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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 17.

Bacon Brought Back by Bagnall. — Cricket and Tennis Meetings

page 4

Bacon Brought Back by Bagnall.

Cricket and Tennis Meetings.

Bagnall Triumphs Again.

Competing in the second annual contest for the N.Z.U. Cross Country Championship, held this year at Christchurch, Victoria was, like last year, placed second to Otago, and by the same margin of 3 points. On this occasion, however, A. G. Bagnall, who finished a close second to W. A. Stewart, in 1934, defeated the Otago man by 300 yards. Battling against conditions-rain, hail, snow and mud underfoot-which rivalled the Lyall Bay southerly of last year. Bagnall led almost all the way, with Stewart in second position. The heavy going and particularly the 30 fences of the Cashmere course, handicapped Stewart, who lost more grounds on the hills near the finish, but Bagnall ran stubbornly and made a good time—39m. 27s.—in face of such conditions. Meanwhile, the team men were fighting for position. Robinson, of Otago, ran third, Francis (A.U.C.) fourth, and O'Connor (V.U.C.) fifth. The next V.U.C. men were Laing (seventh),-a good performance-and Cairns, eleventh. D. A. Viggers (V.U.C.), who finished sixteenth, was the first individualist home. With Smight in sixth place and Borrie, tenth, the Otago team emerged victors with 21 points to Victoria's 24: Canterbury (47 points) were third; Auckland (56) fourth. The winners were undoubtedly the superior team, their greater age and experience favouring them in a contest of sheer endurance.

The lighter younger men in the tail of the V.U.C. team encountered unaccustomed conditions in the five miles of flat with many fences, the "unjumpable water jump," and severe weather. They struggled through as only fit men could. The lesson for Victoria is to concentrate now on building up team work; the material is there, and with a trainer as keen as G. C. Sherwood there is no reason why a strong combination should not be built up.

After the race Canterbury provided afternoon tea, and in the evening runners thawed out at dinner at the "Melody Lane," when the Carmalt-Jones Cup (for competition between Canterbury and Otago), and A. G. Bagnall received the medal for the individual championship. Dinner and the toasts over, A.U.C. were farewelled at the station, and the rest turned to the pictures, followed by the Rowing Club ball. Canterbury were liberal in their hospitality throughout. On Sunday the teams were taken for a motor drive over the hill to Lyttelton and afternoon tea at Sumner. More tea was provided by the trainer, Mr. G. C. Sherwood, at Ballantyne's, on Monday, the team returning to Wellington that night. The team consisted of A. G. Bagnall, M. O'Connor, W. B. Lang, D. Cairns, P. Porter, A. Horsley; emergencies, D. Viggers, R. cooper. Mr. G. C. Sherwood, club trainer, and N. T. Clare, accompanied them.

Club Championship.

Early in the vacation the Harrier Club held the 10,000 metre championship, at Lyall Bay, the winner being A. G. Bagnall (37m. 2secs.) with M. O'Connor (39m. 13secs) second. A. Horsley (39m. 15secs) third. The sealed handicap was won by Horsley. The first place in this race, with his supremacy in most of the other events of the season assured Bagnall the title of club champion.

Vosseler Shield.

Bagnall scored a still greater triumph by his win in the Vosseler 10-mile inter-club race, and gave V.U.C. its first individual win in a major event. Running easily throughout, Bagnall held second place for most of the first five miles, then on the beach early in the second lap passed V. Tunbridge, of Scottish Club, and maintained the lead until the end. His time was 65min. 32secs. O'Connor ran one of his best races to date, finishing sixth. Unfortunately, one of the ten men withdrew owing to an injury, so that the team war not placed.

Weir House on Football Field.

Two games were played on Kelburn Park, on Saturday-Weir House v. Old Boys and Lima v. Bradshaw. The former was played with a ball and the latter was not. The score 11-9 in favour of Weir flattered the old men, who staggered woodenly about far behind the play for much of the game. Scotney had his kicking boots on for the veterans, for whom Curtis and Keating showed patches of brilliance. Bradshaw might have played a good game, but found Lima a tough nut. Scorers for Weir were Griffiths, Simpson and Overton (tries) and Harpur (conversion). For Old Boys, Fitzgerald (try) and Scotney (two penalties).

