BASKETBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 August 1938, Page 8

BASKETBALL

SATURDAY’S REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES WAIRARAPA TEAMS SUCCESSFUL. COMMENT ON THE PLAY. Saturday was a most interesting day for basketball in the Wairarapa when three representative matches were played on the Wairarapa College courts. In every match the local team was victorious, although in one case by a very narrow margin. Results were as follow: — Wairarapa A beat Pahiatua 23—16. Wairarapa B beat Hutt Valley thirds 23—3. Masterton Woolworths beat Palmerston North Woolworths 14 —12. In the A match Wairarapa was definitely superior to the Bush team and led all the way, the half-time score being 11—7. The Wairarapa girls can, however, learn from this match how to improve their game in several directions before they face the strong combinations they will meet in Timaru. On the whole they combined well, particularly in the centre third where there were few mistakes. R. Edwards

took the ball cleanly from the defenders, passed accurately and seemed always on the spot when needed. Her speed and anticipation of the opponents’ movements were of infinite assistance. In this third also, the young College player, M. McLaren, fully justified her inclusion in the team. Her spectacular interceptions and determined play again and again brought the ball to the Wairarapa forwards. It was in the forward third that the game so often went wrong, particularly in the second half. P. Hanley obtained the ball well from the centres, was quick in movement and got well away from her opponent, but over and over again could not get the ball to the other forwards, and the Bush defenders sent it down the field again. This was partly owing to wild passing and partly because the other forwards stood behind their opponents. N. Cohen was very well defended by a girl of her own height, G. Bissett, and would have done well to play further forward. E. Jones shot well when she did get the ball, but still lacks in attack. N. Cohen shot most of the goals and was up to her very best form in the last few minutes with three good shots in succession. In the criticism of this third of the team it is well to remember that the forwards were up against the strongest third of the Bush team. With strong defence it is unwise for forwards to use the same tactics all through, when they see these failing. Denise Mahoney, Bush’s chief forward, realised this and cleverly varied her

tactics, practically always succeeding in getting the ball right up to the post. Sometimes she unexpectedly passed backwards, but more often she and her fellow forwards outwitted the defence by quick underneath passes that invariably led to a goal. It is good to see this intelligent and strong player back in the game after two years off. For the Bush team J. Sowry shot most of the goals. The Bush team lost the game largely through long passes which were well intercepted by Wairarapa’s centres and defenders. The Bush centres were most of the time outplayed, but several times did well in adopting the manoeuvre of passing straight across the third instead of down the field. The Bush team was: D. Mahoney, J. Sowry, R. Aston, M. Gunn, Dellills, J. Henry, R. Pubbs, G. Bissett, K. O’Brien. The game was capably refereed by Miss D. O’Donnell. In the Wairarapa B v Hutt Valley game the teams were not very evenly matched. Wairarapa had very much the advantage in height and lost few opportunities of scoring. The forwards, P. Baskiville, J. Gemmell and J. Palamontain, combined well. P. .Baskiville in particular brought off some fine shots. In the Wairarapa centre H. Winter played an excellent game, well supported by M. Eastwood and M. Greenlees. For Hutt N. Love shot well and cleanly, but the third lacked com-

bination. B. Tyrell (Hutt) showed speed and skill at intercepting. Miss J. Rayne was the referee. The Woolworths’ game was enjoyed by a large number of spectators and supporters and was an extremely close match. The score at half-time was 7 —6 in favour of Masterton and several times the score was even. The Palmerston team had the better combination throughout but lost by long passes which were intercepted by the strong Masterton defence. The Palmerston girls were somewhat handicapped by playing, as a rule, a dierent code of basketball. Palmerston centre players were excellent especially Miss Kingsbeer. The determination and speed shown in this third should have won the game for Palmerston. For Masterton N. Mouat shot most of the goals, improving in form as the game went on. The defence was skilful and accurate, while in the centre O. Phillips and K. Kilminster played very well. Thereferee for this match was Miss R. Edwards. The Hutt and Pahiatua teams were 1 entertained at afternoon tea by the Wairarapa Association, the arrangements being under the control of Miss A. J. Shelton, assisted by Miss M. Dwyer. Speeches of welcome were made by the Wairarapa president, Miss O. R. Sutherland, and the team captains, Miss R. Edwards, and replied to by the captains of the visiting teams. The players later left by cars for their homes.