BASKETBALL MATCHES IN THE COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 12

BASKETBALL MATCHES IN THE COUNTRY

To The Editor Sir,—l trust that you will allow me space in your paper to make a few comments on the way basketball matches are conducted in the country. I refer to the match, Wallacetown v. Makarewa, played at Makarewa last Saturday, June 12. I understand that the Basketball’s Association’s rules state “that both teams shall take the court promptly at the time mentioned in the draw.” If this is correct, why was the match delayed 20 minutes? From my own observations it appears that the referee was awaiting the arrival of the late-comers of one of the teams. Furthermore this delay was unnecessary because another rule states “that a team shall take the court if there are six or more players present.” On Saturday there were sufficient players present for the match to commence at the appointed time. This way of conducting matches is hardly fair to the spectators, to say nothing of the visiting team—to be kept waiting about for twenty minutes on a cold, windy day.—Yours, etc. ADHERE STRICTLY TO RULES. June 12, 1937.