BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 2

BASKETBALL

WIND MAKES SCORING DIFFICULT RATA BEATS COLLEGIATE IN GOOD GAME A gusty wind made shooting difficult in the Southland Basketball Union s competition matches at the Duke street courts on Saturday afternoon. As a result the scores were rather low .in some of the games, the players being unable to estimate accurately the strength of the wind. The matches were productive of a good standard of play and some even and interesting contests were seen.

The outstanding game of the day was that between Rata and Collegiate, the two strongest teams in the senior grade. There was some excellent play in this match which was won by Rata by a margin of three goals after a hard struggle. It was generally expected that Rata would be successful and this proved to be the case; but Collegiate put up a fine performance and went close to winning. RATA WINS IN HARD GAME COMMENDABLE DISPLAY BY COLLEGIATE Rata made a better beginning in its match With Collegiate than did the latter team and thus had an early advantage. The first goal was scored by R. Henderson after a clever piece of play and thereafter L. Mehaffey scored most of the points with well-judged shots. Rata made most of the play in the early stages, but because of the wind the forwards did not shoot as many goals as they might otherwise have done. The Rata defences were playing strenuously and making penetration by the opposing forwards difficult. Although they were shooting fairly accurately the members of the Collegiate forward division did not see enough of the ball as a result of the team’s centres being unable to dominate the play in their third. Towards the end of the first half Rata found itself opposed by an improved combination which cut its lead down to one goal at the interval. Both teams gave of their best in the second half and worked conscientiously to establish superiority. Rata appeared to be the superior combination and its solid teamwork gave it an'advantage that' Collegiate found difficult to overcome. Both sets of centres worked with a will to give the forwards a plentiful supply of the ball and some brilliant interceptions and passes were the outcome. Towards the end of the match Collegiate tried hard to overcome Rata’s lead, but was unable to do so. The final score was: Rata 13, Collegiate 10. E. Neame played a clever forward game for Collegiate and W. Sadlier was also prominent. L. Mehaffey shot consistently for Rata and V. Fraser was a tower of strength in the centre third. B. Ingram made some good saves in Rata’s defence third. ST. MARY’S SENIORS WIN s COLLEGIATE 2A BEATEN Starting with a plus-six handicap Collegiate 2A made a confident beginning against the St Mary’s senior side and the members of the team were not lacking in enthusiasm. However, St. Mary’s had an equal share of the play and, settling down to solid play, began its task of overhauling Collegiate’s lead. The defences did all that was required of them and the centres showed plenty of enterprise and varied their play well to give the forwards plenty of the ball. The St. Mary’s forwards have developed into a good attacking unit and on Saturday, led by M. McGrath, they put up a fine display. Their passing was clever and on few occasions was it aimless. The result was that M. McGrath was given the necessary opportunity to increase the team’s total with accurate shots. The Collegiate defences were responsible for some fine work, but for the most part they were unable to cope adequately with the opposing forwards. M. McCormick was particularly prominent in defending the St. Mary’s goal. Just before the interval St. Mary’s succeeded in’ equalizing thd scores, which then read: St. Mary’s 9, Collegiate 9. St Mary’s play was rather patchy at the start of the second half, but it was not long before it regained its firsthalf form and with sure passing, consistent shooting and well-controlled rushes, went on to win fairly easily. The final score was: St. Mary’s 17, Collegiate 2A 11. MAKAREWA 2A AND RATA 2A DRAW Playing at Makarewa, the home team was successful in holding Rata 2A to a draw after an interesting and colourful game. The wind did not make for accurate shooting and the forwards had difficulty ir. this respect. The Makarewa shooting was inferior to that of the Rata girls and but for the fact that it had numerous opportunities at goal its total may have been smaller than that of its opponent. Rata was leading by two goals at the interval and it was not until near the end of the game that Makarewa equalized. The passing of both teams was not of the best and poorly-directed throws interrupted many promising moves. The final score was: Makarewa 2A 15, Rata 2A 15. For Makarewa H. McDougall played well and M. Cook was responsible for some good work for Rata.

