Canterbury Did Well At Universities' Tourney R. G. BALL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 17

Canterbury Did Well At Universities' Tourney

R. G. BALL

ALTHOUGH the representatives of Canterbury University did not succeed in winning the tournament shield at the New Zealand universities’ annual winter tournament in Dunedin last week, the result was better than for some years, from Canterbury's point of view. In finishing second to Otago University, 46 points against 54, Canterbury’s teams gave their best showing since 1955, when they won the shield.

Canterbury’s wins in the tournament were in badminton, miniature rifles and cross-country running, three sports in which Canterbury has been strong in recent seasons. In addition, the fencers finished first equal with Victoria University in their section of the contest. Miniature Rifles In miniature rifles Canterbury University is having a good season in the local competition, having a clear lead in the A reserve grade. Two members of the team, P. Collins and P. Stock, gained New Zealand University blues in this sport. The standard for a blue is 997 out of 1000, allowing the loss of only three points over 10 shoots, and the pressure is really on the marksmen over the final rounds. Three attained this figure last week, and a further five shot 996.

Led by D. M. Taylor, the winner of the individual title at last year's tournament, the Canterbury cross-country team expected to do well. Taylor, however, did not find the course to his liking.

and failed to finish in the first 12. G. Wyatt in second place and G. Sinclair in seventh were the top Canterbury runners, but the major placings were so evenly distributed that Canterbury narrowly won the teams’ title. One Loss The soccer team was disappointed in not winning its section of the tournament, losing only to Auckland, by a penalty goal. The table tennis and men’s hockey teams also finished in second position in their respective contests. A feature of the tournament was the fine win of the Lincoln College team in the men’s basketball. With only a fraction of the number of students at the four main universities, Lincoln and Massey can not expect to do as well Massey won the soccer last year, and the soccer and basketball in 1952, but this year’s victory was the first ever by a Lincoln College team in a New Zealand universities’ tournament.

Lincoln lost an early game to Otago University, but Otago was later beaten by Auckland to give Lincoln the title equally. The Lincoln win was based upon sound combination, with no outstanding individual players. Only one Lincoln player, R. G. Ball, was chosen for the New Zealand universities’ team, against three from Canterbury, which finished fifth in the competition. Lincoln also gained second place in the boxing at the tournament. This was gained through the efforts of one fighter. C. Wil-

son, who won his weight. All the other finals were won by competitors .from Otago University. There is some doubt as to whether boxing will feature in future tournaments, owing to the lack of interest in the universities. The boxers have been asked to show good reasons why they should not be excluded from future tournaments. Lower Standard A lower standard than usual was seen in the men’s basketball and fencing sections of the tournament. Although the New Zealand universities’ men's basketball team beat the Otago provincial representatives after the tournament, only one blue was awarded. The strength in the fencing is shown by the fact that two Canterbury men, who are rated as of junior standard only by the local council, were chosen for the New Zealand universities' fencing team.