BASKETBALL Some Players Not Fit For Opening Games

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 11

BASKETBALL Some Players Not Fit For Opening Games

Poor handling and an obvious lack of fitness were the-predominant impressions gained from the opening games in the Canterbury Basketball Association’s sensor competition, played at South Hagley Park on Saturday. As the seven teams in the grade had already enjoyed three weeks' basketball, Saturday’s showing was, in the main, disaopointing. The 1960 competition winner, Sacred Heart, easily defeated Teachers’ College A, and Kakatai, last season’s runner-up, was much too strong for West A. Teachers' College B, promoted from senior reserve to senior, did not make an impressive debut and went down to St. Nicholas. Technical had the bye. Results were:— Sacred Heart A 39, Teachers’ College A 21. Kakatai A 33, West A 24. St. Nicholas A 27, Teachers’ College B 19. Sacred Heart v. Teachers' College Playing short ior the first seven minutes, Sacred Heart was forced to leave the Teachers’ College and New Zealand representative. C. McMaster, unguarded. But Teachers' College made little sustained effort to exploit this situation and the scoring continued evenly. College forward I. Jansen goaled brilliantly to give College the lead, but the arrival of the Sacred Heart defence, A. Coleman, brought immediate results and Sacred Heart’s teamwork tightened. Defending with purpose and considerable mobility, A. Coleman and newcomer D. Evans broke up the College moves and the College forwards C. McMaster and I. Jansen were well controlled as Sacred Heart gained the initiative. Fine shooting by Canterbury representative J. Martin and a 14-year-old newcomer. C. Brady, gave the strong defence J. McMillan and A. Stewart few openings and this third’s inability to restrict the Sacred Heart forwards became more pronounced as the spell progressed. By half time Sacred Heart led by 19 goals to 15. When play resumed Sacred Heart goaled competently from their throw-off, but College retaliated and in the next few minutes play was ragged and handling mistakes frequent. Wild passes found the sideline and Teachers’ College goaled twice to reduce Sacred Heart’s lead.

Intelligent play by Sacred Heart’s B. McAleer and N. Fahey at this point steadied their team-mates and the thoughtful forward play of J. Martin restored order to their attack. Fine shooting by J. Martin and C. Brady enabled Sacred Heart to forge well ahead and play was mediocre in the final stages. Teachers' College were far from convincing in this spell: their positional play in all thirds was defective and though some individual performances, notably that of I. Jansen. B. Blake and J. McMillan were quite promising. the side's meagre total of six goals for this spell was most disappointing to their support--1 ws. ! The referee was Mrs A. South.

The teams were*— Sacred Heart—J. Martin, C. Brady, N. Fahey, B. McAleer, P. Lawson, A. Colemap, D. Evans. Teachers* College A.—l. Jansen. C. McMaster, L. Dasler. B. Blake, J. Payne, A. Stewart, J. McMillan. Kakatai v. West A The main attraction of the afternoon’s play, the game between West A. winner of the senior handicap tournament, and Kakatai. winner at the 1961 annual tournament, drew a large gallery but failed to produce play of a high standard. and the packed stands were unusually quiet. Kakatai’s initial burst of polished play, allied with the accurate shooting and good handling of Kakatai’s experienced forwards L. Price and J. Dunlop, thoroughly disconcerted West A and Kakatai built up a match-winning margin within minutes of the commencement of play. Kakatai led by 10 goals to 2 before West's centre managed to pierce the Kakatai defence. Conceding frequent penalties for minor infringements Kakatai’s play lost its polish and West's score improved, but the lack of consideration by the West centres kept their forwards J. Wright and H. Bryant, a new combination. badly placed for shooting. Capable guarding of Kakatai’s M. Neiman and E. Kirkwood allowed Kakatai to retain its safe lead, without too much effort. The half-time score was Kakatai 15. West A 10. The second half was onesided. Kakatai forwards L. Price and J. Dunlop were again in fine form and the Kakatai centre L. Walker, J. King and H. Caldwell gave them splendid support. Kakatai increased their score steadily and West was unable to counter the attack. The final stages were dull, with Kakatai winning comfortably by 33 goals to 24. The referee was Mrs F. Gough. The teams were: Kakatai: I*. Price, J. Dunlop, H. Caldwell, L. Walker. J. King. M. Neiman, E. Kirkwood. West A: J. Wright. H. Bryant, K. Williams, M. Hopkins. M. Murray, M. Islop, P. Bennett. St. Nicholas v. Teachers’ College B Featuring many players new to senior basketball, this game gave critics of the Canterbury's executive's grading policy much food for thought as the standard, almost throughout, fell well short of senior basketball. Good shooting by St. Nicholas forwards J, Cusdln and M. Dalzell enabled St. Nicholas to dominate play in the early stages, but their attack was patchy and frequent infringements kept the game deadly slow. Teachers' College B centres had the better of their opponents and mainly through steady play of this third, forwards C. Clapham and N. Blomquist were given shooting opportunities which they turned to good account and play was even. Half-time score: St. Nicholas 12. Teachers’ College B 11. Drab play continued throughout the second half with neither team displaying much regard for positional play. St. Nicholas forwards J. Cusdin and M. Dalzell attained good shooting positions and their superior shooting enabled St. Nicholas to win comfortably by 27 goals to 19. The referee was Miss P. Gallagher.

