HAD TOO SQLID A PUNCH

NZ Truth, Issue 1273, 24 April 1930, Page 14

HAD TOO SQLID A PUNCH

Canterbury Eight's Steady Work Wore Out Opposition AUCKLAND HAVE LOT TO LEARN

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) The fourth annual eight-oar race between the Universities of New Zealand rowed on the Auckland harbor course resulted m a well-earned win for Canterbury by one length. Wellington was second, and Auckland phased home the field, five length! astern of the second boat.

AUCKLAND struck at the lightning rate of 48 when the gun ,went and shot into • the lead, with Wellington second and Canterbury close up third. The northerners failed to sustain their advantage and fizzled out before Oraku

Wharf was reached. Wellington took command until the last half-mile was entered. , , , Canterbury had rowed a solid stroke with an even swing. They then worked through and the reds held the lead to the end. Their victory was warmly acclaimed. The South Island crew put up a meritorious performance. It had the worst of the water conditions, but displayed splendid judgment m the rough water. It was the only crew to put m wash streaks, and the wisdom of doing so was clearly shown when the boats returned to the skids. The- Canterbury crew displayed the best knowledge of rowing an eight, and the punch at the star£, of their stroke was m marked contrast to the dip> of Wellington and the still feebler efforts of Auckland. ■ ■ ' '„„,„. „ A Both Canterbury and Wellington placed well-balanced crews, but the Auckland eight was irregular. This eight-oar race was another lesson to- Aucklanders, again showing them what a lot they have to learn about eight-oar rowing. Both Canterbury and Wellington gave definite instructions to each man to look to everything before taking to the" boat. The result was nothing carried away. Auckland University is responsible

for the introduction of the rabe, and In each of the four tests has made a mediocre showing. To put a man m the stroke seat who has rowed m rowlocks all the season and expect him to drop to poppet work m a^out a fortnight means looking for trouble. Then why allow a man to discard the racing oar handed him? The broken button trouble should be a sufficient lesson to the coach to see that his orders are carried out m future. So far as Auckland was concerned the crew played only two parts m the race. It got to the line first and when the gun went fired its piece. The great lesson of the race was given In the stroke set' by Canterbury and the judgment displayed over the course. The stroke timed his main effort admirably. The steady, even stroke of Canterbury wore out" the livelier efforts of Wellington. It is up to the Auckland University College Rowing Club to get together seasoned oarsmen and train for the race. A crew containing four maiden oarsmen who have had but little rowing simply means courting disaster. The club cannot expect support from ether clubs or the use of the Association' boats where such crews as last Saturday's are placed. Canterbury have how. placed a different complexion on the contest by smashing Wellington's sequence of successes. It was regrettable, that Otago did not place a crew. The reason advanced was that the use of the Otago Associations eight-oar boat was refused.