BASKETBALL’S GROWTH

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 5

BASKETBALL’S GROWTH

1 . . . : . 3 61 '. TEAMS' , LAST'. SEASON i,’: ~r- . _•/. .. '.. .i. x; 1 ASSOCIATION’SANNUAL - MEETING. IMPROVING ■ STANDARD -OF PLAY. The annual.meeting of.the Taranaki Basketball Association was .held at Inglewood on Saturday afternoon, when Miss Tarry presided over an attendance of 50 delegates. Judging from the number of delegates representing new ■ clubs * the prospects for the forthcoming season ap- ' pear bright. ’ , .. , *• ’ Applications for affiliation from newly ’ formed clubs came , from Ratapiko, Lep- • perton, Tuna, Tataraimaka, Warea, Ra- ; hotu, Te Kiri and Pungarehu. The report of the committee stated that the association concluded another successful season during which the num- ’ ber of teams increased . to 61, placing the association, according to . numbers, among the largest basketball associations in. New . Zealand. Thirty-four clubs were affiliated, entering 33 senior teams and 20 junior teams. Tainui was again a sub-association with eight teams. This meant that apart from the school teams there were just on -1000 seniors playing and registered. Congratulations .were extended to West End as winners of the Sutherland Cup, to Mokau cys winners of the Shepherd Cup and!to. Eltham as junior champions.. Divisional winners were: Seniors, Hawera Technical, Inglewood and West End; junior, Alton, Stratford Technical, New Plymouth Convent and Eltham. ' Semi-finals : arid finals were closely and keenly contested and there were some exciting finishes. The June 4 tournament was held at Hawera when excellent entries were received and a most enjoyable day was spent on the grounds of the technical school. Thanks were due to the principal of the school and his staff for the use of the school and the courts and for arrangements for the comfort of the visitors. Hawera Old Girls won the Tarry Shield. Mrs. Kohn arid Miss Tarry attended the New Zealand. conference at Dunedin. The management committee had not aimed at a large credit balance but the financial position was very satisfactory. The cost of badges and expenses of representative teams had been big items. To give a greater number of players ■ experience in ' matches with outside teams three representative teams

were sent on tour and all met with success. Wellington officials were full of praise for the first team which drew with Wellington. . The second team defeated. Wanganui at Wanganui, while the third representative team , played a friendly match against the Tainui representatives. The visitors were 'hospitably entertained by the committee at Tongaporutu. If a representative team had been entered in the New. Zealand tournament it would at least have equalled many of the teams playing in the minor section.

NEW PLYMOUTH SUFFFERS.In the northern division the New Plymouth courts - had suffered somewhat through the floods and wire netting would need to be renewed. The bridge across the stream separating the courts had been washed away and was not yet replaced. New Plymouth would not therefore be considered for a tournament in the early season. The management committee considered that it would be necessary to arrange northern teams in three grades for the coming season. An encouraging sign had been the development of the game in the smaller country districts and the improvement of play generally. Some newly formed clubs showed what could be done with keen and enthusiastic players. Games were closely contested and interest Was maintained throughout the season. A wellattended meeting of referees was held at Stratford, when a referees’ association was formed. The New Zealand rules committee’s interpretations of some rules not generally understood by the majority were before the meeting and those present benefited by discussion. Miss Britland and Mr. Spurdie were appointed to convene meetings in southern and central Taranaki respectively to arrange for neutral referees and give discussions , on rulings etc. As the season was almost closed further activities of the referees’ association were postponed till the coming season. It was hoped that the referees’ association would be enabled to function through the help of clubs and those willing to act as referees. It was probable that a New Zealand referees’ association would be formed at Easter at Wellington. Clubs should endeavour to register referees who would study rules and makes themselves competent. A New Zealand badge for referees of senior status was to be issued. ■ The management committee met regularly throughout the season, generally at Stratford. It was th-* aim to encourage as many new teams as possible to form group competitions to facilitate matches and to lighten travelling expenses. This greatly increased the work of the secre-

tary, whose efforts on behalf, of basketball had so advanced the game in the province. If a tearn was to be sent to the New Zealand tournament this year it would be necessary for representative practices and raising of funds to commence at once. The association should aim at entering , a strong, team and endeavour to carry off the trophy in the senior division as this would probably be the last occasion on which it. might enter in the minor section. The management. committee expressed its appreciation of the assistance given to it by all concerned, to referees, ,to the secretary and ’auditor and to the Press for its valuable reports of games . and meetings.. ,

