WANGANUI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL; CLOSE MATCHES PLAYED

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 May 1949, Page 7

WANGANUI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL; CLOSE MATCHES PLAYED

An excellent game of basketball was witnessed when Tech. Old Girls met Past Students for the first time this season, on Saturday. The game resulted in a draw, 23-all, after a halftime score of 12-all. In the first quarter T.O.G. took the lead, settling down early to concerted team play. Their defence players combined well, with C. Forward showing good anticipation and intercepting well in the circle. T.O.G. centre players marred their game by too much sideline play. In fact the centre of both teams were prone to play along the sidelines, this being the only exception to an otherwise fast, open game. Sideline play is not bad play, but it results in too many throw-ins from the ball going out of bounds, and many good passing movements were halted in this manner. Students equalled in the closing stages of the first spell and there was nothing to choose between the two sides in the second spell, which was a demonstration of good concerted team play by both sides. There was no wind

blowing during the game and shooting on both sides was good; B. Forward shooting the most of T.O.G.’s goals and B. Whiting being the most prominent Students’ forward. I. Platt led Students’ defence well, being particularly speedy with her throw-ins. The teams were:— T.0.G.: L. Breed (capt), B. For-, ward, J. Skelsey, P. Phillips, N. Webby, K. Gedge, D. Henderson, C. Forward, E. Couchman. Students: B. Whiting (capt.), L. Ernst, Y. Alabaster, F. Worrall, M. Price, O. Platt, B. Spicer, V. Jackson, I. Platt. ST. MARY’S v. NGA TOA. This game lacked the sparkle and speed of the former game. Weather conditions had deteriorated and a strong wind made goal shooting a hazardous undertaking. Nga Toa was without the services of D. Bosher, D. Tonga, and R. Sutherland. Their substitutes, L. Sutton, P. Palmer, and D. Rutherford, played well but when onethird of the team is altered one does not expect to see good combination. It was obvious that this was the reason for the large number of misdirected passes Nga Toa gave during the game. E. Bosher played well in Nga Toa goal third, showing her best shooting form to date. B Hughes (Nga Toa) and M. McCashin (St. Mary’s) were well matched in the centre third, and dominated most of the play in that area. Nga Toa defence was baffled by short low passes in the St. Mary’s goal third where the shooting was again more accurate than that of the Nga Toa

side. U. Jeffrey was missing from the St. Mary's B team. Both teams need to watch the tendency for centres and wing attacks to cross the traverse lines when manoeuvring into position for a pass. St. Mary’s took an early lead in the game and kept a slight margin ahead throughout the match. Nga Toa had an equal share of field play and, if anything, made more attempts at. goal but superior shooting by St. Mary’s forwards won them the game. Halftime score was 9-6 in favour of St. Mary’s, who finally won by 16-14. The teams were:— St. Mary’s: J. McCashin (captain), J. Manson, N O’Connor, M. McCashin, J. O’Connor, G. Mashlan, N. O’Leary. K. O’Leary, J. Foley. Nga Toa: J. Smith (captain), M. Wright, P. Cummins, B. Hughes, L. Sutton. P. Palmer, M. Howe, D. Rutherford E. Bosher. The referee for both games was Mrs E. Schnack.