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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 35 no. 10. 24 May 1972

Snebgrebling's Sport

page 15

Snebgrebling's Sport

Harriers

Competition started for the Harrier club on 22nd with the club's own novice cup race, tradition ensures a considerable amount of interest in the event as the real strength of the club for the year can be gauged from the "novice".

This year was no exception and a large field of fifty runners hopped and jumped in various degrees of nervous tension waiting for the start, Speculation as to the likely winner became more rife with the withdrawal of Ian Stockwell, due to an injury.

The start was a jostling rush of flagellating limbs. However, from out of the confusion hurtled national 400 metre champion, Phil Kear, apparently under the illusion that the race was just up a short hill, then down the other side. Actually generalisation of the course could sound like that He claimed after the race that he had been misled.

The hill sorted out the field a bit and Eric Cairns set out to win the race from the front. Actually relativity comes into it because the winner always wins from the front indeed he led the field a merry chase down the long downhill section by a flying fisher, closely attended by speedy George Seconi.

The short uphill stretch to the Seatoun tunnel was perhaps the crucial part of the race. Levels of fitness were ironed out by the gradient. Ian Hunt made the most of this imposte and caught the leaders up by the tunnel in the battle along the Seatoun waterfront Hunt and Fisher edged ahead and sustaining a long sprint to the finish. Hunt won by four seconds from Martin Fisher. The actual winner of the novice cup was Martin Fisher Ian Hunt being ineligible. This was a fine effort by the new dub captain which somewhat confounded the pundits who seemed to favour Len Watson or Frank Nolan for the title.

The second major competition for the year came with the Shaw Baton relays at Johnsonville. University had five senior teams, a Junior team, and an abortive womens team in this interclub event.

Martin Fisher gave the A team a really good start with some fine aggressive running. He really impressed as he attacked the first hill with Che Cuevera style contempt for the opposition. A truly fearsome figure.

The next three laps saw some precision running from the Varsity runners. Cairns. Hunt and Seconi. Each ran 6m.01 sec. to leave the team firmly entrenched in sixth place. Len Watson disappointed with his effort in the fifth lap. However, he held the team placing, which Ian Stockwell also maintained to give Varsity a creditable sixth place Mention must be made of B Team runner, Ian Tracy, who ran 5m.50sec which was faster than most of the 'A' team, another good performance was registered by D team runner Richard Owens, who upheld claims that he could have been in a higher team.

With a number of prominent runners unavailable for the Shaw Baton Teams it is apparent that the club has greater depth than usual.

League

The Victoria Rugby League team had a narrow victory over Upper Hutt, 24-19, at Liardet St. on April 29. The score gives some indication of the poor display offered by the University team. However, this win places University top equal in the Senior Second competition with Petone, the next team to be met. Congratulations are in order for Alan Haronga who gained selection in the Wellington B side to play Manawatu. Alan also gained selection for the Maoris in the annual Maori v Pakeha game, as did Mill Moore. Ian Kendricks is in the Pakeha side.

The team against Upper Hutt was L. BensonCooper, M. Smith, R. Taukamo (capt) T. Jamison. S. McConnell, D. Bidois, M. Miru, W. Moore, T. Sadlier, I. Kendricks; J. Dixon. A. Haronga D. White.

Too many chances of scoring were lost and the defensive play was often shocking - there are the two main criticisms of the team's play. Dropped passes occurred all too frequently, and the forwards were often out of position to support the player with the ball. The players looked unfit - something which they should not be after training this length of time.

There were some bright spots, however, Mick Miru played exceptional football at Scrumhalf. The complete understanding between him and hooker 'Sacs' Sadlier enabled Varsity to win a good deal of ball, Ian Kendricks also had a great game, one of the few to be there when the ball-carrier needsupport. Bill Moore, before he went off with an injured knee, made some useful runs and was quickly onto the loose ball. He was replaced by John Bailey, an NZU rep last season, who showed that despite lack of fitness he still has the ability to play good League. Derek White showed himself unused to the position of loose forward while the second-row forwards John Dixon and Alan Haronga did not have the garre of which they are capable.

