Our Sports Summary

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 36, 13 September 1923, Page 33

Our Sports Summary

The handicaps for the Trotting Cup are under discussion this week; People who saw Trix Pointer run on the second day of the National week no longer put her down as a back number, and, if she is herself, she is well treated. So is Comedy Chief if all that is whispered of him be half true. Tatsy Dillon, Great Hope, Acron and Snowshoe seem to be where they ought to be in the field. Taraire, judged on his racing time, seems to have been dealt with rather severely. Vilo is hardly regarded as “thrown in to it.” Realm is in his place, but there is an “if” about his health, we understand.

As for the N.Z. Cup weights, Scion is at the top as the result of his winning both big two-mile Cups last year. Bonnie Winkie next, is where his Canterbury Cup form entitles him to be. Silver Peak has a good horse’s weight, and she is a good horse. So is Roseday, but his weight this year is a different proposition from his burden when he ran fourth last . year. What has Loughrea done to deserve his burden, when you compare it with the light weight allotted, say, to L 1 Amour? Enthusiasm is well in at the weight, and fit and well on the day of the race, might be the pick of the bunch. Kilbird, a four year old by Kilboy, seems to be treated with much courtesy at seven stone. If Guncase is the. horse people think, our Presbyterian friend Padraig Ua h’Ogain may go' even closer to leading in the winner than he has gone in recent years with Almoner and Bengeroop. -

The promotion of a sailing race, for ten-foot dinghies, to be sailed by two lads under seventeen years of age, on Dunedin Harbor, ought to give a needed fillip to the fine sport down here. It is true that we are sadly handicapped by not having summer weather oftener than about one week in six years, and that metereological calamity discourages lovers of sailing from going on with it. But it is beginning at the right end to encourage the boys to take it up, and there is no better or manlier pastime than handling a small boat on an open sheet of water.

Rowing is another branch of sport which is neglected overmuch in the Dominion. We do not mean racing, but rowing for exercise and amusement, as is done on all the rivers in the “Home” -countries. Given a light craft, not too giddy, with well-balanced and well-stoppered sculls, to skim down from Dunedin to Port Chalmers with the tide would be only child’s play for an average boy. And there is no better exercise for developing the chest and forming the muscles of the stomach and back. Our Harbor is, no doubt, often choppy, but it is also often as smooth as -a mirror, and, in any case, a little bit of hardship on the way home ought only increase the enjoyment of an outing. Far better than taking a mere arm-chair interest in racing alid football, would it be for the majority of Maorilanders if they went in for more vigorous amusement during the summer months, in the shape of rowing, sailing, swimming, or even walking.

At Caulfield, Victoria, the atmosphere must have inspired Archbishop Mannix, who, in speaking of the new church, said: I understand that the church will cost in or about £12,000. It is, of course, a big expenditure to face. But you and Father O’Brien are not afraid of it. Father Gibbons, who has ridden over the country, it appears, with Father O’Brien, has likened the financial obstacles now in Father O’Brien’s path to the big fences which they used to take with more or less success. (Laughter.) Already Father O’Brien has successfully got over one big financial fence, for he has £2OOO or more in hand. (Laughter and applause.) Five more jumps like that will complete the course. (Laughter.) He is going strong, and I venture to predict that he will get over the remaining fences as successfully as he got over the first. (Laughter and applause.) The first jump is often the hardest. Father O’Brien knows more about riding than I do. (Laughter.) But I think that both horse and rider are often a little bit nervous and uncertain at the start. But, once over the first big fence, they move with ease and confidence; and so, now that Father O’Brien has got into his stride finan-

dally, he will clear all before him. (Laughter ' and applause.) INTER-COLLEGE FOOTBALL: MATCH AT AUCKLAND September 1 was an historic day for the‘boys of S.H.C. for it was then they met for the first time the boys of St. Patrick’s College, Wellington. Distance and lack of opportunity had long been a barrier, but owing to the efforts of Brother Yirgilius, aided by the magnanimity of the Auckland Rugby Union, the game was fixed as the curtainraiser to the Auckland-Otago match, and the large crowd of 12,000 people witnessed a splendid exposition of football true to college form. St.. Patrick’s Old Boys resident in Auckland joined with the Marist Brothers and their friends in celebrating in a fitting manner this first of what is hoped to be many meetings of these two famous schools of the Dorn i niton. When St. Patrick’s boys and their genial manager (Rev. Father Kane) arrived in Auckland on Friday morning, they were met by Brothers Borgia and Virgilius, of the S.H.C., Messrs.. Frost, Allen, and Webster, of the Auckland Rugby Union, Messrs. Kavanagh and Butler, of St. Patrick’s Old Boys, and students and friends of S.H.C. The welcome over, they were escorted in motor cars to their various hosts, and soon were at home among the hospitable Auckland people, who were sorry to lose them on Sunday night, when a large party assembled to farewell them. The match resulted in a win for Sacred Heart College by 18 points to 11. On the run of the play the home college was the superior scoring side, the backs in the second spell showing fine form on attack. The play was fast and open throughout, the visitors brightening up their game toward the finish. The game opened with St, Patrick's penning the home team in their twenty-five. Sacred Heart eventually cleared, counter-attacking in the visitors’ territory. High long-range kicks with the wind icreed Sacred Heart and later, when Johnson attempted a pot at goal. The best passing bout of the day was then played by St. Patrick’s in attack, Johnson almost getting over the line. St. Patrick’s were the first to score. Dribbling in the loose the visiting forwards swept play to the home line, where Wallace scored. O’Connell converted. With a lead of five points St. Patrick’s were forced to stem a hot attack by Sacred Heart, Johnson saving to break away to midfield. Sacred Heart attacked with Yangioni and Muir in evidence, but they could not penetrate the defence, and at half-time the score was unaltered—St. Patrick’s, o; Sacred Heart, 0. The second spell opened sensationally with St. Patrick’s attacking dangerously, to be met by good defence. A kick by Cummings cleared to set the home side on attack, ,a second kick forcing the visitors. After a drop out a swift pass from Wright to Moore let the latter away to make an opening before passing to Yangioni, who scored, Fogarty converted. With the scores 5 each, play became fast and exciting, with bright attack and counter-attack.. Sacred Heart were in the ascendant, when Cummings passed to Yangioni to score again, Fogarty missing with the kick at goal.. Pressing the attack, Sacred Heart attacked in a good position for Flynn to score a try which Moore converted. The visitors then attacked strongly for Johnson to score. The try was not converted. The home side had a lead of 13 points to 8, and play resumed for the visitors to attack in desperate effort to get on terms. St. Patrick’s pressed the attack and Riddell scored near the posts, O’Connell failing to convert. In the final stages the home side held the attacking position, and in fast open play Yangioni scored the final try which Moore converted, the game ending Sacred Heart College, 18; St. Patrick College, 11. Mr. J. Muldoon was referee. : . ST. PATRICK’S HARRIERS, DUNEDIN. The St. Patrick’s Harriers held their weekly run on Saturday. The attendance was fair, about 18 members taking part in the run. . The pack, under the whistles of Captain Mcllroy and Deputy-captain McAllen, led up Erin Street, through City Road to Bishopscourt, thence to Ross Creek, where an impromptu sports meeting was held r ! in which the majority of the members showed good form. ‘" At the conclusion of this the pack curved into Woodhaugh, thence through the Bullock,Track, where a fast run home ensued, in which Day, Thomas', and Meehan were prominent. .- 1 ‘ ■ 1 ... ”. 4