BASKETBALL N.Z. TOURNEY FINALS

Grey River Argus, 30 August 1948, Page 3

BASKETBALL N.Z. TOURNEY FINALS

West Coast Tie For Third Grade Championship P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 29. Securing a convincing win from Auckland in the final of .the New Zealand Basketball Championship at New Plymouth on Saturday, Canterbury retained the title and annexed the New Zealand Cup for the second year in succession. Canterbury went through the tournament without a loss." Auckland, last year’s runner-up, suffered its only loss at the hands of Canterbury, and was again runner-up. Success in one of its two matches yesterday was sufficient to gain Tauranga the Second Grade Championship for the second successive year. Taranaki was runner-up. The Third Grade Championship was won jointly by the West Coast and Marlborough, both of whom won ten of their eleven matches. Australia defeated Taranaki by 22 goals to 11 in the official nine-a-side game of the Australian tour. Results were:— First Grade. Canterbury 29, Auckland 14’. Wellington 23, Hawke’s Bay 17. Wellington ’25, Southland 15. Hawke’s Bay 22, Manawatu 19. Second Grade. Nelson 18, Horowhenua 11. Tauranga 16, Matamata 12. Taranaki 15, Waikato 11. Poverty Bay 18, South Canterbury 16. Nelson 12, Tauranga 9. Hutt Valley 15, Horowhenua 14. Southland Minor defeated North Otago by default. Rotorua defeated North Otago by default. Third Grade. Temuka 14, Te Kawa 13. Kaikoura'l4, Canterbury Minor 11. South Auckland 13, Otago Minor 3. Wairarapa 12, Wairoa 8. Marlborough 28, Hawke’s Bay Minor 10. ■ West Coast 13, Kaikoura 8. South Auckland 26, Manawatu Minor 19. Marlborough 22, Otago Minor 12. Wairarapa 11, Temuka 10. Te Kawau 14, Canterbury Minor

Australians Win Test Convincingly P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Aug. 29. New Zealand was soundly trounced in the second test match against the touring Australian basketball team at New Plymouth yesterday. In every department, Australia was superior, and the score 44 to 13, showed that the New Zealanders lacked qualities which made the Australians such easy winners. The New Zealand team was playing together for the first time, and poor shooting, lack of speed in passing, and wild passing were more marked than in the senior provincial games during the tournament. New Zealand at times tried Australian tactics, but could not get the same speed into their passes, with the result that many were intercepted. If there was a weakness in the Australian team, it was an off day experienced by the goal-thrower, L. Hornig, who missed many more shots than usual.' The outstanding player on the field was M. White, the Australian captain, who played in the defence and stopped New Zealand from having innumerable shots at goal by her swift interceptions. M. Craddock, in the Australian goal circle, was uncannily accurate in goal throwing. In the New Zealand defence, L. Black intercepted well, sending the ball on to J. Hickey, who was the best of the team. Rona Woodger was outstanding in defence in the New Zealand team, and against strong opposition played a keen game. A. Hughes, in the New Zealand goal circle, played a game which would have been brilliant but for sterling defence Work (by the Australians. Trask shot the majority of New Zealand’s goals. The teams were:—

New Zealand: A. Hughes (Canterbury), T.‘ Trask (Manawatu), B. Avery (Wellington, Captain), J. Sullivan (Manawatu), J. Harvey (Auckland), L. Black (Canterbury), R. Woodgyer (Manawatu). Australia: M. White, J. Cowan, L. Hewisk, M. Craddock, L. Hornig, W. McKenzie, A. Murray.

Grey District results:— Karoro B 16, Lane Walker Rudkin 7. G.T.H.S. F 15, Blackball C 9. Blackball A 13, G.T.H.S. 81, 10. St. Andrews 9, Karoro Trinity 7. Runanga B 11. Dobson A 10. Convent O.G. B 17, Karoro A 13. Blackball A 19. St. Mary’s A 10. Taylorville B 8, Runanga,. D 7. Runanga C 16, McKenzies 3. Kohinoor B 6, Cobden C 3. Blackball B 14, Gladstone 2. G.T.H.S. Bl 11, G.T.H.S. B2 5. Dobson 16, Karoro A 12. Cobden B 18, Rapahoe 10. Woolworth’s 12, Blaketown B 10. RevinYtons drew with G.T.H.S. B2 17-all.