The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review October 1911
The Tour of the N. Z. University Team
The Tour of the N. Z. University Team
During the year a team was sent from the University of New Zealand to Sydney, there to play the Sydney University. This team included six Victoria College players, namely, Messrs. Curtayne, Brosnan, Faire, Quilliam, Ryan and Robertson. A considerable amount of anxiety was felt at the time of its departure as to whether the team was strong enough to make the tour— anxiety which in the members of the team was increased by the reference that more than one Australian speaker made to the high standard of Rugby Football attained to in New Zealand. So that it is with no little satisfaction that we look back on the result of the tour—2 wins and 1 loss—for whatever kind of football we may have played, we had at least accomplished the task we had been given to do. But the anxiety which we felt to do well was not without its beneficial effect, for each member of the team was eager to do his best, and consequently the team which took the field for the first match was well trained, eager and determined, though somewhat doubtful of success, a combination of mental and bodily fitness which will make any team dangerous. The result was that we won by 15 points to 10 after a game the result of which was in doubt to the call of time. That we won was largely due to the dash of our forwards, whose speed in breaking away from the serum and fast following up quite disconcerted the opposing backs. The day was beautifully warm and sunny, and the play fast, open and exciting.
The second game we also won by 9 points to 3. The backs played up much better in this game and had the forwards played with the dash that they showed in the first match the score would have been larger. The game was played in the rain and afforded a rather uninteresting display of football.
In the final match against the Metropolitan team, which was practically a New South Wales representative team), we lost by 22 points to 6. The Metropolitan team was undoubtedly the superior, but I think the score should have been a little more even. Our men were probably tired by too much gaiety, and the forwards especially did not seem to get going until late in both spells.
No description of the tour will be complete without a reference to the social side of the tour. For it is perhaps only on the social side that the team can be justified. And in this respect it was interesting to hear speakers refer to the future benefit which might accrue to their respective countries from this mingling together of the young men of the two colonies: "Young men," they said, "who perhaps sonic day would be the leading statesmen and merchants of their respective colonies."
Amongst those social functions which will perhaps live longest in the memories of the team is the reception held at the University itself and the inspection of the Colleges and College grounds which followed. How small and insignificant did our own University then appear. But perhaps the greatest contrast was between the social life as it exists at a University such as Sydney University, where there are residential colleges, and at a University such as our own, where the students see each other only at lectures or perhaps for five minutes before the lecture begins. More than one member of the team had to sigh with regret as he was conducted through St. Paul's Residential College, with regret that our own University had no such residential College, with regret that no such opportunity for knowing the students amongst whom he worked was open to him. There are three Residential Colleges attached to the Sydney University, each containing a large number of students.
This preliminary inspection of the Residential College prepared one in some manner for the display of student life which took place in the afternoon, when the students assembled at the sports ground for an afternoon's sport. The free, careless way they took their pleasure, their utter disregard for everything save the enjoyment of the hour, were to a New Zealand University student as Something undreamt of, but good to behold. To see a long line of students in the dirty, greasy overalls, swing down in one long line, their arms interlocked, their voices mingling in some College chant, to which they kept time as they marched, was a sight to make one wish to be among that jolly, happy-go-lucky lot. What a crowd for a capping carnival they would make; but, then, perhaps, they have no Sir Robert in Sydney.
In conclusion, we must say that it was with the greatest regret that we left Sydney, with regret that those friendships which had been born on the field and christened at Lindeman's, had now to be broken. But let us hope that next year will bring a few of our friends amongst us again, when we can wish them no better thing than that they may enjoy themselves, as well as we did in Sydney.
Auckland University Match.
This year we met Auckland University on the football field for the first time. The match was played at Athletic Park, on Monday 5th June. The Northerners were unable to get their proper team away, but their back division was complete. Our backs were considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Walshe. The game was fast and open. From the start V.C. made the pace hot, especially among the forwards. Auckland soon took a hand, and from a mark taken in a good position, Mackay kicked a goal, V.C. backs now livened up, and a passing rush, in which all took part, resulted in Faire scoring a good try. A moment later a forward rush, led by Wells, enabled Daniell to cross the line, A.U.C. now forced the pace, and Mackay, receiving the ball from a good passing bout, dashed down the field and scored a brilliant try. He converted it himself, Then, from a penalty. Ryan obtained a goal. The first spell ended with the score. Victoria College 9. Auckland 8. In the second half V.C. held the advantage. After some fairly good play Walshe, receiving a pass from Ryan, dribbled up, and beating Schofield, scored under the posts. Ryan kicked a good goal. Towards the close of the game, from a melee in the Auckland twenty-five, Faire obtained possession, and just got over at the corner. The game then ended: V.C. 17. A.U.C. 8.
Canterbury College Match.
The annual match against Canterbury College was played at Lancaster Park. Christchurch, shortly after the beginning of the second term, and resulted in a win for Canterbury.
The game throughout was extremely fast and open, the Canterbury men playing with great dash. Their forward division was superior to ours, but in the backs we had the advantage.
Canterbury started with an attack, Ryan clearing with a tremendous kick. Our opponents' back division kept things merry, and from a good passing rush Colthart scored at the corner. V.C. backs then took a. hand and forced the home team. This did not last long, and Smith, with a clever run, dashed for the line. O'Shea saved welt and was assisted by Ryan and Poananga, who were putting in some good work. Colthart, from some loose play on the half-way line, got the ball, and, with a great run, beat his opponent and scored a brilliant try. Our backs now showed some good combination and looked dangerous. A kick across the field enabled O'Shea to get a clear run, but he was overtaken near the line by one of the Canterbury backs.
