Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 2 March 15, 1939

Sport

Sport

The Easier Tournament

On Wednesday, 5th April, the Victoria College contingent for Tournament will leave Wellington for Dunedin.

Can we repeat our successes of 1938? It was at Auckland last Easter that our representatives, by sterling endeavour in Tennis, Rowing, Basketball and Shooting, supplemented by some points for Athletics and Boxing but, unfortunately, none for Swimming, realised our highest hopes and brought the Tournament Shield back to Victoria for the first time since 1929.

Already three of the seven teams for Dunedin have been chosen. Each one compares favourably with the team that represented V.U.G. in 1938. In a later issue we will publish a review of Tournament prospects generally, based on reports and information received from the other Colleges and on our own knowledge of the calibre of the men and women representatives of V.U.C.

—L.B.S.

Basketball

After selection practises lusting three weeks, and a special day's work-out on Saturday last, the following team has been selected to travel to Dunedin for the Easter Tournament:—
  • Forwards.—Erice Overton. Joy Osborn, Glen MacMorran, Olive Castle.
  • Centres.—Pixie Higgin, Rosamund Drummond, Sylvia Hefford. Nora McLaren.
  • Defenders.—Marie Walker, Joan Bythell, Ruth Bell.

Of these players all but Glen, Olive and Ruth were in last year's team. The combination, to say the least, is as good as lost year's with experience on our side this year. The defence may prove stronger than in 1938. when it was the best of the whole Tournament.

Marie Walker's Wellington rep experience and the outstanding improvement in handling and interception by Joan Bythell, together with the dash of the ex-Training College centre player. Ruth Hell, should make the forward work of other Colleges rather difficult.

In the centre there appears to be more speed and certainty than last year, when the girls were playing together for the first time. Nora Mc-Laren's all-round experience will stand the team in good stead should it require substitutes. Playing Sylvia Hefford In the centre is somewhat of an experiment. Form so far shows she is better adapted here than in her position as a defender, her passing into the goal third being a most valuable asset.

Outstanding Players.

In spite of being now in Nelson and not having played this year. Erice Overton clearly demonstrated her outstanding ability on Saturday. The way she goes in for the ball and combine with her team-mates is a lesson to the rest of the players. Joy Osborn has Improved In speed and fieldwork and has lost none of her skill on shooting. As the games in Dunedin will be played under 1938 rules Joy's height will again be a factor in recovering the ball under the posts.

The third place in the goal third is still undecided. Olive Castle, a B Grade player last year, shows that she learnt much in the struggle at Mount Cook Courts. Her handling and positional play are vastly superior to what they were twelve months ago. The other possible forward. Glen MacMorran is new to the game, having considerable netball experience as a qualification. She is very quick to learn and unusually accurate under the posts. The final selection will not be made till the team has had a couple of practice games.

Altogether the team promises well. Several girls may consider themselves a little unlucky not to be In the final choice. The selector's work was obviously made difficult by the high quality of the players offering and the rapid development of form in the practices. We may name Diana King. Enid Brond and Beryl Marsh as girls who might have filled places in the team but for the unusually large number of last year's players available and the very high standard set. These girls, together with Durle Maysmor, Moira Wicks and Carol Abraham, will make the core of a if team this year that will win more games than it will lose.

Meeting.

The Annual General Meeting of the Basketball Club will be held on Thursday next, the 16th March, at 8 p.m. Please look on notice board to ascertain in which room this meeting will be held.

Filling third places in the 120 yards hurdles and the 220 yards flat respectively. E. Irving and J. Eastwood helped the Wellington Centre towards winning the Championship Shield at the New Zealand Championships last week at Napier.

Inter-Faculty Sports

Athletes Prepare

With Inter-faculty to be held at Kelburn Park on Saturday, the 18th March, Athletic Club members are busy working up to form in the hope of making the Tournament team. Last week they had the advantage of two nights' coaching by Mr. A. L. Fitch and hope that his services will again be available this week.

Although, unfortunately, freshers are not eligible for Tournament, it is hoped that large numbers will turn out and participate in the open events and special events for freshers. It should be remembered that the success of a meeting does not depend on the brilliance of a few competitors, but rather on the numbers and keenness of those competing. Accordingly a special appeal is made to all who are able to do so to compete on Saturday, as the Selection Committee will otherwise have no indication of what talent is offering, and in any case the available time for training is now short. The hurdle events will be held at Hataltal in the morning, and all other events, with the exception of the three-mile, will be at Kelburn Park in the afternoon commencing at 2.30 p.m. The three-mile is to be run at Kelburn on the following Monday at 5.30 p.m.

Provincial Reps.

Three university men were selected to represent the Province at the National Championships:—

J. Eastwood (100 yards and relay). C. V. Adams (220 yards), and E. N. Irving (hurdles). Heartiest congratulations to them all. They have run consistently well throughout the season and fully, deserve the recognition.

Good Form At Hataitai.

At a scratch meeting held at the Hataitai ground on the 4th March. Varsity was well represented. C. V. Adams was within inches of the N.Z. Champion. Quinn, in the 100 yards. in the 880 open. Lloyd Black was 3rd in the B Grade, his time being about 2 min. 7 sec. Al Fitch's tuition last week will probably clip a few seconds from that, however, Bowyer was second to Provincial Champion Robinson in the 220 and 3rd to Quinn and Evans in the quarter. That is quite good going and Bowyer is improving with every race.

