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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 16 July 20, 1938
Sport
Sport
Both the men's and women's hockey competitions were suspended on Saturday on account of the visit to Wellington of the English Women's hockey team. At Basketball, the Senior team had a bye. The leading V.U.C. footballers were engaged in a trial match between Senior A, Second Division, and Senior B representative teams, the ordinary competition games in these grades being postponed. For Harriers there was the important Vosseler Shield race, in which 'Varsity fared none too well.
At the Hockey Tournament at Dunedin the Men's, team did fairly well. A victory was gained at Massey's expense, and drawn games were played with Canterbury and Auckland. Otago defeated us 7—3, and we also lost to the Otago B team. The Dunedin men won the Men's section, with Auckland second. Victoria tied with Massey for third place. Three Victoria men, S. Braithwaite, W. Johnston and F. Newcombe, were included in the N.Z. University team that went close to drawing with the Indians. Otago also won the Women's section, with Auckland runners-up. Victoria was a bad last, scoring only one goal in the whole Tournament.
Women's Hockey
All those who took part in the Hockey Tournament at Dunedin are in agreement, I think, in that they received two distinct impressions during their stay: the first, concerning the weather; the second, all other aspects of the Tournament. Of the second, everyone has brought away the happiest recollections of the first, the wondering thought, "How do they live through it?" The weather, in short, was shocking; the ruin had turned the hockey fields at Logan Pack into a quagmire where any step might land player and bait into ankledeep mud or water, and at the conclusion of each game, one mud-be-spattered face and gym-frock was very like the next. When apologizing for keeping the Stick at Otago, the Captain of the Otago girls remarked, "But don't imagine we have given you nothing. Think of the mud, think of the liberal helping of good Otago soil you are talking home with yon!" The chilly reception of the Dunedin climate, however, was soon forgotten in the warmth of proverbial Scottish hospitality, Otago entertaining its visitors royally with Bob-Hop, Dinner, Picture Party, and Ball.
The form displayed by the women's teams was much the same as last year in Auckland, with Otago in the lead, closely followed by Auckland, and Canterbury and Victoria considerably further down the scale, "Salient" of last week, in speaking of Victoria's chances at the ournament, announced: "The prospects of the women's team cannot be regarded hopefully," and so it turned out, The Victoria girls, in site of their best efforts, were able to do nothing to rebute this mournful propecey, the only consolation being that so inured to defeat have they become, that it can do nothing to spoil their enjoyment of the games. John Bacon's energetic defence work gained her the place of emergency to the N.Z.U. team, but the remainder of the team return to Wellington no more distinguished than they left it. Throughout, the standard of play was spoilt by the poor conditions.
The Hockey Tournament is an event in which the Varsity as a whole takes very little interest: its representatives do not gain the distinction that attaches to participants in the Easter Tournament: yet, of later years, it has widented and developed until it has become what seems an almost perfect form of University entertainment. Once, inclusion of hockey in the Easter Tournament sports seemed a desirable, though impossible, object: but so enjoyable and finished an event has the Hockey Tournament become, that all hockey players would be very sorry to lose their individuality and their Tournament thus, Otago, acting as hosts for the first time, ably carried on what has now become the tradition of Hockey Tournament—to grow "better and better."
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Scrymgeour Fifth
Vosseler Cup Race.
D. R. Scrimgeour, winner of the Smile race at Tournament, was the most successful of the eleven 'Varsity Club barriers who competed in the to mile race for the Vesseler Cup.
It was a hard course, and scrimgeour's performance in running fifth was full of merit. O'Flynn and Farquhar also run well. Once again the Scottish Club finished first, 'Varsity being fifth, Scottish also provided the winner in Riddington, second place being filled by McKinney, a 'Varsity student who [unclear: runs] for the Methodist Club.
Weather conditions for the record field of 142 runners were very fair it was a cold afternoon, but the rain the rain held off.
Basketball
The Senior "A" team drew a bye on Saturday, but gained two points through Training Colicué defaulting the hold-over first round game. At the end of the round Victoria was third with eight points, the leaders being Wellington East Old Girls and Kia Ora with eleven points each. The V.U.C. nine are expected to beat the leaders in the second round—at least, that is the current "down-town" opinion.
