TARANAKI BASKETBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 12

TARANAKI BASKETBALL

NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL MATCHES IN DIVISION.

KEEN PLAY AT EAST END COURTS

(By

“Goalie.”)

The East End basketball courts at New Plymouth were fully occupied from 10.30 a.m. onwards on Saturday. The weather was kinder than on the previous Saturday, and several important games were played. In the morning there were several primary school matches. The Country representatives played Town representatives, and Country in both A and B grades proved winners. Another primary school match, which created a certain amount of interest, was that between Omata and Inglewood, as neither team had previously met defeat this season in the weekly competitions for the North Taranaki Cup. Inglewood won by 11 goals to 6. In the senior matches, besides the continuation of the junior competition, friendly matches between teams of eastern and western groups were played, as well as the semi-finals and finals for the norther division championship. The northern division semi-final for the Taranaki championship was played between High School Old Girls and Okato Tuis. Both teams are strong in defence, so that as was to be expected there was no high scoring. Scoring is not a strong point with either team. With Old Girls the ball somehow did not go through well towards the goal. Occasionally there was good work among the forwards, but too often they seemed to hesitate, sometimes making the mistake of passing from the goal instead of to it. This gave their opponents time to get into position and so intercept. In the centre third there was some fine work, prominent being P. Durdle and B. Bamitt, who staged pretty passing through and across the centre. Okato Tuis played almost the same style of game, so that it was even going and even scoring all the way. The ball was passed quickly in fine style first to one end and then to the other, almost always being cleverly intercepted by the good defence of the backs, who combined well in both teams. So evenly matched were the teams that upon the call of time the score stood at 10-all, a draw. It was decided to play on for a further five minutes each way. When the game was recommenced Okato seemed unable to settle down and allowed Old Girls to add three points in quick succession, and maintain the lead to the end. The final score was Old Girls 15, Okato Tuis 12. Delightful Passing Seen.

Convent Blue and West End were also evenly matched and early set the pace, some delightful passing and fast work being witnessed. Both teams showed they had studied the finer points of the game, played to position rather than to player, and showed practised team work. When the score stood at 7-all, Convent Blue had a serious set-back in the loss through injury of the centre, Gladys Rowe. The substitute put up a splendid performance and worked well for the team, but the centre combination was naturally upset. West End nevertheless had to battle hard to keep a few points Jead. Onlookers and supporters of both sides were still on tip-toe as the ball passed from end to end. A feature, of the game was the absence of scrambling, the ball being kept moving in the air, practically from start to finish. The final score was 17-14. The final between Old Girls and West End devolved into a battle between the swift forwards of West End and the solid defence of Old Girls. The centres were fairly evenly matched and moved out well, varying their passing and jumping well. Probably the greater experience of the West End centres turned the scales and resulted in their forwards receiving the most opportunities at goal. At first the Old Girls defence was too strong, but as the game progressed the players began to tire, as was only to be expected with the ball so frequently under West End’s goal. The speed of the West End goalies was also telling on the opposition defence. Old Girls forwards were well fed by their centres, uncertainty of position of their mates seeming to be their chief fault, and before they realised it the West End defence, who combined well, and played a splendid steady and sure game had taken the ball and set it moving in the opposite direction. The teams were: Old Girls: M. Matangi, J. Carter, C. Elliot, P. Durdle, B. Bamitt, R. Stewart, L. Pulford, N. Moore and I. James. West End: .E. George, M. Fletcher, S. Duffin, K. Skipper, N. Sturmey, M. Urry, L. Fox, M. Duffin, J. Gruszning. For Old Girls J. Carter, C. Elliot and M. Matangi combined well,- while for West End it was almost impossible to single out any one player. The final score was West End 22, Old Girls 7. The draw for the semi-finals of the Taranaki'championship resulted:. West End v. Inglewood Kiwis (winners of the northern and central divisions respectively), to be played at East End on Thursday afternoon. The winners of these two will then play Hawera High School (winner of the southern division) for the Taranaki championship.

Surprise Result in South. It was rather surprising to hear that Hawera High School defeated Hawera Old Girls in the southern division final. The game, which was a very fast and even one, ended with a score of 17-16. The first play-off in the junior grade is to take place at Eltham to-day, when Stratford Technical High School and Alton will meet (winners of the central and southern group 2 respectively).

New Zealand Tournament. The New Zealand tournament is being held this year at Dunedin during the first week of the school holidays. Auckland has annexed the cup on every occasion except once, when in 1932 Otago won it at Invercargill. On account of expense Taranaki is not entering a team, but if the tournament is held nearer home next year, probably at Wellington, it is hoped Taranaki will enter. With this in view it is up to all teams to keep fit during the off season, and tp endeavour to raise the standard of play in the province next season. Mrs. Kohn and Miss Tarry will attend the meeting of the New Zealand Council as delegates from Taranaki. They will leave on Monday morning, and the opening session will be held on Tuesday. Games will commence on Wednesday, when Lord and Lady Bledisloe are to attend an official opening.