SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1937. Volume 8. Number 14.

New Zealand University Cross-Country Championships — Can Victoria Win the Dixon Trophy?

New Zealand University Cross-Country Championships

Can Victoria Win the Dixon Trophy?

Howling southerly or not, Saturday, the 21st August, will see a team of six men from each of the four Colleges running the 1937 University Cross-country Championship over a 6¼ mile course at Lyall Bay. The present holder of this championship is Auckland, but Victoria is expecting this year to better her two previous seconds, to run into first place, and bring the Dixon Trophy back to is birthplace.

With only one more game to be played, the Senior Rugby team's narrow loss against Poneke was rather unfortunate, but even if the team does not manage to win there is always the consolation that the excellent experience gained this year, playing against tougher teams, will prove invaluable next season. The two Junior teams had big wins over their opponents, and the Senior B's were successful in defeating Eastbourne.

The lower grade hockey teams show that there is no lack of spirit amongst our juniors, and it is a pity that they have no one able to coach them regularly in their competitive games.

Harrier Prospects.

The standard in the Harrier Club is again high this year, with Scrymgeour the most outstanding performer. He is proving a consistent runner throughout the season, and is managing to ward off his tendency to go stale. Whether he can win the individual title at the N.Z.U.C.C.C. is a matter of some speculation, as the other Colleges have one or two new champions as yet untried in Inter-University racing. Cairns is running quite well, although his frequent absences from Wellington have not allowed him to partake of very intensive training. Burge is running very well and is capable of even better when he becomes more experienced. He has certainly done remarkably well for a first-year man, in running into third place in club races. Horsley could do with more training. His performances in the Dome Cup and Vosseller prove that he has the necessary stamina for a first-class runner. However, his swotting has apparently been the cause of his laxity in turning out at night for training.

Of the freshers, the performances put up both on club runs and races and also at training, by O'Flyrm have been outstanding. O'Flynn has been probably the most enthusiastic runner in the club, and has shown the greatest improvement during the season.

Bagnall has been very disappointing this year. He has all the qualifications of a runner, but shows great indifference as regards training. Farquhar, too, is a runner of whom one could expect more if only he would train a little harder. He has the material in physique, but appears lacking in energy. Porter is doing fairly well, and is maintaining his standard of previous years.

As previously stated, the uncertain form of some of the new runners in the other teams, makes it a very difficult thing accurately to gauge chances, but it is considered that Victoria will field a set of runners equal to any she has yet had, and that means that the winners will have to fight hard with V.U.C. for first place

In conjunction with the Championship, there will a dinner at the Empire Hotel (price 5/-), and the Harrier Club will welcome anyone looking for a good food and a convivial evening.

'The Committee would also like to add a plea for billets for representatives for three or four day Co-operation along these lines can be furthered by means of the rack.

Hockey.

All Senior games were postponed on 31st July, owing to the representative game versus Auckland. In the lower grade competitions, Victoria were only moderately successful, the results being one win, one draw, and two However, some quite good displays were given by various individuals of the four teams.

The Senior B lost 2-1 to Karori in a game that quite easily could have gone in their favour. They have a good set of backs, of whom Long and Mason have been the most consistent performers. but with no outstanding scoring forward, many of their opportunities are lost.

The Juniors played a drawn game in which they missed scoring with shots that should, with a little more luck, have won the game.

The Junior B team played fast, dashing hockey to beat Huia 2-1. Actually the score gives no indication of the play, for right from the initial bully, they had their opponents bustled, and they continued to have much the better of the game throughout. Over-eagerness and loss of control when nearing the circle, however, kept them from scoring more than they did. Gallagher made some splendid runs at centre-forward, but too often sacrificed control for speed. A tendency to hit hard lost him several chances, but his display was really very good.

Duncan backed up well, and his two goals were excelent efforts. The wing forwards were not used nearly enough during the game, but when they did get the ball they showed plenty of dash. Johnston in particular taking the ball neatly and centering well. Leslie could quite well have drawn the defence by taking the ball further, but otherwise showed excellent form. The halves were a hard-working trio, and combined well with the forwards. Fleming was very solid at centre, but both he and Topp are inclined to give "sticks" under pressure. Bennett and Saxton were hard to pass at full-back, clearing well, and James, in goal, was kicking excellently.

The Fourths played one short, and found the pace too hot in the second spell, and lost 6-2. Macrae, Lythgow and Bowyer were the pick of the forwards, Lythgow in particular making some very good inns on the right wing. Dwyer and O'Donnell were the best backs.

Last Saturday.

The Seniors went down to Hutt 6-1, a score which was a tribute to the generalship of Eddie McLeod, rather than on indication that our team had quite a fair share of the game. Owing to the absence of Shaw and Eggleton, we were one short, and in a fast game were caught out of position, since the direction of attack was changed so abruptly. Cole turned on perhaps his best game of the season, hut had no one to back him up. and much of his effort was wasted. The halves toiled hard throughout the game, Newcombe and Kean being very solid. Dixon played easily his best game to date, and Bank cleared soundly in the face of strong opposition. Benjamin had perhaps as much of the game as anyone, and cleared many more shots than he let through.

Rugby.

Narrow Loss Against Poneke.

Although the game was not of a very high standard, the closeness of the score, 14-13. made the match interesting right up to the final whistle. Varsity actually had a seven point lead about fifteen minutes before the end of the game. Varsity's points came from three tries by Dean, Buddie, and Stewart, the latter making a very nice interception, scoring between the posts. Two of the tries were converted by Larkin.

The forwards as a pack played very well, particularly Eade. Hansen and Burke, who were all willing toiler. Stewart showed up in several excellent runs, and Kissel's line-kicking was of a high standard. The backs, however, on the whole, showed a lack of combination and anticipation.

Results In Other Grades:

Senior B: Varsity 11, Eastbourne 3.

Junior: Varsity B 27, Wellington 3. Varsity A 28, W.C. Old Boys 5.

Table Tennis.

This indoor game which gained tremendous popularity during the last few years, is one that might be an excelent addition to the list of College activities. A club such as this would be sure to appeal not only to both .sexes, but also to tennis enthusiasts, as it is admirable winter practice for the latter game. Adequate accommodation for tables could be found either In the gymnasium or even the common rooms, where a game would be a good refresher between lectures. Interclub competitions and annual tournaments are also held and it is certain that some very strong Varsity teams could be entered. In view of the inexpensiveness of the game, its apparent convenience and appeal, further consideration, by those interested in the formation of such a club, would be well justified.