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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 10. June 14, 1939
Sport
Sport
Hockey Defeat Serious
Losing 3-6 to Huia on Saturday, the Hockey seniors suffered their fourth defeat of the season and are likely to be relegated to the Second Division at the end of the round. There is one match to play.
At Rugby we were heavily defeated by Old Boys, 6-26. The decisive reverse is disconcerting as the club placed about its strongest fifteen in the field. Continuing its string of victories, the second XV again won. Comment on the form of these Junior A players appears below. Playing matches against Training College that had been postponed, the basketball first and second teams won 15-11 and 7-5 respectively.—L.B.S.
Basketball
The postponed games against Training College were played on Saturday resulting in a double win tor Victoria. Senior A 15-11, Senior B 7-5. V.U.C. were superior in the A game in all departments of the game except perhaps in the matter of sheer speed. T.C. seem to be sacrificing efficiency to speed. This is especially true in their forwards where girl for girl they are better than Varsity. But the score is a real indication of the respective scoring merits of the two teams. Joy Osborn gave a polished exhibition of accurate shooting. Strangely enough she was quite unable to repeat the performance in the afternoon against the strong Kin Ora team.
Here Varsity might well have doubled their score. They had quite forty per cent, of the game, but there it is. We are strong in the defence third and in the centres but only average In the forwards.
Training College B team had every opportunity to win. They had more of the ball and were very superior in the defence third. But the game is won by putting the leather through the iron. This aphorism needs underlining amongst the student tennis of Wellington. We were very pleased to see the B team settled in its personnel and registering a win. Shorter passing, better understanding and grimmer determination added to the accurate shooting which is already there and the B team may add quite a few wins to its credit.
The Senior A team has been finalised as follows:—Forwards—J. Osborn, O. Castle. P. Higgin: Centres—B. Marsh. R. Bell. S. Hefford; Defence—J. Bythell. E. Broad. M. Walker.
The Senior B team is: —
Forwards—D. Maysmor, G. MacMorran. D. King: Centres—M. Norrie, A. Stewart. S. Kaye. Defence—W. Anderson. J. Lockwood. C. Abraham.
The Third team will be chosen from week to week, the selectors being largely influenced by the attendance at Tuesday night practices. The aim is to give the largest number of girls an opportunity to play on Saturdays and learn the game. For girls fairly new to Victoria this means possible future Tournaments.
Tramping
On the King's Birthday weekend the Tramping Club usually tramps; the number of embryo trampers present, the "tramp" [unclear: resembled] a picnic.
But it was a very pleasant and enjoyable picnic, a great deal of credit for its success being due to Jim Croxton the leader. The lorry set off for the [unclear: Haurangis] (nobody quite knew ehre they were) about an hour late, and, after a fast trip through extremely interesting limestone country, stopped at the top of a hill, over the top or which could be seen what appeared to be the Hanrangis, with Mount Ross in the distance.
It was decided to pitch camp in a nearby valley, and after ten minutes tramping, camp was duly set up. Messrs. Higgin, Livingstone and Meek, apparently not content with ten minutes' tramping on the first day, disappeared up the hill into the unknown promising to be back on Monday morning. We understand that, after ploughing 'through lawyer and falling down precipices in the darkness, they pitched camp in an inhospitable gorge at about 8.30 p. m.
The balance of the party was enlivened by some awful puns emitted by Mr. Braybrooke.
The great ascent of Mount Ross was accomplished successfully by the majority of the party on Sunday, arid Mr. Croxton led the weary trampers back to the camp with no casualties, although a little anxiety was felt when a search party was organised to look for the corpse of Mr. Arlidge.
Monday morning was wet; the party endeavoured to dry Marie Collin at the fire and give Doris Johannsen an airing, but their efforts weren't appreciated. An amazing dinner and an exploration trip in the limestone locality were features of the day.
It is notable that the party on the return journey all wore large boots, boots as heavy as lend.—I. Sax.
Junior A Rugby
The second XV added to Its record by defeating [unclear: Kaiwarra] 19-8 on Saturday: but though the margin was handsome the game was not satis-factory. Too many forwards were inclined to play loose, and poor tackling and backlng-up let opponents through.
The game started with a dash which promised fast and high-scoring play: but partly because of difficulty in handling the greasy ball and the retarding of back movements by the heavy ground, the game gradually degenerated into a scramble.
At full-back Greig played well—his kicking was tremendous—though he had some difficulty in fielding the rolling ball.
A good three-quarter line was spoilt by the infrequency and slowness with which the ball reached it. [unclear: Mahood] and [unclear: Ekdahl] showed plenty of dash, and Papps is playing really promising Rugby.
Papps Promising.
Week by week Papps shows football talent and belles the charge that he is too slow. From Judicious play he has scored a number of tries this season.
In the forwards Smith gave a good exhibition, toiling hard in both tight and loose. [unclear: Gundar], promoted from the Junior B team, played very well in the loose, being fast off the scrum, often with the ball at toe. He will make a good forward If his head goes down more into the tight play. Of the rest of the pack, Corkill and Webb were to be seen at the head of some of the rushes: but, generally speaking, the pack did not play well together.
When the casualties have recovered, the team will be a strong attacking force. In the backs there is plenty of speed and determination if they are fed quickly, and the forwards arc fast, capable and weighty.
Some Faults.