Cricket Club.

Last year's senior cricket eleven did much to establish the Varsity Cricket Club. This year the seniors have a position to maintain, and it is to be hoped that the junior grades make a better showing than they did last year. Those present at the annual general meeting, last Thursday, were in a genial and acquiescent mood. The election of officers resulted: club captain, J. R. Stevens; honorary secretary, A. g. Wicks; honorary treasurer, J. P. Mules; committee, Blacker, Blandford, Edgley and Simpson.

The only two incidents of note were the trouble caused by the scrutineers and the manner in which Henry Moore harangued the meeting. The latter's address developed into a debate between Moore and Blandford, which would have still been going had not the chairman intervened. It was said that there was much room for improvement in the administration of Wellington cricket and the meeting instructed its delegate to support proposals enabling the election of a more representative management committee.

The N.Z. University Cricket Council, which has been sponsored by Victoria, appears at last to be more than a dream and next season should see its formation. Each College will appoint a representative and the function of the Council will be to control University cricket. Every year, whether they play or not, a N.Z.U. team will be selected and when possible tours and matches will be arranged.

Two points deserve special attention by Victoria's incoming cricket committee. Firstly, there has been much bad management in the past with the selection of junior teams. Very often the re-shuffling of promising players has been done too late in the season. The second matter deserving of attention is the better regulation of bowling at practice.

* * *

Another move towards the New Building.

Nancy: "Just a little more sincerity in your wood-chopping, girls."

Iiic. Football.

In the final match of the season, the Varsity IIIC football team maintained their good form to defeat Petone 21 to 8, and win the championship for the second year in succession. Most of the tries scored were the reward of smart following up. Te Punga and Freeman were excellent on attack. Hall at second five-eighths was very sound on defence. Mason was a tower of strength to the forwards in the second half. The success of the IIICs. is well deserved. They have consistently played bright and open football-a thing that is more often expected than realised with Varsity teams. Congratulations, IIICs. and, incidentally, Weir House.

Tennis Club.

The annual general meeting of the Tennis Club was held last Wednesday evening, and was noticeable as being the quietest club meeting ever to have been held in the College building. Before a subdued assembly of some twenty members of the club, Mr. Nankervis was elected to the chair. The only persons to take any interest in the proceedings from then on were last year's committee, the rest of the meeting appearing to fall asleep.

The minutes were taken as read in spite of the inspired eloquence of C. S. Plank. A section of the ladies present had to attend a revue practice later in the evening and the flapper vote prevailed. In the calm that followed the annual report and balance sheet were adopted without discussion.

Reference was made in the report to the loss suffered by the club through the transfer to Christchurch of Mr. D. M. Burns, who for some years had taken a prominent part in the club's affairs.

Election of officers resulted as follows: Chairman, C. S. Plank; treasurer, E. Budge; secretary, H. Sivyer; committee, Misses M. Bell, D. Briggs, P. Edwards, and J. Grainger. Messrs. J. Withers, T. Enuis, K. J. McNaught and W. Thodey.

At this stage the meeting was so apathetic that it was necessary for C. S. Plank to visit the library to find a man willing to stand for the fourth place on the committee.

The question of moving the Gym steps from the present position was raised by Mr. Plank. It was decided to approach the Registrar with a view to having the steps constructed near the end of the Science Wing. If this is given effect to, there will be considerably less inconvenience caused to players by persons crossing the courts to get to the steps on their way to the Gym. It was reported that the club had nearly raised sufficient funds to extend the area behind the courts to include the existing path at the northern end of the courts. Someone quietly passed a vote of thanks to the chair and the new committee spent a few moments rousing the sleeping members before the meeting dispersed at 9.0 p.m.

Next Saturday.

Weir House v. The Rest for the Ruru Memorial Shield and in the evening a Smoke Concert at the Kelburn Kiosh, as a grand finale to the season.

Printed by Geo, W. Slade, Ltd., 11 Walter Street, Wellington, for the publishers, Mercantile Newspapers, Ltd, Boulcott Avenue, Wellington.