BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23841, 12 June 1939, Page 3

BASKETBALL

PLAY AFFECTED BY COLD WEATHER I J WEEKLY COMPETITION GAMES The Southland Basketball Union’s weekly competition games were played at the Duke street courts on Saturday afternoon in fine, but cold, weather. The handling of the players was affected by the cold and in many of the matches the best basketball was soon in the second half, by which time the players had become warmed up. As was only to be expected, the shooting was not up to standard and as a result the scores in some games were small. In the senior grade Rata gained a good win over St. Mary’s after a second half that was full of incident. Rata was clearly superior in the first half and at the interval had a commanding lead. However, in the second half St. Mary’s play improved out of sight and Rata had to work hard to retain its advantage. Collegiate and Rata 2A contested an interesting game, the former team winning by a narrow margin. The result was in doubt until the finish of the match and it was only in the last minute or two that Collegiate made its position more or less secure.

COLLEGIATE WINS IN CLOSE GAME

FINE DISPLAY BY RATA 2A Rata 2A had a handicap of plus 5 and although it made strong endeavours to keep its lead Collegiate w’as not long in bringing the scores level. The two sets of centres had some keen struggles for possession, with D. Baird showing out for Collegiate. For a while Rata held its own and matched Collegiate’s attacks with strong rallies. Towards the end of the first half Collegiate went ahead as a consequence of more accurate play and at half-time it led by 12 goals to 10. The scores fluctuated throughout the second half, and Collegiate could not subdue Rata to any appreciable extent, Collegiate’s attacks were playing an attractive game and W. Sadlier was showing much improved form. Just before the end of the game the scores were 16-all, and both teams worked strenuously to establish a lead. Collegiate emerged successfully from the ensuing rallies and placed the result beyond doubt by scoring two quick goals. The final scores were: Collegiate 18, Rata 16.

RATA SUCCESSFUL ST. MARY S PLAYS WELL IN SECOND HALF Rata’s combination was an advantage in the early part of its game with St. Mary’s. Rata’s attack line was again at full strength and as a result the shooting was accurate and consistent, L. Mehaffey being outstanding as usual. H. Anderson appeared again for Rata and played in the centre third. Honours in the first half went to Rata, which had command of the play throughout. St. Mary’s shooting was I below standard, although the attacks were not receiving an over supply of ball. The first half ended with the scores: Rata 16, St. Mary’s 6. It was St. Mary’s turn to call the tune in the second half and in doing so it showed a surprising reversal of its first-half form. M. McGrath was playing a splendid game for St. Mary’s and scored some outstanding goals j from well out. F. Laffey was doing some fine work in the defence third and was making it difficult for the opposing attacks. In the second half St. Mary’s scored more goals than its opponent, but Rata’s lead was too great. The final scores were: Rata 26, St. Mary’s 17.

COMFORTABLE WIN TECHNICAL 2A SUPERIOR Technical 2A’s superiority in the centre third was the deciding factor in 5 its game again Collegiate 2A. The > Technical attacks had more opportunities at goal and the forwards did not fail to make the most of their chances jby scoring consistently. .Collegiate ; gave rather a uninspiring exhibition in j the first half, which ended with Technical well in front. After the interval Collegiate provided more opposition j and in an attractive second half had Technical on its mettle. The game was played at a fast pace and a welcome feature was the comparative absence of infringements. The Technical centres were particularly active and much of the team’s success was due to'their work. At the final whistle the scores were: Technical 23; Collegiate 11.

HIGH SCHOOL’S GOOD PLAY

In putting up a big score against Makarewa 2A, High School 2A played its best game of the season, showing a big improvement on previous displays. In the first half both teams played good games, with High School showing out in speedy play. The latter team’s players combined well and the centres were an active link. The attacks were coming out well and finishing snappy movements with goals. At half-time the scores were level. The High School attacks had an advantage in height and they made the most of this. Makarewa gradually improved in the second half and began to establish a comfortable lead despite the efforts of its opponents. When the whistle blew for the finish of the game the score were 25-16 in favour of Makarewa. SECOND GRADE WALLACETOWN (15) v. RATA (7) In the first half of their game there was little between Wallacetown and Rata. The standard of play was not good in the first half and the shooting by both sets of attacks was poor. The scores at half-time were: Wallacetown 6, Rata 5. Wallacetown’s play improved after the interval, its passing being safer and better understanding existing between the players. The Wallactown defences played strongly and repulsed many attacks. Rata’s players appeared to tire towards the end of the game.

