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Men's Basketball

Fielding a very strong team and playing a very attractive stylo of playing a very attractive style of basketball. Victoria retained the Winter Tournament Mens' Indoor Basketball title which they won in Wellington last year. In the five games they played, the Victoria team scored 301 points as against the 139 registered by their opponents. Top scorer for the side was Ralph Salt who played brilliantly throughout the Tournament and notched in all 90 points. He was ably supported in the forward line by Peter Darracott (77 points) and Jim Lewis (62). This extremely dangerous forward line was a great asset to Victoria and several of the opposing sides were simply demoralised by the speed and accuracy of this trio.

The Victoria basket was very capably defended by Ted Wright, who notched 39 points with his accurate long shots, and Cliff Hoy. These two were in great form, both in defending their own basket and in setting up attacks on the opposing goal, and with Peter Doogue who was interchanged between the centre and guard positions, formed a defence which their opponents found very hard to penetrate.

The only game In which the Victoria team met with real opposition was that against Canterbury whoso team included B. Bradley and A. McRae, New Zealand and Canterbury representatives respectively. An initial lead of eight points unsettled the Canterbury side, but they attacked strongly whenever in possession and the game developed into a hard struggle between two teams who were both aware that the winner would take the Tournament title.

The close guarding of both sides produced many fouls, and Victoria netted ten of these to maintain the load throughout. At half-time the score was Victoria 16, Canterbury. 15, and although Canterbury tried everything they knew to take the lead in the second spell, Victoria ran out the winners, 33-28. Bradley, the NZ centre strove mightily to get through to the Victoria basket, but the triangular defence of Wright, Lewis and Hoy held and he was unable to bring his team victory.

In their other games. Victoria defeated Lincoln 94-26, Auckland 41-23, Massey 71-23 and Otago 63-39.

No fewer than five of the team were selected to represent New Zealand Universities, Wright, Salt and Darracott for the "A" team; and Lewis and Hoy for the "B" side, Lewis being appointed Captain of this side. All played extremely well and Ralph Salt was awarded his second NZU Blue for Indoor Basketball.