Miss Tarry mentioned.that it had not been the intention of the management committee to strive.for large profits but rather io utilise the income for the, benefit of players . themselves. Thus, during the season, representative fixtures had been arranged at. a cost amounting to £2l. The report •of the delegates attending the New Zealand council meeting at Dunedin last August was tabled and it was interesting to note from ’ this that of the 22 associations affiliated with the New Zealand Association Taranaki, held fifth place. The question of Wanganui in the south and Te'Kuiti in the north being included in Taranaki’s boundariesalso came up for discussion and in connection with this the president of' the New Zealand Association will be making a tour of the districts concerned. If eventuates Taranaki might take this as a compliment to the management of basketball affairs under its control; The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths; president, Miss Tarry; vice-presidents, Miss D. Britland and Miss D. Abraham; secretary, Mrs. L. S. Kohn; management committee, Misses Simpson, Appleyard and Matingi; selectors, Miss Tarry (north), Mrs. Kohn 'central), Miss Britland (south), Mrs. Lineham and Mrs. F. Chapman (coastal); result stewards, Miss J. Thomas (south), Miss M. Matangi (north and coastal), association secretary (central); delegates to New Zealand Association, Miss Tarry and the manager of the representative team; auditor, Mr. J. Penn; solicitor, Mr. J. M. Moss. It was decided that a Taranaki team be sent to the New Zealand tournament to be held at Wellington. The June 3 tournament is to be held in Hawera on the technical school grounds. The application of the Inglewood club to hold an open tournament on May 6 was granted. Entries for the weekly competitions close on April 27. The usual honorarium was voted to the secretary and votes of thanks were recorded to the auditor and the Press.

RADNOR ROAD TENNIS

CARDIFF AND MIDHIRST BEATEN. CLUB LADDER GAMES PLAYED. On Saturday a team ■of eight tennis players from Cardiff visited the Radnor court for a friendly match, which the home team won by 9 sets to 7. A westerly wind was blowing all day,-and towards the .end of the sets light rain fell, but play was resumed after a short spell. . - ■ ‘ ' Detailed results, with Cardiff players first, are:—

Women’s singles: Miss G. Hom lost to Miss B. Hunt 3—6; Miss B. Brunton beat Mrs, Hunt 6—5; Miss J.- Raynor lost to Mrs. Askew o—6; Miss D. Richards beat Miss D. Kaspar 6—4. Men’s singles: A. Bennett beat A. Mapp 6—B; C. Hawkes lost to J. Watson 4— 6; T. Brunton lost to C. Kelly 5—6; P. Hom beat C. Davis 6—5. Women’s doubles: Miss G. Hom and Miss. B. Brunton lost to Miss B. Hunt and Mrs. Hunt 4—6; Miss J. Raynor and Miss D. Richards lost to Mrs. Askew and Miss D. Kaspar 3—6. Men’s doubles: A. Bennett and C. Hawkes lost to A. Mapp and J. Watson 5— 6; T. Brunton and P. Hoyn . lost to C. Kelly and C. Davis 5—6. Combined doubles: Miss G. Hom and A. Bennett beat Miss B. Hunt and A. Mapp 6-4; Miss B. Brunton and G Hawkes beat Mrs. Hunt and J. Watson 6— 3; Miss Ji RaynOr and. T. Brunton lost to ■ Mrs. Askew and C: Kelly 2—6; Miss D. Richards and P. Horn beat Miss. D. Kaspar and C. Davis 6—5. On Thursday a team’ of eight women visited Radnor Road. Radnor won by 8 sets to 3.

Results, with Midhirst mentioned first, are:—

Singles: Mrs. Andersen lost ‘ to Miss B. Hunt 3—6; Miss J. Blair lost to Miss J. Rookes 5—6; Miss E; Graham beat Mrs. S. Reid 6-2; Mrs. Platt beat Miss I. Vickers 6—2; Miss Z. Tapp -'lost to Mrs. Hunt 2—6; Miss P. Howard lost to Mrs. Mapp 3—6; Mrs. Meads lost to Miss O. Rookes 5-6. ’ ’. , Doubles: Mrs. P. Andersen and Miss J. Blair lost to Misses B. Hunt/and J. Rookes 3—6; Miss E. Graham and Mrs. W. Platt lost to Miss I. Vickers and Mrs. S. Reid 3—6; Misses Z. Tapp and P. Howard beat Mesdames W. Vickers and A. Mapp 6—2; Miss O. Rookes and Mrs. Meads lost to Mesdames A. R. Askew and M. Davis I—6.

Rain fell heavily during the- morning,

but the afternoon was fine with bright sunshine.

Women’s singles ladder matches' played during the last fortnight have resulted: Miss D. Kaspar (challenger) beat Miss B. Hunt 6-5; Miss D. Kaspar (challenger) lost to Mrs. Hunt 2—6; Miss B. Hunt (challenger) beat Miss D. Kaspar 6-3; Miss J. Rookes (challenger) lost to Miss D. Kaspar 4—6. Personal. Mrs. C. Davis and Master Malcolm Davis, returned last week from a short holiday at New Plymouth as the guests of Mrs. Loveridge. Mrs. J. O’Neill is spending a holiday at New Plymouth. Mr. Sherson has returned to Radnor Road, where he is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. L. Vickers.