RECREATION WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1939, Page 9

RECREATION WEEK

BASKETBALL AND DRILL DISPLAY

LARGE GATHERING LAST NIGHT IN MUNICIPAL HALL.

TERRITORIALS SHAPE WELL.

There was a large attendance at the Municipal Hall last night when indoor and outdoor basketball matches were played and a display given by local Territorials. The gathering was arranged as a Recreation Week attraction and the net proceeds will be devoted to the Mayor’s Emergency Fund.

Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith (Town Clerk), after apologising for the absence of the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, who was attending another function, said he especially wished to thank the Mormon elders’ team, which had journeyed from Wellington to play a match that evening.

Considerable public interest was shown in the military display by recruits from the local Territorial unit. The smart appearance and bearing of the men, who created a fine impression, occasioned much favourable comment.

Sergeant-Major C. E. Rogers explained, for the interest of “ex-Diggers,” the working of the present “threes” formation, which had displaced the old form fours. The changing trend in musketry exercises was also dealt with by Sergeant-Major Rogers. The display commenced with a demonstration of the mode of training. From the fall-in the system of counting out the time aloud to the movements, for synchronisation, was ably shown. The various exercises, the slope, order, porte, present, fix bayonets, trail, change, etc., were done perfectly each man moving smartly and correctly. The men received a hearty ovation. A Lewis gun anti-aircraft section in full fighting kit, gave a splendid demonstration of anti-aircraft drill, the movements of the unit being executed smartly despite the hazards of the slippery floor. The display concluded with Lewis gun ground drill, the men taking posts in a V fighting formation. (Picture on page 8.) Sergeant-Major Rogers stated, that apart from N.C.O’s. the men were recruits selected from the Territorial unit with under three months’ training, the N.C.O’s. being entirely responsible for the training.

The display created a very favourable impression, the opinion being freely expressed that at the first opportunity the men should repeat the display' under 1 more favourable ground conditions.

Corporal P. Wingfield commanded the rifle exercises’ squad which consisted of Corporals J. Robinson, G. Sewell, Lance-Corporals A. Deller, B. Rutherford, R. Easthope, W." Mason; Privates N. Jenkins, N. Flaws, H. Jones, Spier, S. Pye, D. Barclay, Clenias and T. Ballis. The Lewis gun section, which was led by Corporal A. W. Thompson, was: Lance-Corporal A. Harrington; Privates E. Donnelly, M. Easthope, S. Ihaka, L. Adams and C. J. Carle. BASKETBALL MATCHES. The first basketball game was that between Lancers comprising Misses I. Palmer, J. Gemmell, P. Kilminster, M. Eastwood and R. Eastwood and a combined team, Misses M. Gadsby, A. Burgess, O. Lysaght, J. Palmer, M. Julias and Brady. The combined team won by 25 points to 18 after a fast game. The points scored in this game were, Combined team: A. Burgess, 2 goals, 4 points; M. Julias, 4 goals, 8 points; O. Lysaght, 4 goals and 1 penalty goal, 9 points; M. Brady,, 2 goals, 4 points: total, 25 points. Lancers: J. Gemmell, 5 goals, 10 points; M. Eastwood, 3 goals, 6 points; P. Kilminster, 1 goal, 2 points; total, 18 points.

The next basketball game was an exhibition of the outdoor code, played between the Wairarapa representative team which visited Invercargill for the New Zealand championships and a combined team'. This game was played between teams of nine-a-side as compared with the indoor game which was played with teams of five, using the whole court. The representative team, by superior combination and the excellent goal shooting of Miss J. Gemmell won the match by 18 points to 5. Points were scored as follow:— Representative team: J. Gemmell, 9; E. Jones, 5; P. Baskiville, 4; total, 18 points. Combined team: O. Lysaght, 3; R. Percy, 1; P. Kilminster, 1; total, 5. The most thrilling game of the evening was that between the Mormon Elders, comprised of Elders Lynn (captain)), Beisinger. Handy, Scott, Brown and Later, and the Masterton team, D. Costello (captain)), D. Leete, F. Bodie, W. Reynolds and S. Faulknor. This game was not as fast as is often the case in a game of this nature, as the floor was rather slippery but nevertheless it gave the public an idea how this game should be played and proved that the players must keep themselves fit to play this game. The Mormon Elders won by 29 points to 25, thus avenging the defeat they received during Keep Fit Week last year. Points were scored as follow: —Elders Handy, 4 goals, 8 points; Lynn, 3 goals, 6 points; Beisinger, 2 goals, 1 penalty, 5 points; Brown, 1 goal. 2 points; Later, 2 goals, 4 points; Scott, 2 goals, 4 points; total, 29 points. Masterton: D. Leete, 3 goals, 3' penalties, 9 points; S. Faulknor, 3 goals, 1 penalty, 7 points; F. Bodie, 1 goal, 3 penalties, 5 points; W. Reynolds, 1 goal, 2 points; _D. Costello. 1 goal, 2 points; total, 25 points. The referees were: — Ladies’ indoor, Messrs D. Costello and D. Leete; ladies’ outdoor, Miss Kirk (Wellington); men’s indoor. Elders Handy and Brown. TONIGHT’S ATTRACTION. GYMNASTICS & WRESTLING. A reminder is given of the gymnastic and amateur wrestling to be staged at the Opera House tonight as a further Recreation Week attraction. A splendid programme is promised by Alf. Jenkins's team, which includes some of the leading exponents of balancing, tumbling, weight lifting and wrestling in the Dominion.