Against the strong Kia Ora combination the Senior "B" team gave by far its best display of the season. With their first victory yet to be registered the team was hardly expected to run a leading team to 21/18. The experience of Joy Osborn is telling in the forwards, and we look towards the second nine to register some points in the next few
Wellington Reps.
The choice of three Victoria College players for the Wellington Senior Representative team to play in the New Zealand Tournament at Timaru in the vacation is gratifying to a team that has played consistently and trained thoroughly. Of the three picked after searching trials two are new to rep. Basketball. Neither Erice Overton nor Marie Walker have participated in a New Zealand Tournament, and the experience there will stand the College well in future N.Z. University contests. Janet Grainger is no newcomer to the reps. her forward work is outstanding in Wellington, and her combination with Erice will be of considerable value at Timaru.
"Salient" has ascertained the playing records of the representatives, who, by the way, make up one-fourth of the whole team.
Janet Grainger represented V.U.C. at Tournament in 1934-35-36, being given an N.Z. Blue in the last year. In 1937 she captained the Training College team and was awarded a Blue. Wellington Reps, in 1934-35 earned Janet a place in the North Island team in the latter year, when she was the outstanding forward on the field. Had she not refused selection to the Wellington team last year it is very likely that she would be in Meg Matangi's N.Z. team to Australia this year. She is very fast in positional play, combines with strange players as well as she does with her team-mates, and is a most accurate shot. Incidentally, Janet has an N. Z. Hockey Blue as well.
Erice Overton represented V.U.C. in 1930-37-38 at Tournament, the first two years as a defender. Owing to the shortage of forwards of talent this year she undertook the strange and difficult work of goal-throwing. Her success in this third of the field can best be gauged by her selection this week. No player in Wellington is speedier on the court nor has better hands. At Auckland this year Erice paved the way for goal after goal, and her captaincy and popularity were no mean factors in the team's holding of the Shield. The pleasing feature of her play recently has been a high percentage of accuracy in shooting, and this was the deciding factor in her choice for the reps.
Marie Walker played in the University Tournament for the first time this year. Illness prevented her travelling, in the two previous years. Her contest with Meg Matangi in the Auckland game and her fitness and consistency earned her a Blue. In defence Marie is indefatigable, combines excellently, and gives the fewest of penalties. She has earned her place against the hottest of competition.
Victoria College feels proud of these players, and "Salient" wishes them well when the North Island team is being chosen.
Rugby
A Narrow Win.
In the annual match against. Massey' College, Victoria scored a rather lucky win, 13—11. As a spectacle, the game was nothing to enthuse over. Combined back play was lacking for the greater part of the game, Victoria providing what little there was.
McVeagh played a very good game at full-back, fielding and kicking well. His defence was very sound, and he hud a lot of rush-stopping to do in the second spell. Eastwood used his speed and strong tunning to gain big stretches of ground, but was rather starved of opportunities: Tricklebank did some good line-kicking and made several good bursts on attack. He was, however, inclined to attempt too much on his own, a mistake with two fast wingers like Eastwood and Harpur outside him.
Harpur provided the highlight of the game by intercepting when Massey were attacking hotly and racing the full length of the field to score. The inside backs were very subdued, but this was probably due to the very slow heeling from the scrum. Bridges hooked very well, but after securing possession the forwards allowed the ball to hang in the buck of the scrum. When it was heeled, the opposing loose forwards gave the inside backs no option but to pass the ball on quickly.
The forwards played with plenty of dash, but were rather overshadowed in the second spell by the vigorous Massey vanguard. McNicol, Russell and Blacker were in everything, and Corkill played a lively game in the loose. In the Massey forwards Terry played a good allround game, and Thurston (ex-Victoria) was prominent in the loose play. Campbell, the Massey fullback, was very cool and steady, and his line-kicking was good.
Trial Match.
Senior A. Second Division and Senior B. Championship games were suspended on Saturday for the purpose of allowing a representative trial match to be played between teams from these two grades.