On resuming after half-time Canterbury attacked, and an indiscreet kick giving Mansell a chance, he ran round behind the posts. He converted the try himself. The V.C. backs worked hard for the rest of the game. From a passing rush between Poananga, Stainton, Ryan and Dobbie, the last-mentioned player was enabled to score a good try at the corner. V.C. still kept pressing. Quilliam and Curtayne putting in some good work, but were unable to increase the score, the game ending canterbury 11, V.C. 3.
v. Petone, at Petone. Lost by 30 to 6. The first spell was closely contested. but in the second the good form of the Petone players proved too much for our untrained team. Faire scored a try for College, and Curtayne kicked a goal from a mark.
v. St. James, at Karori. Lost by 17 to nil. In this game College did better than had been expected of them, and put up a very good fight. As usual ill-luck was our fate, and St. James scored nine points in the first ten minutes. After this College became more aggressive, and kept hurling attack after attack at the red lines, but were unable to score. Our opponents, by securing two further tries and converting one of them, increased their score by 8 points.
v. Poneke, at Karori. Lost by 20 to 6. This game was more closely contested than the score would indicate, and for a considerable part of it College pressed hard on Poneke's line. However, the College backs blundered badly, and allowed our opponents to score two or three easy tries. For College, Ryan kicked a nice goal from a mark, and Curtayne scored a try front a clever centre by Faire.
v. St. James, at Karori. Lost by 28 to 6. With six of our senior players in Sydney, and the vacation on, College were forced to put in the field a team composed chiefly of junior and third-class players. They must, however, be congratulated on the good fight they put up, particularly in the first spell, when they kept St. James busy. Poananga, was the shining star for College, playing his best game to date. He kicked a splendid goal from a mark. Anton scored a good try as the result of a passing rush.
v. Southern, at Athletic Park. Lost 31 to 3. College again had a very weak team and were easily defeated. The first spell was evenly contested; in fact. College made the pace merry for the opposing team. Some clever play by Poananga enabled Salmond to cross the line. Duncan, who was making his first appearance of the season, had to leave the field early in the game with an injured collar bone.
v. Old Boys, at Karori. Lost by 13 to 3. College were unfortunately unable to put their proper team in the field against Old Boys. On the play our opponents deserved their win, although College pressed hard for a considerable part of the game. Stainton, who had captained the team for the three preceding Saturdays did yeoman service. Our only score was a penalty goal, kicked by Stainton.
v. Oriental, at Karori. Lost by 25 to nil. With our players back from Sydney we expected to make a better game for our opponents, but that was not to be. College played a miserable game, and were fortunate the score was not more. Stainton, at half, put in some good solid work.
v. Athletic, at Karori. Lost by 19 to 3. This game was fairly fast and open, the backs throwing the ball about in good style. The Athletic score was chiefly the result of good individual play. The only score for College notched near the close of the game, was a surprise to the Athletic men. It was the result of a good passing rush. O'Shea, scenting a score, dashed down the line, transferred to Ryan who passed to Curtayne at the critical moment, and thus enabled him to score a brilliant try.
v. Melrose, Won by 3 to nil. If College had played throughout the season as they did against Melrosa, some of the teams who stand high on the championship list might have been occupying different places. This was the first victory for College this year. The game was pretty fast, and our backs frequently indulged in good passing bouts. The Melrosians were a little superior in the forward division. The opening stages of the game were wholly in our favour. A good passing rush initiated by Ryan, and carried on by Poananga, enabled Faire to score a good try at the corner. Two or three times after this rake made great efforts to increase the score, but each time he had hard luck. In the early part of the second spell Melrose assumed the offensive, but our defence was too sound to be easily broken down. During the latter part of the game College attacked strongly, but missed two or three certain tries through small mistakes.
v. Poneke, at Rayon. Lost by 12 to 8. College, encouraged by their victory of the previous Saturday, had more confidence, and played a very good game. The team played a fine, vigorous game; in fact, no one would have been surprised to see them leave the field victorious. In the first spell play was of an even up and down character. The reds placed a penalty goal, and secured a try. The second spell was opened by College with a strong attack. The upshot was that Daniell had an opportunity to score from a loose rush, and took it with alacrity, Ryan converting. A few minutes later Faire scored the Seal try. The game became more willing, and strenuous efforts were made to score. Poneke were awarded a free kick, and by placing a goal succeeded in establishing a lead. Soon afterwards they crossed the line again.
v.Wellington, at Athletic Park. Won by 11 to 6. College deserved their victory over Wellington, as they did show some combination. However, the game as a whole was not up to standard—there was no dash about it. Early in the game Ryan kicked a penalty goal. In the second spell College indulged in one or two passing rushes. From one of these Quilliam secured a good try at the corner. Passing between the backs enabled Ryan to cross the line, Curtayne converting.
The match against Petone was abandoned by mutual consent.
Matches played. 17; won, 2 lost. 15; drawn. 1; points for, 61: against, 303.
Junior Team.
v. Oriental. Lost by 20 to 5. Oriental surpassed us in all parts of the field.
v. Melrose. Won by 8 to nil. College played a good game. especially in the back division.
v. Southern. Lost by 8 to 3. This game proved quite interesting. Both back divisions handled the ball well, and the combination was also good. Mackay kicked a penalty goal.
v. Selwyn. Lost by 30 to 3. College had a very weak team, and were easily beaten.
v. Melrose. Won by default..
v. Poneke. College forfeited.
Games played, 9; won, 2; lost, 7; points for, 42; against, 98.
Third Class
v. Oriental. Lost by 3 to nil. Although defeated, V.C. played a very good game.
v. Wellington. Won by 3 to nil. Very fast game. College deserved their win.
v. Upper Hutt. College were unable to put a team in the field, and forfeited.
v. Southern. Lost by 29 to nil. College played a wretched game.
Matches played, 7; won 3; lost, 4; points for, 43; against 61.