can be done, a run on the road during the week will be found to be a big help in getting the legs in trim for road work. With plenty of clothes on, this run can be taken in practically any sort of weather, and will serve most of those who have any surplus weight to come off. Members are again reminded that the first club race will probably take place three weeks from to-day. As yet it is not decided what the distance will be, but it will probably be two miles fiat. It is expected that every member will compete, and to further their chances they should get in all the runs they can beforehand. To-day the run will take place from the Railway Social Hall, next to the Southland County Council office, Liddel street, at 2.30 p.m. sharp.

BASKETBALL

(By “Defence.”)

Primary schools’ tournament this morning at 9 o’clock. If wet it will be held on the first fine Saturday following. Information can be obtained by ringing 1608. Our congratulations to Bluff who have at long last obtained permission to use courts in their own town enabling them to have matches again in Bluff. Bluff residents complain that they are always being asked for money for basketball but never see any games. The fault was neither with the Southland Association nor with the Bluff Club. The former has always been willing to send matches to the country where there is a full-sized court, and the latter has been making determined efforts for two seasons to get a full-sized court. I suspect the fault lies with at least some of the Bluff residents themselves. There will be games in Bluff for the rest of the season.

To-day the third grade match with St. Peter’s and the fourth grade with Kiwi will be played there. Town players will catch the 1.45 p.m. train and the games will be played on arrival. Mr Kinross will referee and Mrs Johnston take the score. Official forms and score cards will be sent from town and are to be returned to the referee after the match.

At Makarewa to-day will be played the second grade match Makarewa v .Rata with' Miss Roberts as referee and Miss Dennis as scorer.

The remaining matches will be played in town. A bell will be rung at 2.28 p.m. and all teams are to go on to their respective courts at once. Players will help the executive considerably- if they obey this request promptly. The match between Kia Ora and St. Mary's will not be ' played as St. Mary’s cannot field a team. In this respect I might point out that, all teams are to be prepared to play every week whether or not they know that ordinarily they have a bye. The executive is always desirous of arranging extra games for country players and if these are keen enough to pay their expenses then the town players must be willing to assist.

the Otago Association is arranging practice games for all girls who live at home, are out of -work, or are working only parttime. The idea is excellent and might be followed here also. Would any players or non-players who would care to have this practise ring 1283? Exhibition having been granted a regrade a new draw has had to be made for the fourth grade. Will all fourth grade players please note this. Except in very exceptional cases all fourth grade matches are played at. 2.30, so it is mostly these players who have to remember to be in their places each week at 2.28. And what is the matter with some players this season? Two teams last week played short and one the week before. The defaulting girls should remember they are spoiling the afternoon not only for their own team, but also for the opponents. No one wants to play nine against eight or seven and Southland has a by-law to the effect that except in the case of accident causing a team to play short, the opposing side shall not put a girl off. This rule was framed because it seemed unfair that the team which turned up in full force should be penalized for the side that didn’t field nine players. . That the first grade match between Kiwi and Rata shall be re played was the decision of the executive lust week. The game codld have been awarded to Rata who however was very anxious that this should not be done as E. Thomas did not win the game for Kiwi. It appears that a couple of years ago a lower grade team played a Training College girl on holiday and

nothing was said. The only reason for that was that the happening was not brought before the notice of the executive.

St, Mary’s were reprimanded for playing a girl in two matches on the same day and for putting in the box an incorrect list of names. The latter offence is much more serious because it is very difficult to detect. In this case the captain filled in the list before she arrived at t the courts and when the required player did not arrive forgot to change her list. Captains please notice that your team is liable to be suspended if you are discovered having put in an incorrect list. The onus is on you.

Those in charge of the Drill Hall are at present extremely wrathful with all basketbailers and of course their wrath falls on the head of the president. There is a tin marked “rubbish.” Would you all notice it and put your papers etc. in it, otherwise the privileges accorded us will be withdrawn and you are all aware how valuable the Drill Hall has been to us this year. Will the coaches and captains please see that everything is left in order before the lights are put out after each practice. And remember if any team fails to carry her share of the responsibility the Drill Hall is debarred to everyone.

