FINALS PLAYED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 10

FINALS PLAYED

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Championships Decided Amid Enthusiasm CLOSENESS OF GAMES

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Enthusiasm ran high in basketball circles last week, the finals for the locafl. and Hawke's Bay championships being played ofE under ideal condltions. Under the championship rules, the winners of the Saturday A grade play off with the winners of the Thursday A grade, to decide the Hastings champion team. This champion team from from Hastings then meets the Napier champions in competition for the handsome Hawke's Bay Championship Shield. It is rather a significant faot that Out of the Eve grades played in Hastings, three of the championships resulted in a tie, in one ease only one point separated the first three teams, and in the other the leading team gained an easy vvm, In the Thursday A grade both Eoachs and Havelock had registered only two loSseS fof the season, this iiecessitating a play-off, and tliis inateh took place last Thursday aftefnoon. A very even game resulted in a win- for Havelock by 13 points to 9. The scores wcre very even throughout, and excitement caused faulty passiug towards the end bf the second spell. More especially was this noticeable amOng Havelock 's forwardst where the presence of T. Eves helped the team to a great exteni'. Mfs. Hingston controlled the gaMe to goOd advantage.

ihe piay-off. This win by Havelock gives them tlie status of Thursday champions, and in theif mateh against West End, the Saturday champion team, on Frtaay eVening in the Drill Hall they rau their opponents to a four-point m&rgiii after a very exCiting game. Trixie Eves played as well as I have seen her play, taking almost impossible passes against the very strong oppositiOn of West End 's def fenCe. In f act, the whole team exceilfed themselveS, and at halftime the acore was 14 — il in Havelock 's favour. The supporters of both sxaeS became very noisy in the sOCOnd speli and as West Efid drew even the play became fastef. WTest End goalies wero more on their shot after the interval and this accounted for the tables being turned in the final result. G. Wilson, I. Peters and T» Eves were outstanding in the Havelock team throughout and West Ends defence playets accounted fof the brilliance of the West End team, although at times they oecasioned penhlties for personal > contacl and blockiiig. West End gave, a very flne exhibition of determinatlon in the final stages of the match, and drew away from Havelock at the 22fid goal. Havelock, hoWeVer, wefe by nb means weakening at this stage, but the extra experience of the West End team carried them to victory by 27 goals to 23, a very fine game. Mr. Harris was the referee. The plafif'off game between St. Matth'ews and Baptist of the Thursday B grade, proved how very even these two teams are, the score being 12 — T2 at the call of time. However, the game was Continued fof another goal, and amid great excitement St. Matthews netted the deciding goal. Both these teams arfi td be congratulated On their consistent play thr&Ughotit the seasoii &s it is uot long ago that both were Well down towards the bottom of the list.

Ma-ches With Napier. On Saturday aftfcruooii at Ebbett Park the HawJie 's Bay match was played between West End and Ex-Higk (Napier champions), and a goouiy numoer of botn Hastings and Napier suppoftefs witnessed a very fine match. At the initial stages Lx-High had things very much tneir own Way, the combination of the whole team being a treat to watch. However, West End were not long in breaking up this combination and settled down to mako up for the lead gained by Napier. The defenCe Of both teams WaS excOilent, B. Walker for West End playing one of hor best matches this season. Her interceptioli Was brilliant, and this can ulso bo said of all the defence piayers. As a result of the fine work done by these piayers, the score was kept dowxi considerably. The Ex-High forwards appcared to experience trouble in getting behind their Opponents too' much. Nevertheless, the passing in this third was very pretty at times, the piayers being very alert to each other 's actions. There was a good deal of bloeking ttoticed, and personal contact, tooy was much in evidence. Ifl the second half West End played a'much more eteady game than their opponents, although tho forwards were hampered by Ex-High 's consistent defensive play. E. Tong was responsible for good field worlc and good shooting also. West End emerged the winners by 12 goals to 7, and at the conclusion of the game the captain T. Hiron, was presented with the shield by MrS. Nesbit, life membef of the Ilawke's Bay Basketball Union. West End received many congratulations on their fine display, and once again a Hastings team is tho holder of the Hawke's Bay Shield. Lower-gracle Games. The sevOJid and third-grade representative te:.ms from Napier were matched against similar teams from Hastings, and great interest Was shown in both matches. The juniof match was a very exCiting one, finishing honours even. It is seldom that such fine play is seen in a junior grade, and it is even more amazing when the piayers have had no prantice together whatsoeVef. The iritermediate teams were not so evenly matched, Hastings scnring 37 points against Napier }s one. The defence in tlie Hastings team put in some fefliafkabie Wofk, dvetWhelming the opponents from the commencement. This is the first time that Hastings supporters have seen their minor represeiltativea in action, and great praize Is 1

due to the selectore in both grades for their choice of excellent piayers. The teams Were the guests of tho local association to afternoon tea at the conclusion of the games. Detaiied reSults of the Various grades are as follow:—

In the play-off match, Havelock defeated Eoachs by 13---9.

In the play-off St. Matthews defeated Baptist 13—12.

The presentation of tfopkies is to take place at the annual dance which is being held on Thursday, Oetober 7, and all present holders of trophies are asked to see that the trophies are left at Mr. A. Wilkie'S ofilce, J. J. Faulkner's buildings Queen street, not later than Monday, Oetober 4.

Ch. ' W. L. D. Pts. Havelock 13 2 2G Roachs 13 2 26 Swifts 6 9 12 C.O.G 5 10 — 10 H.S.O.G. A .......... 4 11 s — ■ ■ s Woolworths 4 11 8

THURSDAY A GRADE.

St. Matthews 12 2 1 25 Baptist 12 2 1 25 Mclvenzio .......... 9 6 — IS H.S.O.G. B 6 9 12 West End .......... 3 T2 — 6 C.O.G. B 2 13 — 4

THURSDAY A GRADE.

West End 8 2 — 16 Havelock 7 2 1 15 H.S.O.G. A .......... 7 2 1 15 High School A 5 5 — 10 H.S,0,G, B l 8 1 3 C.O.G. B -v.. ........ .0911

SATURDAY A GRADE.

High School HI ..... 12 1 1 25 ila velock 9 3 2 20 Matarild (completed in only 10 games) . . 5 5 — 10 West End 5 9 19 Convent B1 ........ . 4 9 1 9 High School B2 2 IS =-=> 4

B GRADE.

High School Cl 13 2 — 26 Convent Cl 13 '2 — 26 Convent C2 ......... 9 6 — IS High School C2 5 9 1 11 High School C3 ..... 2 12 1 5 Convent C3 ......... 2 13 — • 4

C GRADE.