Lex Benson-Cooper had one good run in the second-half and performed quite soudly at fullback. Mike Smith and Steve McConnell did all that could be asked of them and were rewarded with three tries between them. Ronnie Taukamo had some trouble in his hands and did not play his usual game but he did score the winning try. Tom Jamison was inclined at times to run too far before passing, and he often missed tackles. But when Tom did tackle it was a delight to watch always around the ankles. Dave Bidois had a good game at stand off half., running and passing well. His goal-kicking has also improved - converting three of the six tries scored and close with the others.

Scorers were: S. McConnell (2trses), M. Smith T. Jamison, R. Taukamo, W. Moore, D. Bidois (3 conversions).

The second team gave a much improved performance leading 11-8 at half time against Porirua City B before finally going down 32-14. Richard Fitzgerald scored three tries and played quite a good game at loose forward. But the outstanding player was the captain Perry Andrews, forced to do too much work, he kept playing tirelessly and led the team by example. At scrum-half Rex Parker also collected his fair share of the knocks, but made too many elementary mistakes, e.g. taking a penalty from the wring spot. Other scorers were Lindsay Weston a try and Alan Blake a conversion. Lindsay made an extremely good debut for the Junior Firsts.

David Pennington.

Soccer

The first team was given a lesson in 90 minute football and finishing by Miramar Rangers when it was on the receiving end of an 8-3 hiding at Mirimar Park. University, playing with the advantage of the strong northerly wind at their backs in the first half, enjoyed a territorial advantage but at half time Miramar Rangers led 3-2. The difference between the two teams was that Miramar Rangers, with the help of some poor defensive work by Varsity, made the most of its fewer chances, whereas the University forwards squandered the many good chances they created with poor finishing. In the second half, with the wind at their backs. Miramar Rangers scored a further five goals. In this half, the Varsity defence, which in the first half looked suspect, collapsed completely. With their wingers having caused utter confusion in the Varsity defence with almost every attack. When the Varsity forwards did get the ball they used it intelligently, and had their finishing been better the margin of defeat would have been less. Goalscorers for Varsity were Ran Basnet (2) and Peter Liddell.

Photo of two men playing rugby

The Third Division, Section C team beat Karon Swifts 3-2 in a scrappy game at Karori Park. Mike Pegler, the University goalkeeper was their outstanding player. Goals were scored for Varsity by Nils Andreassen, John Reeve and Adrian Simons.

The Sixth Division team recorded a massive 8-0 victory over Wellington Diamond United at Karori Park. As the previous co-leader of this Division- Karon Swifts, were beaten by Stop Out, the varsity side is now two points dear at the top of the League table. Ned Johnstone, who scored "hat-tricks" in each of the first three games of the season, scored five goals for 'Varsity., and has now amassed 15 goals in five games. Other University goalscorers were Graham Hansen, Bob Jacques and Steve Mullner.

The Third Division, Section A, Fourth Division and Seventh Division teams all had their games cancelled. The members of the Seventh Division team were particularly disappointed about the cancellation of the game as they were scheduled to make one of their rare appearances at the clube home ground, Kelburn Park.

Results and goalscorers in the games played on Saturday, 13th May, 1972 were:-

First Division team v Mirimar Rangers (1) 3-8 (R. Basnet (2), P. Liddell)

Third Division Section A team v Waterside — Cancelled

Third Division Section C team v Karon Swifts (w) 3-2 (N. Andreassen, J. Reeve, A. Simons) Fourth Division team v Miramar Rangers - Cancelled.

Sixth Division team v Wellington Diamond United (w) 8-0 (N. Johnstone (5), G. Hansen. R. Jaques, S. Mullner)

Seventh Division team v North Wellington United Cancelled.