One referee has asked me again to mention about the wearing of incorrect uniform and the persistence of some players in keeping! on their rings and bracelets and necklaces. I hope this is the last time I shall need to mention this, and if you have not taken notice and the referee orders you off the field do not be surprised. The new notice" board just inside the fence on court 4 met with whole-hearted approval on Saturday. Here all the scores for the day are entered as the score cards are returned. Scorers and referees are reminded that the official cards are placed below the notice board ill one tin’ and are to be returned to the second tin when filled in and signed by the referee. This method will we hope prevent, wrong scores being given to the Press, causing annoyance to them and to the teams concerned. Thanks are due to Mr Cutt for making and putting up the notice board.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT. There is great excitement, amongst the younger basketbailers in Southland, because to-day they are having a tournament and I hope that the teachers seeing their pleasure will not feel that the time given to refereeing this morning is wasted. Will those in charge of each team please notify the ground steward, Mrs R. S. Mclnnes, as soon as they arrive, when they will be told on which court to play first. The draw and results will be placed on a board outside the pavilion. There are a good number of games to be played, each team having at least four, so that doing promptly as you are asked will help. Also the courts are being lent by her senior association free of charge; therefore will you all combine to see that the pavilion and courts are left quite tidy and free from rubbish. The draw for the first two rounds was published on Wednesday. Here are the sections in which each team is placed— Senior: Section A, commence 9.30 a.m.— Makarewa. Waihopai, Waikiwi, East Gore, St. Catherine’s. Section B, 9.30 a.m. — Middle, St. George, St. Joseph’s, Gore A, Bluff. Section C, 10 a.m. —Winton, Gore B, Gorge Road, South, North. Juniors: Section A, 9.15 a.m.—Middle, Makarewa, Waihopai, South, St. Catherine’s, North. Section B, 9.45 a.m.—St. George, St. Joseph’s, East Gore, Bluff, Waikiwi. The secretary of the Primary Schools’ Association has received a letter from Otago inviting an A and B team to travel to Dunedin on August 1. This will be considered at the next meeting of the committee.

The S.B.A. has invited Canterbury to send a first and second grade team to Invercargill this season. Canterbury plays a different style of game from Southland, but the Associations are evenly matched and we hope that the invitation is accepted.

Invitations have been sent to Eastern and Central Districts, also Queenstown, for games with the second grade reps.

FINANCE. I would be very glad if clubs holding functions to raise funds would remember to let me know about them. It is only by accident mostly that I discover that something is being done. _ St. Peter’s had a tournament on their own courts some time ago and made a little money. The same club has also had a successful social and some of the members were entertained at the home of one of their officers last week. Some money was made on each occasion.

Rata held a tournament on the courts on Wednesday evening against the men, but I didn’t hear whether that was a money-making function. ’Kiwi had a successful dance on Tuesday night and added something to their total. ’Kiwi's dance was the only one of these functions to which I received an invitation. ’Kiwi also handed in £1 1/- earned by one of their members. Collegiate have two members who have only recently joined the club, have played only three games, and yet each has earned her £l. One player who belongs to a club that isn’t very helpful was heard to remark the other day. that there was no sense in earning any money if the rest of the club didn’t, because the club was brought to task and you were included. The clubs are to be asked for a detailed account of how their money was earned and the names of those girls who earned their own. This will all be published, so that praise and blame will go to the correct clubs. RESIGNATION. Under this heading I hardily know whatto say. It is difficult to put in print the regret of the whole basketball world at the resignation of Mr N. R. Hamilton, who left on Thursday morning for Wellington. It will be only in the next weeks of the season that we will know how much of his time was given to further the interests of basketball here. Mr. Hamilton has been associated with us for the past five years, first as a junior referee, until now he relinquishes the position of president of the Referees’ Association and vice-president of the Southland Association. It was mainly through Mr Hamilton’s efforts that the Referees’ zkssociation was formed last year, and to him we are indebted for the very efficient first aid service we have had to date. Mr Hamilton has also been coach and selector at different times for both the first and second grade rep. teams.. At the present time the first grade rep. team is without a coach and the executive will have difficulty in filling his place here. We are all most sorry to lose him, but our good wishes go with him for the future, and perhaps some day he will return. The Collegiate Club gathered together for supper after practice on Tuesday and Mr R. M. Strang (president) expressed the regret of the. club at losing Mr Hamilton and in making a small presentation wished him all success.

Last Saturday evening after the matches for the week were over, the executive entertained Mr Hamilton at a small dinner party. Miss Pay (president) and Mr Cutt (representative of the Re'erees’ Association) spoke in appreciation of the work of Mr N. R. Hamilton, who was the recipient of a gift from the S.B.A. Mr Hamilton is also a member of the executive of the N.Z.8.A., but this body has had no meeting since word was received of Mr Hamilton's transfer. THE GAMES. Saturday was, I am sure, the very coldest day that basketbailers have ever been asked to play on. It froze all Friday and then kept on freezing all Saturday and the players did not thaw enough to handle the ball until the second spell. Courts 1 and 2 were partly covered with frost and two was so bad that no games could be played there. The re-grading of Exhibition caused a re-arrangement of matches in the fourth grade giving Haynco a bye for the afternoon.

