WANGANUI BASKETBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1947, Page 7

WANGANUI BASKETBALL

SEASON OPENED WITH A GRADING DAY

The 1947 basketball season opened in Wanganui with a grading day tournament on Saturday last. The season promises well with a record entry of 56 teams, this being ten ahead of last year’s total. Competition games commence next Saturday. Seven teams are entered in the senior grade these being Nga Toa, Technical Old Girls, Past Students, 1.X.L., Glencoe, St. Mary’s and Whenuakura Old Girls. This last mentioned team travels each Saturday from Patea to participate in games. This fact alone is indicative of their keenness. Playing for the first time this season in senior grade they should be capable of holding their own against any opponents. This team is to be congratulated on rising from third grade to senior grade in two seasons. Other new teams in the senior grade are I.X.L. and Glencoe. I.X.L. commenced the 1946 season in third grade and were promoted to senior B after the first round of matches had been completed. Thier play in senior B grade in the latter half of the season fully merited their promotion. No single player can be classed as outstanding in this side. Rather is their success due to their well practised combination. On grading day they met Nga Toa, whom they fully extended only going down by three goals in a hard fought contest. Glencoe have played in the senior B grade in former seasons and are a side that can be depended upon to play a hard, fast game. RESULTS AT A GLANCE ' Saturday’s games resulted as follows : Convent D 11, College D 4; Convent E 7, Technical F 1; Convent F 8, Technical G 1; Convent G 12, Technical H 0; Warnocks B 6, Technical I 5; Garments B 8, Checkers 0; Garments A 5, Llamba Wools 1; D.I.C. 4, McGruer’s 3; Tech. B 4, Zemba 0; Technical C 3, A. D. Willis 3; Convent C 6, P. and T. 0; College C 7, Si. Mary’s E 2; Kai Iwi 9, Woolworths 1; Kiwis 7, Technical DI; St. Mary’s D 6, Technical E 3; Hinemoa 5, Halvlc 3; College B 8, Technical All 3; Convent B 7, Students 6; United 14, St. Mary’s C 7; Technical Al 13, T.O.G. 3; College A 9, St. Mary’s B 4; Warnock’s A 2, Relax 1; Convent A 9, Star 9; Nga Toa 16, I.X.L. 13; T.O.G. 25. Glencoe 6; Students 11, St. Mary’s 10. Because of the power cuts night training this season does not appealpracticable. A number of teams have applied for the use of the Queen s Park courts for training and an allocation has been made for training as follows: Monday, 5 p.m., Woolworth’s, D.1.C., St. Mary’s; Tuesday, 5 p.m., Garments, B, Llamba Wools, Relax, Hal vic; Wednesday, 5 p.m., Nga Toa, 1.X.L., McGruer’s. Hinemoa; Thursday, 5 p.m., St. Mary’s A, P. and T., Checkers, Warnock’s.

NOTES AND COMMENTS Though defeated by Technical Old Girls by 25 to 6 the score is no indication of the opposition they provided. Past Students and St. Mary’s proved the closest game in the senior grade, the former team being winners by one goal only. The score was 11 to 10. Past Students have only five of last years team left, most of their vacancies having been filled by their junior members. St. Mary's are fielding the same team as last year but for two players, one in defence and one in goal. The team is fortunate in having the services of a former Auckland representative to fill the goal vacancy. Technical Old Girls will Held a strong combination again this season. Two of last year’s team are not playing again this season and their places have been filled by ex-members of Technical Al last year. Nga Toa, 1946 senior champions, have only five of their former team on the field this season. They defeated I.X.L. by 16 to 13. They had many more scoring opportunities than their opponents but their lack of which was so successful in third grade practice as a combination was apparent. Nevertheless the team promises well. This year the New Zealand tournament will be held at Nelson in August. An Australian team is travelling across to take part in matches so with the opportunity to earn selection in a New Zealand team, competition to earn inclusion in the Wanganui team will be very keen. Selectors for the Possible and Probables are Mrs. E. O. Schnack and Mr. E. A. Lewis. Othergrade selectors are: Senior B, Miss J. McFarland; junior grade, Mrs. F. Jones and third grade, Mr. L. Moyle. It is interesting to note that Girls' College A, Sacred Heart Convent A and Technical College A have all been promoted to senior B grade this season. By securing well-deserved wins in grading matches they proted their right to the promotion. It augurs well for the future of the game of basketbell in Wanganui that these college teams should show such ability. Both Technical College and Sacred Heart Convent have entered nine teams in the association's competitions while Girls’ College have four teams plaving. INDOOR BASKETBALL Indoor basketball competitions will begin to-night at the Y.M.-Y.W.C.A. The following teams will play:— Tuesday.—7 p.m., Everygirls Av. Everygirls B; 7.15, Star v. Albion; 7.40, Old Girls v. Athletic) 7.55, Everymans v. Kiwi; 8.20, Sphinx v. United A; 8.35, Masonic v. Cascade; 9.0, United B v. Woollen Mills; and 9.15, Cubs v. United (men). Thursday.—B p.m., Wesco v. Aces; 8.15, Commandos v. Central; 8.30, Beardsleys v. Aramoho; and 8.45, Children’s Garments v. Nurses.