In this game V.U.C. was represented by nine players—Tricklebank, Eastwood, Wild, Bryers, Bridges, McNicol, Hansen, Harpur, and Armour.
Tricklebank had little to do at fullback, but played soundly. The Bryers - Wild - Eastwood combination went well, although Bryers was inclined to overdo the cut-in at times. Wild made an occasional burst, but was not as prominent as usual. Eastwood played a fine gaine, and his performance must have brought him before the notice of the selector. Whenever he received the ball, he ran strongly. Harpur, in the opposing team, had a heavy day trying to mark Eastwood, but managed to get in one or two dashes on attack.
Our four representatives in the forwards showed form to justify their inclusion in the trials, McNicol possibly being the best.
In the Senior B. team, Armour went well in the line-out and the tight play.
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Weir's Part
The Defeat of Massey.
That there are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream was again evidenced when the co-operation of Weir House was sought in the effort to repulse the visiting Rugby players from Massey College. Blissfully ignorant of the plot, the primary producers partook liberally of the hospitality extended by Weir. Yet though the noon meal shortly before the match almost administered the coup de grace to the visitors, the hosts were not content that their work should finish there: they supplied for the game itself three men in Larkin, Corkill and Harpur who well and truly played their part in the V.U.C. victory.
Larkin, as speedy as ever, assisted in the amassing of points by his, conversions; President R. Corkill, in the front row, proved his worth in hooking and vigorous forward play; and Arthur Harpur supplied the dramatic. Both papers described Harpur's try as spectacular. It was a fine effort resulting from a quick interception, a breakaway, and a long fast run down most of the field.
The players appreciated the encouragement from the side-lines given by the large band of Weir residents, many of whom must have cut lectures in order to watch the game.
Table Tennis.
Years ago Weir had a table tennis table and ladder. During the presidencies of W. M. Willis and H. R. C. Wild, the game enjoyed some popularity, but damage to the table and the loss of all the balls available in the neighbourhood brought the game within the precincts of the House to old table was in the murk of the interest has flared up afresh, The with fittings, has been procured, and an untimely end. Now another table, basement; the new one graces the Recreation Room. It is a superior structure too, for it has a grained lop in addition to the regulation six legs. As a matter of historical fact, play on it started some three weeks before the Table Tennis Club at 'Varsity commenced its activities.
A tournament is in strenuous progress at present. No player is outstanding, but there are some who favour the chances of the wily Tuck, whose strange styles and customs are rather disconcerting to opponents.
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Tramping
Mr. Butchers was met by some of the party on the way up to Kime Hut. soon after leaving Field Hut. Sleet was driving up from the south, yet he had the temerity to mumble, "What are you going up to Kime Hut for? There won't be any snow. I'm going back to Field's!"
There was, however, snow in abundance from West Peak onwards, with enough snow and, hail thrown in to make the prospect of Kime Hut a cheerful one Of the 38 members on the trip, 24 stayed Saturday night at Kime. As the hut is 1,000 feet above the bush line, no fires can be had, so primuses were kept busy for hours on end melting down snow to slake mighty thirsts, and food in great variety and profusion was produced as if by magic the whole week-end Despite the cold wind, which was accompanied by snow and hail, a very comfortable musical night was passed.
Disappointing Conditions.
On Sunday morning Messrs. Oliver and Young pushed off into the sleet determined to ski or die. Skiing predominated, but only by the narrowest margin.
Conditions were slushy, with a bitterly southerly wind, but some more or less sheltered slopes at the south-eastern end of the hollow provided thrills and spills for all concerned thfoughout the day.
Other enthusiasts soon ventured forth, but six or seven was the greatest number out at one time. As time passed the surface hardened noticeably, and became fast enough for several of the more advanced skiers to practise Christiania turns quite successfully.
We can only console those who had visions of fun and games in the clear mountain sun high above worry level by saying, "Better luck next time," and by reminding them of the Holds-worth trip later this month. The good performance of some of the newer members of the Club, despite the bad conditions, deserves recognition, and augurs well for the success of future big trips.
—A.P.O.