BASKETBALL

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 10

BASKETBALL

[By Dkfuxck.] Interesting features of Saturday’s basketball will be the final game between Y.W.C.A. I. and Trailing College, the second grade semi-final between High School Ex-Girls and Albany, and the third grade final between Arthur Barnetts I. and C.F.H. First Grade Tournament. The annual first grade tournament was held at Logan Park last Saturday. A fairly strong wind swept the courts for the greater .part of the afternoon, this affecting not only the accuracy of the forwards, hut also the general passing movements of the competing teams. Play, 1 lowever, proved to be intensely interesting, and the final round was practically completed before there was any indication as to who would be the winning team. Y.W.C.A. I.’s draw with Albaniy I. in the first round proved that the games were going to be very close, and from that moment a feeling of expectancy seemed to pervade the courts. The ultimate winner was Kiwi, whoso only loss was its game against Training College, time being called with the score at -i-il in College’s favour. This game, as was the majority of the games, was very closely contested, neither side holding any distinct advantage, but both .playing strongly and taking advantage of any opening whatsoever. With a particularly bright movement College carried play up the field to the goal area, where R. Parke scored the decisive goal. Throughout the day’s play, however, Kiwi played splendidly, the addition of Mary Martin in the centre proving a decided advantage. Her passing into the attacking third gave the forwards every opportunity to carry play to the goal mouth, Isla Purdio in particular showing excellent conrtcraft. The defenders also showed a keen sense of anticipation, covering their opponents’ movements in a splendid fashion. However, many praiseworthy statements could be made about a number of the other teams —Albany 1., Training College, and Y.W.C.A. I. all doing excellent work in every department of the game. Otago Girls’ High School played very attractively, and offered stern opposition, but it found difficulty in working the play up to the goalpost. Y.W.C.A. 11. provd to be the surprise packet, and played particularly well against its more experienced opponents. Albany 11. was not at full strength, but made its opponents work for all their goals. The most disappointing team was University, who when it is on its game is capable of upsetting any pro-calculated result. Owing to lectures being completed, however, its combination was greatly disorganised, and without the services of Joyce Clayton it found difficulty in successfully evading the opposing defence. Consequently it enjoyed few opportunities to score. The following table shows the positions of the teams at the close of the day’s play.:—

High School Ex-Girls v. Albany. The game between High School ExGirls and Albany was, as had been anticipated, very exciting, and provided a splendid exhibition of second grade basketball. The game opened with great speed, both sides scoring in the lirst two minutes of the game. From then on it developed into a stirring contest, the scores mounting fairly evenly. Scores were equalised at 2 all and again at 5 all, and just before half-time was called were again equalised at 7 all. The second half opened with the same high standard of play, if anything the speed being slightly greater. Splendid attacking work was matched by strong defence play, while the centres always performed their tasks admirably. High School Ex-Girls obtained a slight lead of two goals during the half, but Albany reduced this to one, and time was called, amid gtoat excitement, with the score reading: High School Ex-Girls 12, Albany 11. Ex-Girls’ victory means that the teams are now level in the competition, and will have to meet again on Saturday to find the winner of the section. Ravensbourne holds premier place in section 11., and the two games which have to be played should prove a fitting conclusion to the grade’s 1940 activities. Fifth Grade Tournament. The fifth grade tournament was held in conjunction with the first grade, Training College J holding pride of place on this occasion. There was actually very little difference between the competing teams, all the games being fairly closely contested, the bottom team, Kiwi, losing all its encounters only by close margins. Port Presbyterian was runner-np, its game against Training College being the decisive one in the tournament. Training College showed more cohesion in the attacking third, the forwards finishing off their movements with good shots at goal. The final score was: College 5, Port Presbyterian 3. The following table shows the positions of the teams :

North-east Valley v. Y.W.C.A. Aotea. Thu final match of the fourth grade was played last Saturday between North-east Valley ami Y.W.C.A. Aotea, the winners of their respective sections. The game opened briskly, and although scoring was fairly slow, this did not detract from the enjoyment of the game. When half-time was called North-cast Valley had secured a load of one goal, the score reading: Northeast Valley 5, Y.W.C.A. Aotea 4. In the second half the game was again evenly contested, and scores mounted alternately. Aotea made determined efforts to obtain the ascendancy, hut these proved fruitless, and the position remained unchanged when time was called. The final score was North-east Valley 10. Y.W.C.A. Aotea 9, North-east Valley thus gaining possession of the fourth grade cup for the season.

• T3 9 F? 44 & CS* 3 o +3 O C3 & 3 & & *3 Q o Kiwi 7 6 1 0 12 Albany 1 7 5 1 1 11 Y.W.C.A. I. 7 4 1 2 10 Training College 7 5 2 0 10 Y.W.C.A. 11. ... 7 3 4 0 6 Otago G.H.S. 7 2 4 1 5 University 7 1 6 0 2 Albany ll. ... ... 7 0 7 0 0

o g -p Pi >* -P ta S pr o *-3 u. Q 6 Training College ... 5 5 0 0 10 Port Presbyterian 6 4 i 0 8 Ultimax 5 3 o 0 6 K.K Valley 5 o 3 0 4 Unity ... 5 ] 4 0 2 Kiwi 5 0 5 0 0