BASKETBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1938, Page 4

BASKETBALL

WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION COMPETITIONS RESULTS OF SATURDAY’S GAMES. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM SELECTED. The first unsatisfactory day this season was experienced by the Wairarapa Basketball Association last Saturday. After several showers the courts were covered with water and the balls were wet and slippery. Two B grade matches—College I v. College II and College 111 v. College IV were postponed, to be played during the week. The other matches resulted as follows: — A Grade: —High School Old Girls I beat Technical Old Girls, 23/5; lona beat Stars 11, 21/3; Stars I beat High School Old Girls 11, 22/6; College I beat College 11, 30/5. B Grade: —lona beat Technical Old Girls, 13/9; Carterton beat Dalefield, 15/6; Hospital beat Stars, 13/3. In the lona v. Stars II match Stars were outclassed in the centre. M. Eastwood was inclined to hesitate with the ball before throwing. Among the lona forwards M. Brady threw well, and P. Hanley was quick in 'movement, but several times walked with the ball. The passing of both teams was good considering the slippery ball. For Stars, J. Staines is a promising forward.

In the Technical Old Girls v. High School Old Girls I match, the Technical Old Girls centres did good work. D. Watkins opened up the play well and the centres got the ball away to the forward third very well. B. Venner was outstanding among the defenders, she 'intercepted very well, though she still travelled too ..far. For High School Old Girls J. Russell was very good on the attack, but her defence play needs strengthening. N. Cohen was well on her game on Saturday and shot with easy accuracy. Stars I were not as good as usual in their match against High School Old Girls 11. In the centre High School Old Girls played nobly and held their opponents well. For Stars J. Jackson shot well; if she were a two-handed thrower she would be up to representative standard. E. Jones threw some good goals, but still laeks vigour in attack.

. The College A v. College B game was not a good one as the teams were too uneven. There is a far bigger gap between these two teams than there should be, although R. Edwards was not playing for College A on Saturday. J. Gemmell’s goal throwing was good, and as usual the forward combination was outstanding. At the conclusion of the matches, a Possibles v. Probables game was held, played most of the time in the rain. The following have been chosen to represent Wairarapa this year at the tournament: — Forwards. N. Cohen: High School Old Girl’s chief forward. Has more than once been a tower of strength at tournaments. P. Hanley: New to Wairarapa play this. year. Has helped to give the lona team its prominent position. J. Gemmell: Well-known for some years for her play for Wairarapa High School. One of the most vigorous of forwards. E. Jones: Star’s leading goal thrower. Has an accurate eye. Centres. R. Edwards: An Auckland representative and a North Island representative. ' Will speed up the centre play of the team. P. Kilmister: From lona team. Has represented Wairarapa on several occasions and has also captained the team. J. Russell: From High School Old Girls team. A very vigorous centre player; should do good work. M. McLaren: Played for Wairarapa High School for three years, now College I’s centre throw off, active and intelligent Defenders. L. Renner: Has represented Wairarapa several times and also Wellington. High School Old Girls find her defence most valuable. A. Burgess: From Stars I. One of the finest defenders Wairarapa has had. Has represented Wairarapa before. M. Carroll: A young player, with experience in St. Bride’s Convent team. Now College I’s steady and strong defender. B. Stitt: The best of lona’s three very good defenders; strong and very quick. Several of the above players are still doubtful of their ability to go to the tournament, and a number of others were definitely not available. But on the whole the team should be a good, well-balanced one, with the defence probably the strongest part. Other things being equal, the selectors have endeavoured to give preference to the bigger and stronger girls. Although only in one third are there two girls from the same team, it is felt that good combination will be achieved. Miss R. Edwards is team coach and will be commencing work with the team this week.