SECOND GRADE STUARTS (17) v. COLLEGIATE (7) In the first half of the match between Stuarts and Collegiate play was fairly even and there was not a great deal of difference between the teams. Stuarts, however, was much more successful at goal and this was probably due to some extent to 'he fact that Collegiate’s goal was in a more sheltered position. Stuarts was leading by seven goals to two when the whistle blew for half-time. Play was faster after the interval and both teams indulged in some clever work. Stuarts continued to control the play, however. The centre play was fairly even, although full use was not made of one of the Collegiate centres.

EXHIBITION (14) v. McKENZIES (10)

Exhibition and McKenzies contested a match which, if ragged at times, lacked nothing in interest. The members of both teams played with enthusiasm, but at times this led to some scrambling play. Exhibition always had the measure of McKenzies and its success might be partly attributed to the fact that it adopted the short pass while the McKenzies team was more

inclined to indulge in long passing. Hie score at half-time was 10-6 in Exhibition’s favour. Exhibition made a good start after the interval and scored four times before McKenzies added to its total.

PIRATES (16) v. RATA (9) The scoring was low in the first half of the game between Pirates and Rata. This was partly due to the wind and the consequent inaccuracy of the forwards. At the interval only one goal separated the two teams. Pirates made the most of its opportunities in the second half when it had the advantage of the north goal. The centre play of the winning team was sound and its display was more finished compared with that of Rata.

WALLACETOWN (19) v. ST. MARY’S (5)

Wallacetown gained a clear-cut win over St Mary’s in a match played on the former team’s courts. The winner was superior in all departments of the game and was not extended to win. THIRD AND FOURTH GRADES Makarewa thirds (19) beat Collegiate thirds (10). Pirates thirds (12) beat Kennington thirds (6). Kennington fourths (9) beat Makarewa fourths (8). ' Bluff fourths (15) beat Rata thirds (10). DRAW FOR SATURDAY The Southland Basketball Association’s draw for matches to be played on Saturday is:— First grade.—Court 5, 3 p.m., Rata v. Southland Girls’ High School, referee, Mr Haberfield; (scorer, Miss Bain); court 4,2 p.m., St. Mary’s v. Technical 2A (Mrs Walker); at Makarewa, 2.30 p.m., Collegiate v. Makarewa 2A, Miss McClean (Mrs Mortimer); court 5,2 pjn., Rata 2A v. Collegiate 2A, Miss Pollock (Miss Storrie). Second grade.—Court 4, 3 p.m., Rata v. Stuarts, Miss Godward (Mrs Walker); at Wallacetown, 2.30 pm., Pirates v. Wallacetown, Mr Hardie (Miss Cooper); court 6, 3 pm., Exhibition v. St. Mary’s, Miss Basstian (Mrs Noble); court 6,2 p.m., Collegiate v. McKenzie’s, Miss Agnew (Miss O’Halloran). Third grade.—Court 3, 2.30 pm., Rata v. Bluff (Miss McKenzie); at Makarewa, 3.15 pm., Pirates v. Makarewa 4th, Miss McClean (Mrs Mortimer); at Bluff, 2.30 pm. Stuarts v. Bluff 4th, Miss Campbell (Mrs Weir); court 1,2 p.m., Collegiate v. St Mary’s 4th, Miss Jacquiery Bain); court 2,2 pm., Makarewa v. Kennington, Miss Miller (Mrs Noble). NORTHERN DISTRICT DRAW The following is the draw for the first round of the Northern District Basketball Sub-Association’s competition matches: — ; < May 20: Lumsden v. Mossbum at Mossbum; Dipton v. Balfour A at Balfour; Balfour B v. Riversdale at Riverdale. May 27: Dipton v. Lumsden at Lumsden; Mossburn v. Balfour B at Balfour; Balfour A v. Riversdale at Riversdale. June 3: Riversdale v. Mossbum at Mossburn; Lumsden v. Balfour A at Balfour; Balfour B V. Dipton at Dipton. June 10: Balfour A v. Mossbum at Mossburn; Lumsden v. Balfour B at Balfour; Dipton v. Riversdale at RiversJune 17: Riversdale v. Lumsden at Lumsden; Balfour A v. Balfour B at Balfour; Mossburn v. Dipton at DipAll matches will begin at 2.30 pm.