In the first grade Kiwi had to play E. Brown from the second, grade in the place of R. Reid who hurt her foot while practising With the rep. team on the Thursday. E. Keast, another second grade, played defence and R. Wilkes was moved to the centre. The team did not show any lack of combination because of these changes, their passes being given with the same precision as is so much a feature of this team’s play. L. McGregor and G. Twemlow, both strong defenders, gave as few opportunities as possible to. P. Calder and D. Dixon and Mrs Albertson. L. McGregor always just misses being a rep. because she cannot handle the ball without continually overguarding. The same criticism can be made of M. Bisset (Makarewa). Probably the best defender that has been seen in a New Zealand tournament is R. Sunderland (Otago). Most Southlanders have seen her play, but she does not overguard. If .the best in the Dominion play without infringing, is there any necessity for such tactics? The other first grade match was played at Makarewa between that team and Rata. G. Bamford (Rata), being on the sick list, her place was taken by N. Rodger. This is a very versatile player, as already she has played both forward and defender for this team. After being down 6—5 at halftime, Rata kept attacking and won 17 —9. A spectator told me that Rata had won when M. Royds suddenly came to life and played so well that the Makarewa Centre was disorganized. Perhaps M. Royds had only become warm at this stage. In the second grade Pirates had no difficulty in defeating Makarewa. I was rather premature last week in saying that A. Jack, A. Latta, A. Abbey-Jones were not available for this team. They all played on Saturday and very well, too. On her present form A. Jack should be fairly sure of a place in the rep. team. St. Mary’s lost, to Pirates the previous week, but were successful against Rata last week. On their present form they should continue to do well in this section, although I don’t just see any reps, in this team unless perhaps J. Deegan, and then again she is apt to be penalized for overguarding. Rata just got in a win against Kiwi the preceding week, but their combination was poor on the day’s play. As I have mentioned before this team is very good on paper, but doesn’t come Up to expectations on the field.

High School played its first game in the new competition on Saturday and won comfortable from Collegiate, although there was a score of 9—9 at half-time Collegiate did well to hold their own although of course their team should do well as several played senior in the last'competitions. When, however, High School get together in the centre third the ball usually gets to K. Cutt and it is unusual for her to miss. Her field work is gradually improving also, and I consider her possibilities of being a rep. are much brighter. The most outstanding defender in this grade is J. Kelly and I wish that some of the first grade defenders who overguard would watch her. It seems me that some of the reps, will come from this team. Where can we beat F. Hinchey, J. Kelly, S. Warden? E. Botherway, was playing a better game this week than last and shot well, but in the second half did not get much opportunity. There are several defenders who will challenge M. Godward for her position in the rep. team and I am not sure about R. Butson, although she has been doing some good work. St. Mary’s are well on the map at present. They won three matches last Saturday, and two the preceding one. That is surely a record for this club. I hope they may keep it up. St. Peter’s did well in the third grade to come so near getting a draw. This is the best game this team has played for some time, even though they defeated Kiwi comfortably the week before.

Collegiate is not getting very far in the third grade, possibly because this team have not practised so much together having lost both to Central and Pirates.

Central have won both their games in this section, but will be disappointed, because on both occasions they played a team of only eight girls. Let’s ho[>e the game will be more satisfactory to-day against St. Mary’s. In the fourth grade Makarewa still go serenely on defeating all comers. Kennington A, however, did not let them have all their own way, but although older have not as good combination. 11. and J. Smith’s turned up short again. Really it must be most discouraging to play for this club. Here is a store that employs enough girls to run a grade of its own and it can’t find nine girls each week. It is difficult to understand when other stores who employ only a few girls always field a full team. There they were with only two forwards, V. Small and A. Matheson, and a good game they played too. Then there is D. Fletcher a defender also good. They could have won had the ninth girl been there. Now that this club has a coach I hope they will stand by her and show what they can do. Exhibition began well in the fourth grade, which they should go close to winning by defeating Rata. L. Mehaffey■ (Rata) is improving steadily and I am interested in watching her. This team was unfortunate in that it was playing emergencies. With the inclusion of Exhibition in this grade, all matches will not be played before the season closes. Kia Ora came to town and played Kiwi in the second grade. It was a very closely contested game and certainly shows that Kia-Ora is amongst the best of our second grade teams. I. Egerton is the type of forward the selectors would like and. were she available for practice would certainly be in the team. She is one of the few for. wards that combines good shooting with good defence work.