Newspaper Article – Pleasing Performance of HB Basketball Side

Pleasing Performance of H.B. Basketball Side

(By “Observer.”)

Biggest news of the week is shared equally between two happenings: First, the Hawke’s Bay Major team’s success in the Rosenbrook Tournament at Palmerston North, and secondly, the enthusiasm with which Hastings club teams took part in the first matches played in Hawke’s Bay under International Rules.

Superior goal-shooting won the day tor the Hawke’s Bay team in all three matches for the Rosenbrook Cup. There was no wind, no rain, and no blinding sun to excuse the faulty shooting of the other teams. Wanganui appeared to suffer most in this respect, and felt that the instability of the goalposts and the lack of nets thereon upset their forwards, whose accurate shooting has hitherto been known as a saving factor in their matches.

In the first half of their match against Hawke’s Bay they had as many shots as Hawke’s Bay for a score of 14-6 against them and in the second half could score only a quarter of their dozen shots while Hawke’s Bay forged ahead to win 26-9.

Wanganui’s poor goal-shooting was most evident in their match against Manawatu when they had more shots than their opponents. (who were also off their shot) and lost 18-12.

Noticeably absent in the Wanganui’s tactics was the flicked ball at centre pass-off. However, their use of the overhead corner pass in the Hawke’s Bay game enjoyed an uninterrupted course throughout the game, and gave them the same success as their flick-pass has always done.

They led Wellington 8-6 at half-time and were more than a match for the team Wellington fielded against them, yet went down 20-13.

Hawke’s Bay’s match against Wellington was marred by personal contact. Hawke’s Bay has never been a team to indulge in “willing” play but this cannot be said about some of the other teams. In particular our centre and forward thirds suffered from the repeated fouling of the personal contact rule by Wellington and the application of the Advantage Rule in most cases saved what must have been a record of fouls on the part of at least two players.

Although Hawke‘s Bay put up bigger scores against the other two teams than Wellington registered, Wellingtonians felt they should have defeated Hawkes Bay. The Bay’s lead of two points in the first half was not maintained throughout the second half and shortly before time there was only one goal between them. Wellington forwards had more shots than Hawke’s Bay in the second half, but both teams scored six goals. Despite this reasoning, the Wellington team did not impress as one that would go on to greater capabilities, and Hawke’s Bay thoroughly deserved their win, 15-13.

Manawatu standard is definitely on the “up.” They played more as a team than they have done for many years and if this improvement is maintained it should not be long before they are back in first grade again. Running Wellington to a one goal lead is quite an achievement and must give Manawatu added encouragement. Their forwards suffered from loss of aim on Saturday, particularly in their Wellington match, but were no match for the Hawke’s Bay team who had no difficulty drawing away in the second half to win 22-11 with sound play in all thirds.

Honours of the day must go to Nellie Erceg who was undoubtedly the most outstanding player at the tournament and whose goal average must have been well over 90 per cent.

Dawn Avison also played to her top form and with Beverley Miller were the stalwarts of the team.

Pam Williams (ex-Southland) intercepted nicely but did not appear to be in top form on Saturday. This tall girls with more speed to her movements could be on top of New Zealand defence play – at present her prwoess [prowess] comes from her height only, and a combination of speed and agility with height is not an unattainable ideal in her case. Of the newcomers Helen Burden (Starr) was the one to impress most, her play in the centre being steady and reliable.

The team played consistently well throughout and their ball-handling, goal-shooting and physical fitness left nothing to be desired, and their coach, Mrs. Rona McCarthy, would be more than pleased with their showing.

Owing to wet weather on practise dates, the girls had not had a game together since the final selection was announced, and in fact their match against Wellington was the first time they had played together as a team.

The International Rules at Hastings were given a most enthusiastic “house-warming” on Saturday. With attractive coloured bibs, lettered for positional identity, the players took the field under bleak conditions but with a feeling of enthusiastic buoyancy for a game which they have practiced only a short while.

The results were interesting. The games were of 20 minutes’ duration only, but it does not appear that the leading nine-a-side teams are going to retain their lead in International Rules. H.S.O.G. teams were away on their annual visit to Gisborne, and first grade teams supplying Hawke’s Bay representatives would be playing without key players. It seems that the top teams in most grades suffered reverses and this is going to make competition even keener than ever.

Nurses team was one to spring a surprise on the runners-up of First Reserves, and United succeeded in turning the tables on the runners-up in the first grade.

There was an expected tendency for players to crowd the centre third. There are 10 players with a licence to enter the centre. Players would be advised to vacate the centre as soon as possible, and by that it does not mean crowd into the goal third.

It should be possible to return to a position similar to that of the nine-a-side game as soon as the ball goes through the centre, keeping on the alert for an intercepted ball changing the course of play.

All shooters should practise judging three seconds – very few forwards shot for goal in three seconds. This will probably prove the most difficult aspect of the game. There is no time to manoeuvre the ball into a desired position before aiming. In fact, the shooters say there is no time for aiming either, but this is something that needs a lot of practise.

It would appear that most of our shooters will have to develop a completely different style of shooting to suit the International Rules if they are to make adequate use of the short time of three seconds available.

Referees also could be more discriminating with this rule, and will need to check with a watch because it is not only in the shooting time but also throughout the game that we appear to be lax in our judgement of three seconds.