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The Spike or Victoria College Review October 1929

Australian Universities' Team

Australian Universities' Team.

We have had with us during the present season in New Zealand a team representing the Universities of Australia. Although the team was almost a Sydney University team (there was only one Melbourne University man—Nairn—and no Brisbane University representatives) the fact that a team representing the Commonwealth Universities was sent shows that Rugby Union is at last getting a foothold in other parts of Australia as well as in Sydney.

Mr. Morey remarked on this progress at the welcome to the team on its arrival in Wellington. "Rugby football in Australia is improving by leaps and bounds, I can tell you honestly," he said. "Last year put the New South Wales Union on its feet, and this year, with the Sydney Cricket Ground now available, and with all but two of the Waratahs still playing, there was every prospect of the Union enjoying one of its best seasons."

The team comprised :—Full-back: C. McMullen. Wing-threequarters : G. G. Dangar, D. Nairn, A. Kennedy. Centre three-quarters: D. Kennedy, C. Rountree, J. B. Barker, F. S. Flynn. Five-eighths: J. G. Nicholas, R. Maclean. Half-back: N. K. Lamport. Front row forwards: M. M. Ramsden, H. C. Wiseman, M. Morton, W. I. B. Beveridge. Second row forwards: C. Aherns, C. R. Neild, M. Cay. Lock forwards: M. R. Morey, A. Robertson (also second row forward). Breakaway forwards: C. A. H. Dezarnaulds, W. D. Cunningham, and D. Joyce.

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Of these, several were well-known players. N. K. Lamport, the captain, had before the tour represented New South Wales, and he again represented his State against the All Blacks this year in two out of the three games played by the State against the tourists. D. Nairn has represented Victoria several times, and he also played for the Australian side which met the All Blacks at Melbourne this year, whilst D. and A. Kennedy, after the tour of New Zealand, were given a chance in the Sydney University first XV and gave very fine exhibitions, A. Kennedy, the winger, scored five tries in the first two matches, and his brother, the centre, making many very fine openings.

However, the team did not fare too well in this country. It opened the tour with a win against Victoria College on Athletic Park, the final score being 6—3 in favour of the visitors. It was a close and good game, and there was not much between the teams on the day. With that game the visitors' success ended. Otago University and Canterbury College beat them by wide margins, and Auckland College managed to head them, while in the Test Matches they cheered last every time,—losers by big margins, being no match for the New Zealand University Test sides. Their playing record was thus:—Played, 7 won, 1 lost, 6.

The tour, nevertheless, was a great social success, and the members of the local senior fifteens, while the visiting team was there, lost for a time their place in the sun so far as the members of the opposite sex of the Colleges were concerned.

The following members of the V.U.C. fifteen gained placed in the Test Fifteens :— J. D. Mackay, R. H. C. Mackenzie, E. T. C. Leys, E. E. Blacker, R. E. Diederich and J. M. Edgar.