BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 11

BASKETBALL

MENZIES ASSOCIATION NOTES ON THE PLAY (By""*‘Shoot”) The 1937 season is now in full swing and the first round matches of the A and B grade competitions were played last Saturday under perfect weather conditions. It is gratifying to note that whereas last year there were 14 teams playing under the Menzies Association, this season the total number of teams in the competition has increased to 17. The newly-affiliated clubs are Tuturau and Gorge Road, each of which has entered a B grade team, while the Waimahaka and Wyndham clubs have each entered two teams this year. Menzies Ferry can raise only one team and that with difficulty. Wyndham’s opening performance against Mataura Island was very creditable, the final ‘score being 12—7 in favour of the Island. It was in the first spell that the match was won, however, the Wyndham team being slow to settle down. Mataura Island’s forwards —M. Dunn, M. Rhodes and E. Rhodes—were the best combining unit on the. court and gave a splendid exhibition of handling and accurate shooting. Conseqently the Wyndham defenders — Young, M. Gorman and M. Savage—had a very busy time, and they improved as the game progressed. In the second spell, Wyndham gave a much brighter display in all divisions and scored six goals to the winners’ five. Seaward Downs revealed that it is again a strong team by the easy manner in which it defeated Menzies Ferry which, however, is a much weaker club than last season. Individually most of the losers played quite well, but that was not sufficient —they lacked the combination of their opopnents. J. and M. Palmer and D. Donnelly, the Seaward Downs forward line, gave a brilliant exhibition, their handling and positional play being outstanding. The centre line is not quite as strong as last year’s, but may improve later with more team practice. Their defenders, K. Gorman, J. Crosbie and J. Hawke, are a sound trio. A good deal of interest was centred round the Glenham—Tuturau fixture, as Tuturau was playing its first match since affiliating with the Menzies Association. Its standard of play exceeded expectations for it gave Glenham a very close game, the shooting of the latter’s forwards being a shade

more accurate. The half-time score W as 4—2 in favour of Glenham, and the second spell was so even that each side could secure only one goal, the final score being 5—3. Outstanding in the Tuturau team, whose handling was a feature of the fixture, were Mrs L. G. Townsend . (defence) and R. Blair (centre), while particularly steady displays were given for the winners by A. Bain (forward) and I. Howe (defender). Wyndham District High School is again fielding two teams, the better of which should win Section I, Glenham being the only team likely to upset calculations. With two exceptions, the school senior team is the same as that which played such attractive basketball in winning the B grade competition last season. Its defence should prove extraordinarily sound, comprising W. Smith, R. Maude and M. Stirling. It is reported that its junior team contains several very promising youngsters. A very fast game was played between Wyndham B I and Mataura Island B, especially considering it was the opening fixture. Wyndham proved a shade superior all round in both spells, however. ' At half-time, the score stood at 4—l in its favour, and this lead was increased to B—4 before the final whistle went. The Wyndham forward, J. Duncan, played very well throughout. Lack of combination probably cost Wyndham B II the match against Edendale B, who in the last few minutes scored three goals in quick succession to win 12—9. Edendale had much the better of the first spell, its centres, G. Fraser, R. Pow and E. Morris, giving the forward line innumerable chances, which, however, were usually wasted. Wyndham was much more aggressive in the second spell and the score was brought to 9—all when Edendale went ahead to win. The defeated team’s forwards will need to develop a better understanding if they are to succeed.

Two of the strongest teams in last year’s B grade competition, Seaward Downs and Waimahaka I, met on Saturday and victory went to the former by 12 goals to eight. Seaward Dawns was runner-up last year and unless something unforeseen happens, it should win section II this year and again fight out the final with Wyndham District High School I. Draw for Today

The following is the draw for A and B grade matches to be played under the Menzies Association today:—

A grade.—Seaward Downs v. Edendale, at Seaward Downs; Menzies Ferry v. Mataura Island, at Mataura Island; Wyndham a bye. B grade.—Section I: Tuturau v. Wyndham 11, at Tuturau; Glenham v. Wyndham District High School 11, at the school; Edendale v. Wyndham District High School I, at Edendale. Section II: Gorge Road v. Mataura Island, at Gorge Road; Waimahaka I v. Waimahaka 11, at Waimahaka; Seaward Downs v. Wyndham I, at Wyndham.