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‘Flicks’ from the past

A treasure trove of vintage sports film was brought to light when the old main block at St Bede’s College was demolished recently. Two loops of film were discovered beneath some clothes and old papers in a chest of drawers, and when they were run through the projector they revealed highlights of two notable occasions in Christchurch immediately after World War 11.

One was the Canterbury cricket team’s match against the all-conquering Australians; the other the Canterbury rugby side’s game against the Kiwis — the 2 N.Z.E.F. team — fresh from their triumphant tour of Britain and France.

Both matches were played in 1946, both were at Lancaster Park, and both were lost by Canterbury. ■ -

The cricket film was particularly clear (those were the days before poH lution). Lindsay Hassett and Keith Miller displayed their batting skills, Bill O’Reilly bounded up to the stumps in hungry pursuit of victims, and Ray Lindwall’s classical action and frightening velocity of delivery was vividly captured. lan Cromb and Tom Burtt were readily recognisable members of a Canterbury XI which battled valiantly but went down by an innings and 35 runs.

The rugby film appeared t run at the speed of some of Charlie Chaplin’s earliest efforts. But it might not have been an illusion — the Kiwis were in dazzling form that day, and Canterbury willingly contributed to the spectacle.

■ Charlie Saxton’s men scored eight tries in a 3611 victory. Some of them were shown, and there was also one of Max Henderson’s two tries for Canterbury.

Both reels also contained some footage of St Bede’s sporting activities, one of which was a first XV match in which the college team was led by Kevin Stuart, later an All Black full-back. Before the match Billy Meates, Bob Scott, Johnny Smith and Keith Arnold, of the Kiwis, were shown outside the school where they met, among others, Jack Mullins, a former Canterbury representative and rugby writer for “The Press.”

The films were taken by one sporting enthusiast on the college’s staff, Father Alan McKay, and discovered by another, Father Mark Walls, once - well known in athletics.

A 1 though the films are a little patchy in parts, they are in remarkable condition considering no special pains were taken for their preservation. Father Walls hopes the college will find some safe repository for them, such as the national rugby museum in Palmerston North.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800419.2.113.2

Bibliographic details

Press, 19 April 1980, Page 21

Word Count
399

‘Flicks’ from the past Press, 19 April 1980, Page 21

‘Flicks’ from the past Press, 19 April 1980, Page 21

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