J. S. Adams collected the B Grade high Jump with 5 ft. 6 ¾ ins. That figure will win an X.X.V. title more often than not, but Adams hopes to improve on it before Easter.

As was to be expected. Congaiton won the B Grade 3-miles and Tossman and Stacey collected the 220 yards and 440 yards hurdles respectively. D. Muir was third In the Junior 1-mile after leading most of the way. Incidentally, he fought his way into the Tournament Boxing team lost week.

Useful Newcomer

A newcomer to the club is S. Gribben from Gisborne who looks like becoming one of our most versatile athletes. He put out the shot to 33 ft. 3 ins. and the discus to 103 ft. 6 ins., thus waning both Junior events. He is a well-built boy and con cover a very fast 220 as well as being handy with field events.

Ferkins Defeated

Years ago freshmen at V.U.C.. Interested in tennis, would have noticed that R, McL. Ferkins was top of the ladder. To-day Ferkins Is still top and still leading the senior four in interclub matches. Until Frank Renouf, playing at the top of his form, defeated him in three sets in n recent challenge match, Rolly's position had not been seriously threatened for years.

Renouf is back to second again now, for Ferkins turned the tables in the return match, but the former's victory furnished but another indication of the marked progress of his game.

Solid Team

Tournament Boxers

Victoria could collect only 1 ½ points of the 10 allotted to boxing at tho lost Easter Tournament, Coveney's victory in the featherweight class giving us our solitary title. We appear to have a more promising team this year, at present perhaps jacking in brilliance, but it is a solid band of pugilists nevertheless. Tournament is still three weeks off and Roy Brien has time to mould his men Into a really formidable combination.

The team Is:—
  • Heavyweight: McLaren.
  • Lifht-heavyweight: J. Bryers.
  • Middleweight: P. Ryan.
  • Welterweight: P. Sheehan.
  • Lightweight: W. Armstrong.
  • Featherweight: D. Cohen.
  • Bantamweight: D. Muir.

The team last year consisted of Fraser. Arnott, Carroll, Trillo, Coveney and Armstrong, and we were not represented in the Heavyweight division. Ryan was chosen, but a broken thumb kept him out of the ring. In 1937 he had won the Welterweight title at Tournament, and was awarded the medal for the most scientific boxer. He and Armstrong are the only men with previous Tournament experience.

Mcloren (Massey) has a long roach, nullified to some extent by a tendency to drop his guard too much and by too sparing a use of his long left Jab. He is not yet thoroughly fit.

Bryers is a game fighter with good body punches. He would do better with more aggression. At the recent College tourney weaknesses in his guard were noticeable, and ho showed that he was open to a forcing straight punch.

Sheehan does not use his right enough. His double left hook to body and head is excellent, but he must not neglect his other hand. A distinct possibility for a N.Z.U. title.

Muir has a fair reach and fights gamely. He is however, inclined to waste energy and lose scoring opportunities by dancing round the ring too much and not keeping near his opponent.

Armstrong, a solid, fit boxer, marred his work at the recent tourney by fighting too much on the retreat without doing any effective counter-punching. He can be a dangerous man when he fights aggressively

Cohen is plucky and fit. He could perhaps fight with more concentration and endeavour to land more punches than he does.

Ryan is still working into condition. A fine attacking boxer, his stinging right and left hooks are particularly effective.

Tramping Club

The Tramping Club is at present one of the busiest clubs in the University.

In the first place, the club's annual general meeting was held on Monday, with a large attendance of freshers and older trampers. The actual business of the evening took only a few minutes, and the remainder of the evening was taken up by a lecture given by Mr. A. G. Bagnall on tramping in the Tararua and Orongorongo ranges. As the club's main trips take place in these localities. Mr. Bagnall's lecture was particularly interesting both to those who had visited them and to those who, before coming out with the club, wanted to see what the country was like before doing so. The lecture was profusely illustrated by lantern slides, and it is anticipated that, as a result, there will be a great influx of members eager to taste the Joys of tramping.

Week-End Trip.

Following on Mr. Bagnall's lecture, the club Is holding an easy week-end trip next Saturday and Sunday, to one of the places described in the lecture—the Tauherenikau Valley. The lorry leaves Museum Street at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and all those who intend going are urged to put their names on the form on the notice board as soon as possible. It is only two or three hours' easy tramping to the large hut where the party will stay the night, and all Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning may be spent sunbathing, walking, and swimming in the beautiful Tauherenikau Valley. All who intend to come out with the club should make a point of being there next week-end, in order to meet other club members.

The Sunday trip last week was very successful, fifteen people turning our. Though scheduled to visit Hawtrey Trig, the party decided Instead to tramp to Pencarrow Lighthouse. After a pleasant tramp, the party sloped by Lake Koangapiripi for lunch and a boll up, and then walked round the coast towards Baring Head.

The next Sunday trip is next Sunday, and Colonial Knob, near Porirua, is the location.

So—tramp with V.U.C.!