BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 22039, 12 June 1933, Page 9

BASKETBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES. COLLEGIATE’S NARROW VICTORY. KIWI JUST BEATEN. The Southland Basketball Association’s weekly competitions were continued on the Duke street courts on Saturday. Ideal weather for basketball prevailed and the standard of play was high. A sensation in the first grade section was the narrrow defeat of Kiwi by Collegiate, who have been regarded as the premier team in the senior competition. After a hard-fought game Collegiate only defeated Kiwi by 11 goals to 10. In the other games Rata defeated High School and Makarewa defeated Bluff. There were no surprises in the second grade, where Pirates defeated Rata, Collegiate defeated Kiwi, St. Mary’s defeated Makarewa and Bluff defeated St. Peter’s. In the third grade sections wins were secured by Makarewa, Pirates, McKenzie’s and Kennington, in the fourth grade by Makarewa, St Peter’s and Kennington and in the fifth grade by Wallacetown, Kiwi and McKenzies. At the conclusion of the senior games, a senior representative practice was held under the supervision of the selector, Miss E. B. Pay. Knowing that Southland will have to meet Otago in the annual match for the Southland Cup towards the end of the season and that there is a strong possibility of a team being despteched to the New Zealand tournament at Gisborne m August, the selector has commenced her duties early and allowed herself time to sort out the best material. Details of the games are as follows:— FIRST GRADE. COLLEGIATE (11) v. KIWI (10). It was not anticipated that Kiwi, who so far have not shown up prominency this season, would offer any great opposition to Collegiate, practically the leading team in the competition but this proved to be the case. Particularly was this so in the first spell, wh’ch ended with the scores five all. At the commencement of the second spell Collegiate looked like running away but a weak defence banished, the teams hopes. Kiwi were strong in the centre and defence thirds and soon had equalized again. Collegiate again took the initiative and the team showed splendid attacking qualities. In the closing stages of the games, Kiwi took the advantage, but the poor handling of the forwards spoiled many opportunities. RATA (18) v. HIGH SCHOOL (13). The game between Rata and High School was even, but extremely uninteresting. Tire handling of both teams was accurate, but there was a great deal of monotonous up-and-down court play, without any brilliant movements. The Rata forwards did not show up well against the High School .defenders, but several golden opportunities were missed by both sets of forwards. At half-time Rata were leading by 9 goals to 5. For Rata S. Warden played wel in the goal third, while G. Bamford and N. Rodger were prominent in defence. Playing in an unaccustomed position M. Shand acquitted herself excellently. J. Kelly was High School s outstanding defender. F. Hinchey played energetically in the centre, while L. Mehaffey was prominent in the forward third. MAKAREWA (17) v. BLUFF (7). Makarewa had an easy task in dissosintf of Bluff in the least interesting of the senior fixtures. The Makarewa players handled and passed, in a remarkably accurate manner in contrast to some of the Bluff movements. Makarewa were the superior team and the result was never in doubt. SECOND GRADE. COLLEGIATE (15) v. KIWI (11). Again in the second grade section Collegiate as the leaders of the competition, met and defeated Kiwi. At half-time Kiwi were actually leading by four goals but alterations in the Collegiate team were responsible for a change in the second spell. Play was fast and even in the second spell, with Collegiate fighting an up-hill battle by reason of their having to overtake and then pass Kiwi’s score. Collegiate owed their victory to their hard-working defenders, who bottled-up the Kiwi forwards. PIRATES (13) v. RATA (10) : With a better combination and a strong defence, Pirates succeeded in defeating Rata after an uninteresting fame. Early in the game A. McAra of the Pirates team, had to retire through injury, but Pirates succeeded in overcoming this handicap and they were actually leading by three goals at the end of the spell. Rata improved in the second spell, but the combination of the Pirates side was too strong. ST. MARY’S (16) v. MAKAREWA (9). The game between St. Mary’s and Makarewa was open and interesting, but St. Mary’s proved themselves superior in the defence and forward thirds. Both teams played an open type of game. THIRD GRADE. MAKAREWA (17) v. KIWI (7). At Makarewa the home team defeated Kiwi by 17 goals to 7. The Makarewa forwards finished off all their team’s movements in good style, but Kiwi played well, handling and passing excellently. The Kiwi centre provided a plentiful supply of ball for the forwards, b'tit the latter lost many opportunities. PIRATES (15) v. WALLACETOWN (12). Playing at Wallacetown Pirates defeated the home team by the narrow margin of three goals. The Wallacetown forwards were not shooting accurately and many opportunities made by the energetic centres were accordingly lost. The game was fast and open. McKENZIE’S (15) v. ST. MARY’S (2). The game between McKenzie’s and St Mary’s did not provide a good exhibition of basketball. In fact the reverse was the case. There was a lot of talking and consequent scrappy play. FOURTH GRADE. MAKAREWA (23) v. RATA (23). An unusually high score was produced by the drawn game between Makarewa and Rata. Makarewa dominated the first spell but Rata showed an improvement in the second spell. ST. PETER’S (18) v. GREENHILLS (2).

St. Peter’s were easily superior to Greenhills in all thirds. St. Peter’s passed excellently and showed the value of greater experience.

FIFTH GRADE.

KIWI (18) v. RATA (7).

The game between Kiwi and Rata was played on the Waihopai School courts. Kiwi had the better of the match, although the Rata team initiated one or two clever passing movements.