BASKETBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 September 1932, Page 6

BASKETBALL

EXCITING GAMES REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS BEAT MATAMATA AND OPOTIKI. GOOD EXHIBITIONS.

(Notes By "Centre.") Rotorua (A) v. Matamata (A) Contrary to expectations, the Rotorua team met with less opposition than. anticipated in the match with' Matamata on Saturday last. Rotorua gave a superior all-round display; their decisive team tactics leaving no doubt as to which was the more finished team. Matamata commenced with some snaprpy passing movements. Determined worlt by the centres kept the ball in the forward third, but the resulting shots at goal were unsuccessful. Rotorua's defence intercepted well, and the ball travelled from them to the forwards, when J. Isdale opened ■ Rotorua's score. Excellent anticipation on the part of the local team's defence was responsible for continuous interception from centre passes, the Matamata forwards finding great difficulty in breaking away to make the required openings. Good opening movements in the Rotorua defence third were continued speedily by the local centres, and this resulted in the forwards gaining good shooting positions, from which they scored. The half-time score was Rotorua, 3; Matamata, 1. Matamata made determined efforts to add to their score, but their shots went amiss, and the strong defence gave few opportuniti'es to retrieve a mis-shot. The p-lay in general, however, was more even than the score indicates, the final score being Rotorua, 8; Matamata, 2. After the matches the teams were entertained at afternoon tea and then left by the 4.40 train for home. Matamata (B) v. Rotorua (B). The Rotorua B team scored a comfortable win over Matamata B in a game which was fast and keenly contested. The Matamata team did not seem to be quite so experienced as Rotorua, but put up a i*emai*kably good fight. Although the local team came out victorious, they failed to produce their usual sureness in team work, good passing movements alternating with erratic handling of the ball. Their shooting was surer than that of their opponents, but the Matamata team's defence played well to keep the ball away from the Rotorua forwards. Score: Rotorua, 18; Matamata, 8. Opotiki v. Rotorua. The return fixturo between the above teams resulted in a win' for Rotorua by 14 goals to five. The game was very fast and the scores are not a real indication of the close nature of the contest. Opotiki had their unlucky day and could not clinch goals after several promising movements. Added to this some of the team arrived by car only 15 minutes bcfore the game commenced. Opotiki also had to contend with a slippery court caused by intermittent rain showers, and, as they are accustomed to an asphalt surface, this put them at a distinct disadYantage. Opotiki's strength lay in the centre line, where L. Cave, E. Kirkbride and N. Shalfoon gave splendid exhibitions. G. St/ewart proved a strong defender. For Rotorua, V. Hale and J. Allen, goal throwers, F. Bates, centre, and J. Anderson, defence, were the best of a uniformly good combination. A suggestion is now being made that a trophy should be secured for competition amongst the Bay of Plenty teams and that an annual tournament be held in each centre in turn. The suggestion is a good one and should go far to spread interest in the game. Thames v. Rotorua B A return gahio will be played tomorrow in the Government Grounds at 2.30 p.m. The following are the teams : — Thames: — M. Comer (captain), J. Mulcahy, M. Finan, M. Iloyle, E. Robinson, E. O'Meara, G. Lanning, L. McGlynn, M. Ross. Reserve: K, Rowe. Rotorua: — T. Johnson (captain), V. Hale, J. Prenter, J. Allen, B. Dorset, D. Emeny, E. Hardie, B. Johnson, M. Carter.