The teams were: St. XitMUl: M. Dalzell, J Cusdin. J. Potts. N. Baker, L. Carson. M CroeSen. E. Woods. Teachers’ Coßege B: N. Blomquist. C. Clanham, D. Jarvis, M. McClennan, P. Oldham. I. Hall, K. Reece. Lower Grades Senior Reserve. Sacred Heart B 44. Community Centre A 19; Sacred Heart C 26. •Diaby’s A 23; Papanui H.S. A 27, Technical C M; Papanui O.G. A 23. C.C.C. A 18. Second Grade.—Section 1: Shirley North A 33, Celtic A 17; South Brighton A 33, Teachers College C 15. Section 2: Rangl-ruru B 34, St. Theresa’s A 22; Cratnner 34. Papauni O.G. B 13; St. Mary’s O.G. A 28. Paean al H.S. B 19. Section 3: St. Mary’s College A 29. West OG. C M; Technical 2A 19. Shirley North B 17; St. Nicholas B 35. C.U.C. B 15; Otautahi A 28. Sacred Heart D 16. Section 4: Otautahi B 26, Teachers’ College D 22; Digby’s B 31. West O.G. D 27; Sacred Heart E 43. South Brighton B 13. Third Grade.—Section 1: Sunnyside Nurses 23. St. Mary’s Old Girls B 7; Kakatai C 36, Papanui H.S. C 25; Telegraph A 23, Holy Trinity A 22. Section 2: Dental Nurses A 22, Technical 3C 12; Junior Comets 24, St. Mary's College B 23; Digby’s C 21, St. Teresa’s B 10; West O.G. E 33, Canberra A 7. Section 3: St Mary’s College C 26, P. 0.58. 12; Mairehau A 22, Bank of N.S.W. 20; Technical 3A 22, Sisepa A IT. Section 4: Woolworths 1. Sacred Heart F 0. Section 5: Sacred Heart G 39. Canterbury Building Society 2; West O.G, F 31. Technical 3B

Fourth Grade A.—Section 1: Shirley North D 24, Holy Trinity B 15: Mairima A 34, Belfast A 27. Section 2: West High 33, Hay’s A 3: Hollanders 31. Addington A 22: Sacred Heart I 26, Celtic' C 14. Section 3: West J 34. C.D.L. C 18; Community Centre B 24, Sacred Heart H 9. Section 4: Kiwi 23. Sumner C 9: West O.G. 1 12: Speedee 12: Papanui O.G. C 23, St. Nicholas E 13, Section 5; Dental Nurses B 34, Opawa A 4: St. Nicholas F 29. Teachers’ College F 8; Kia Toa 36. Hay's B 5; St. Peter's A 20. West K 15.

Fourth Grade B—Section 1: Mairehau 1. Kakatai F 0; Edgeware 17. Sisepa 4; Fashions 21. I.G.A. 15. Section 2: Kingburn 18, Zipns C 13; C.Y.C. 1. B.R.A. A 0; Drayton-Jones 81. Para 0. Section 3: West H.S. 17, Zipps D 7; Papanui O.G. D 1, Satterth waites 0. Section 4: International Harvester 29, Celtic D 11; St. Mary's College E 26. Sacred Heart J 13.

Fifth Grade.—Section 1: Linwood High School 27, Sisepa D 9; South Brighton C 17, Technical High 6 11; Addington O.G. B 29, Sacred Heart M 11. Section 2: Mairehau H.S. A 29, Kakatai G 12; Shirlev North E 28. Papanui H.S. G 9; Sacred Heart L 21. Technical C 5. Section 3: Mairima B 18. St. Nicholas G 17: West O.G. A 25: Sacred Heart K 6; Papanui H.S. H 25, South Brighton D 18; Technical 5A 19. Belfast B 18. Section 4: Papanui HS I 18, Kia Toa 14. Section 5: Technical D 21. West O.G. 5B 14; Papanui H.S K 12. St Peter’s B 11.

Sixth Grade.—Section 1: Kakatai I 12, Sumner F 6; Papanui H.S. L 37, Shirley North G 3. Section 2: Otautahi D 18. Technical 6A 14; Addington D 18. Belfast C 8 Section 3: Celtic F 32, Sumner H 18: St. Teresa’s D 17. Belfast D A