Game With U.S. Team Declined

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 12

Game With U.S. Team Declined

A game between the American Venture for Victory team and Canterbury on August 27 was declined by the Canterbury Men’s Basketball Association last evening. The team, which will arrive in Christchurch on August 27 for an eight-day tour of New Zealand, made a special request for a game against Canterbury on the evening of its arrival through its Y.M.C.A. liaison officer (Mr C. Briggs). But because the New Zealand table tennis tournament is being held in Cowles Stadium, the only suitable venue in Christchurch, at that time the offer has to be declined. To further complicate matters the Canterbury team would still be returning from the national tournament in Rotorua, although a team

could have been formed from those left behind. Some members said that it might be possible to accommodate the team at a later date if it could adjust its itinerary. Others considered that it would be an opportunity for the Mid-Canterbury association to stage an international match on its home court.

The New Zealand representative team to visit Australia will play the Venture for Victory side in Auckland on August 29. The New Zealand touring team will be announced on August 26. Tour Doubts Mr A. W. Barrett (secretary) reported that the proposed tour of the South Island by the Adelaide University side might not take place because of financial difficulties. The sum of £124 was needed to get the team

from Christchurch to the New Zealand Universities’ tournament in Auckland at the end of the tour and the tourists were not prepared to meet the cost. The matter had now been passed to the New Zealand Universities’ Basketball Council to see if it could raise the money. The Adelaide team is scheduled to arrive on August 4 and play matches against Wellington, West Coast, Southland, South Island Universities and Canterbury. Mr Barrett reported that about 1000 persons had been in Cowles Stadium to see the match between San' Jose and New Zealand Universities last week. In spite of a payment of £74 for the hire of the stadium and a payment to the national association of £245, a small profit would still be made by the association.

This was the second largest crowd to watch a basketball match in Canterbury. A proposal to withdraw the Canterbury representative team from the national tournament in Rotorua next month because of its poor record failed to find support. It was emphasised that this was not a vote of no confidence in the selector (Mr L. N. Saunders). It was merely to stimulate discussion and referred to the years before Mr Saunders took over coaching.

Messrs Thomson and M. A. Henshall were appointed to obtain the team’s views in an informal discussion with Mr Saunders and his team captain, R. Entwistle, this evening after the game against Southland. Mr Saunders will be asked to decide whether he wants to take a team away even though several of its key players might be absent.