EXHIBITION (10) v. COLLEGIATE (10) The first half of the Exhibition-Col-legiate game was dull and uninteresting, with Collegiate by far the superior team. Exhibition seemed unable to

strike form and its attacks met with practically no success at goal, scoring only twice in the first half. At the interval Collegiate led by six goals and it appeared as if it would have a runaway victory. However, Exhibition made a splendid recovery in the second half and was a different team. Gradually it closed the gap between the scores and just before time was on level terms with Collegiate. The latter team had several opportunities to score, but inaccurate shooting let it down. Both teams fielded emergencies.

PIRATES <2O) V. McKENZIE’S (4) The Pirates-McKenzie’s match was lone-sided, the former team proving much superior. The shooting by the McKenzie’s attacks was inaccurate and they found the Pirates defence difficult to penetrate. McKenzie’s defences, particularly P. Boyce, played an active game and made their opponents work hard for goals.

STUARTS (23) v. ST. MARY’S (10) Stuarts displayed good form against St. Mary’s, which it had no difficulty in beating. The former team’s attacks were very accurate in their shooting, although they had more chances than their opponents. Stuarts centre division was much superior, the players being more active on their feet. THIRD GRADE Stuarts thirds (26) beat Collegiate 1 thirds (6). Bluff thirds (23) beat Technical thirds (12). Makarewa thirds (20) beat Pirates thirds (19). Kennington thirds (18) beat Rata thirds (15). Bluff fourths (24) beat Kennington fourths (9). z Makarewa fourths (18) beat St. Mary’s fourths (10). DRAW FOR SATURDAY Following is the draw for matches to be played on Saturday:— First Grade. —Court 5, 3 p.m., Rata v. Makarewa 2A (Mr Kinross; Miss McKenzie); Court 5,2 p.m., St. Mary’s v. Collegiate (Mr Haberfield; Miss Bain); Court 4,2 p.m.. Technical 2A v. Rata 2A (Miss Pollock; Miss Blackie); Court 6,2 p.m., S.G.H.S. 2A v. Collegiate 2A (Miss Basstian; Miss Thomson). Second Grade. —Court 4, 3 p.m., Rata v. Exhibition (Mr Blakie; Miss Bain); Court 6, 3 p.m., Wallacetown v. McKenzie’s (Miss Hutton; Mrs Noble); Court 2, 3.45 p.m., St. Mary’s v. Collegiate (Mr Haberfield; Miss Bain); Court 5, 3.45 p.m., Pirates v. Stuarts (Mr Kinross; Miss Cooper). Third Grade.—Court 1, 3 p.m., Bluff v. Makarewa 4th (Miss Agnew; Miss Thomson); Court 2, 3 p.m., Pirates v. Bluff 4th (Miss Basstian; Miss Cooper); Court 3, 3 p.m., Stuarts v. St. Mary’s 4th (Mr Hardy; Miss Blackie); Court 3, 2 p.m., Kennington v. Collegiate (Miss Jacquiery; Mrs Noble); Court 2,2 p.m., Makarewa y, Technical (Miss Godward; Miss McKenzie); Court 1,2 p.m., Rata v. Kennington 4th (Miss Agnew; Miss Cooper).

If wet, matches will be played as follows:

2 p.m.—Court 1, first grade, Technical 2A v. Rata 2A (Miss Pollock; Miss Blackie): Court 2, second grade, St. Mary’s v. Collegiate (Mr Haberfield; Miss McKenzie); Court 3, third grade, Stuarts v. St. Mary’s 4th (Mr Hardy; Miss Bain). 2.45 p.m., Court 1, first grade, St. Mary’s v Collegiate (Mr Haberfield; Mrs Noble); 2.30 p.m., Court 2, second grade, Wallacetown v. McKenzie's (Miss Hutton; Miss Cooper); 2 p.m., Court 3, third grade, Bluff v. Makarewa 4th (Miss Agnew; Miss Blackie) 3.30 p.m., Court 1, first grade, Rata v. Makarewa 2A (Mr Kinross; Miss Bain); 3 p.m., Court 2, second grade, Pirates v. Stuarts (Mr Hardy; Miss Cooper); 3 p.m., Court 3, third grade, Pirates v. Bluff 4th (Miss Basstian; Miss McKenzie).

4.15 p.m., Court 1, first grade, S.G.H.S. 2A v. Collegiate 2A (Mr Kinross; Mrs Noble); 3.30 p.m.. Court 2, second grade, Rata v. Exhibition (Mr Blakie; Miss Cooper); 3.30 p.m., Court 3, third grade, Makarewa z. Technical (Miss Godward; Miss Bain); 4 p.m., Court 4, third grade, Kennington v. Collegiate (Miss Agnew; Miss McKenzie); 4 p.m., Court 3, third grade, Rata v. Kennington 4th (Miss Hutton; Miss Blackie).