EXCITING BASKETBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3890, 11 August 1941, Page 5

EXCITING BASKETBALL

REP TEAMS IN ACTION WAIKATO NARROWLY BEATS CAMBRIDGE The increasing interest taken by the girls of Cambridge in the sport of Basketball, was shown on Saturday, when the local representative team staged an exciting match with the strong Waikato representatives at the High School grounds. The match attracted considerable interest, and there was a large attendance of spectators, many of whom who had not previously seen first-class basket-ball teams in action. The speed at which the game is played and the science and combination developed by good players took most of the onlookers by surprise. Growing Interest in Game The match was one of the most important staged in Cambridge, and as a result the sport will have many more followers in the future. This season, about 70 girls have participated in the weekly competition matches at the High School, and from them Cambridge has been able to field a fine representative nine. Although Saturday's match was only a friendly encounter, some rivalry has existed between the two teams. When they met earlier in the season the 'result was a draw. The main benefit of the match was to give the teams a try-out before the forthcoming tournaments at Rotorua. The Waikato team will take part in the Dominion tournament commencing on August 30, and the Cambridge team will contest the Rotorua fixture the following week. Four Cambridge players were selected as Waikato representatives, but only one of them, Miss B. Hubbard, will be available. The other three, as, well as Miss Hubbard, will play with the Cambridge team at Rotorua. Miss Lily Bone, of Cambridge,,who plays in Hamilton, is Captain of the Waikato team.;, . ; , On the, play, on Saturday, both teams should give a« good account of themselves in their respective engagements j at.Rpiprua. Mrs A. C. Waliis will be team manager of the Cambridge players. Better Combination The result of Saturday's match, 15-11, in favour 'of Waikato was a fairly good indication, of the play. Waikato players displayed slightly more combination than Cambridge and their goalers were more accurate on the day. With half of the first spell played the scores were even, four goals all. Cambridge had been' slightly unlucky with several shots at goal. It was thon that Waikato broke through the defence repeatedly and added five goals in quick succession. Cambridge scored just before the bell sounded to make the half-time score, Waikato 9, Cambridge 5. There was alternate scoring in the second half, each team adding six gaols. Cambridge was'at a disadvantage in that one of the representative centres, Miss Betty Middletoh, was not available. She was replaced by Miss Betty Parsons, who was having her first mWjor game.-' Although she proved a worthy substitute, the cohesion of the team suffered in the earlier part of the game, as the scoring indicated, j The.teams were :

Cambridge: Goalers: Mrs G. R. Andrewes, Miss P.. Ogilvy, Miss J. Ross (captain). Centres : Miss B. Porath, Miss B. Parsons, Miss J. Petersen. Defence ; Miss M. Wilkinson, Miss B. Hubbard, Miss T. Browne.

Waikato : Coalers : Miss M. Cave, Miss D. Clements, Miss P. Storey; Centres : Miss P. Adams, Miss M. Spiers, Miss R. Paynter; Defence: Miss V. Westwood, Miss L. Bone (captain), Miss P. Armstrong. The match was ably controlled by Miss P. Wallis, an official referee of the Auckland Province. Results of Other Matches Two other representative" matches were played. Cambridge B defeated Hamilton Cby i 3 goals to 12; and Cambridge C beat Hamilton D by 9 goals to 5. Club competitions were advanced a round earlier in the afternoon. An exciting match was played between the leading teams, High School A and Greens, the former winner by ? l6 goals to 15. Other results were : Clovers 14 v. Roto-o-rangi 6; High School B 13 v. United 7; Tartans 21 v. Convent 6. At the conclusion of play the visiting and local teams gathered, at the Triangle Tea Rooms for afternoon tea. .. • Miss Bone thanked the Cambridge

members for the opportunity to play a return majtch, which Ji(ad proved very, enjoyable. The president of the Cambridge Association, Mr W. Wilkinson referred to the excellent match played during the afternoon. He assured the Waikato players that if they succeeded at Rotorua, none would be more pleased than Cambridge. Reciprocating Mr Wilkinson's remarks, Miss Atkinson, manager of the Waikato team, wished Cambridge success at the second tournament. -