The team must learn not to hesitate when rush-stopping and greater attention must be paid to backing up. There is a tendency to stand off and see what one man can do against the whole of the opposing team. The half-back and inside backs must be given greater protection from opposing forwards. Game as he is, Carey cannot be expected to get the ball out if he Is swamped by quick-breaking forwards. The remaining games are against [unclear: stiffer] opposition and attention to these fundamental details will be Imperative.
Coach Fred. Macken is doing great work and through his own keenness has filled the team with enthusiasm. He deserves commiseration, too, for the continual strain he suffers on the sideline. It has been estimated that the "Varsity loaf" in which the team indulges in the second spell when leading comfortably has cost him many years of life.
Here and There
"Burke is a good captain—he doesn't talk too much"—"Evening Post" in discussing University Rugby players.
Playing good football for the seniors is Roy Hansen, who is also one of V.U.C.'s best Tournament oarsmen. A fit, hard-working forward, his chances of gaining representative honours improve with every game.
Stan. [unclear: Braithwaite] is back in Wellington after spending several days in hospital in Christchurch and later at Hanmer. He sustained concussion through colliding with an opponent at the Hockey Tournament a fortnight ago.
Kirkham played particularly well at left full-back when the Senior Reserve hockey team defeated Wesley 2-1 on Saturday. [unclear: Kingi Tahiuri], at right fullback, also played well. With Till, Long and Dr. Campbell as halves, the team is well served in this department, also. Two wins and four losses is the record to date. It seems likely that the seniors, who lost to Huia 3-6, will be relegated to the Second Division at the end of the round.
[unclear: Gu[gap — reason: illegible]"Blise] is another hockey player recovering from injuries. A cheekbone was fractured in a game about a month ago. Guy plays for Training College and in view of the risk of another knock and possible serious consequences, may not turn out again this season.
Table Tennis
Opening Night
Last Wednesday night saw the Table Tennis Club officially open its season with a Tournament in the Gym., some 40 players taking part. Several newcomers were to the fore, the reasons varying from natural playing ability and enthusiasm down to a misjudged handicap.
The committee had been optimistic enough to arrange for a tournament consisting of men's and women's singles matches. With the limited playing facilities available, the large entry was embarrassing; but a way out of the difficulty was found by arranging doubles matches, entrants then having the opportunity of playing at least one single in addition to two doubles.
The singles victor emerged, but only after a complicated process of arithmetical reasoning, In the person of Jim Croxton. Misses Pat Ralph and W. Hodge won the women's doubles and A. MacLeod and R. Cumber the men's.
One did not expect to witness table tennis of a very high standard at such a tournament, and that proved to be the case; but consistent practice in inter-club matches, at club nights, and at other times should result in a marked improvement in form. These club nights are on Tuesdays and Saturdays and attractive, varied, programmes have been arranged for them. In inter-club matches the 'Varsity teams are holding their own.
The Ladders.
Kathleen Pears is top of the Women's ladder and Jim Croxton of the Men's. The latter is followed by Rashbrooke (club singles champion last season), Journet and MacLeod: and second, third and fourth rungs on the women's ladder are occupied by Shirley Grinllnton. P. Ralph and Iris Foley respectively.
World's Championship.
Table tennis enthusiasts who remember the visit to New Zealand last year of Barna and Bellac, and especially those who saw them In action, will have read with interest that Barna and his partner won the World's Doubles Championship recently. Bellac was not competing. Barna was eliminated from the singles In a quarter-final.—L.B.S.
Harriers
There was a good muster of the remaining members of the club for their run from the 'Varsity gymnasium, twenty-one members running in two packs. A course of six miles was followed along Kelburn Parade, down Devon Street and up Ohiro Road to Brooklyn. The runners then took to the hills and struck down a gully, encountering much muddy ground en route. A return to the starting point was made via Happy Valley Road.
In the fast pack Powell ran well throughout, and in the run-in he was first man home, closely followed by Henderson. The slow pack, with McLean as leader, kept a good pace, all the runners performing quite creditably.
Dannevirke.
Varsity sent two teams of four men each to Dannevirke on Saturday to compete in a 61 mile race there. The course covered was of 2 laps, with a lot of road in parts, but some good open country for the rest of the distance. Of the seven clubs represented In the A and B grades. Varsity was placed fourth in the A and fifth in the B grade. The best performance in the A grade was given by Scrymgeour, who finished fourth. Newall also ran well to fill thirteenth place, with O'Flynn and Burge in the twenties.
In the B grade field of about 60 starters. de la Mare ran well all the way, finishing in the first ten. Palmer started well but fell back In the second lap. Brewer was second man home in the team, being in the early twenties.
Another Harriers Novelty.
Harriers are on the top for novelty again. Last-Saturday two of the slow pack elected to leave the rest of the pack and have afternoon tea at a house by the wayside. No doubt considerably refreshed by this they eventually made their own sweet way home again. We hope they enjoyed their afternoon ten, but while not meaning to be offensive, would like to cast an official frown on this sort of thing. It is the second time this year that harriers have wandered off in pursuit of their own pleasures, regardless of the fact that they are supposed to be running In a pack. The lot of the pack leader is difficult enough, without having it made more so by upsetting the pack with such foolish antics.
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What Is the most popular outdoor winter game at the Austalian Universities? As in New Zealand, It Is football—Rugby Union at Sydney and Brisbane. Australian Rules at Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. Hockey is [unclear: soli[gap — reason: illegible]dly] entrenched in second place. Melbourne has four Rugby Union teams, and there are small clubs at Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.