Men's Basketball

Well, another season is completed, and all the little baskets are very pleased indeed. The season has been thoroughly enjoyed by all the poor miserable participants, who have retired again to the pool-rooms to prepare themselves for the new year's play, and rebuild their shattered—er—enthusiasms. It should be noticed by all those who have the foolish opinion that basketball is a dangerous and hazardous occupation, that there have been no serious injuries this season; after all, what is a broken back between friends?

A Team

We would like to congratulate the A team on finishing fifth in the A grade competition. They seem to have had bad luck in not attaining a higher place: they registered wins over all but two teams, and drew with the winning team. Their main defect, however, has been lack of height: possibly they might find it helpful to either use stilts, or get rather high before each match. But they are a keen bunch, who have practised hard,

B Team

This team played in the C grade, and, as might have been expected, finished in the top four teams. They have played well, and showed great improvement as the season progressed: the loss of Eddie Wong was a sad blow. Most of the members of this team spent a very enjoyable evening at Capping Ball. Definitely a good show. Pity they had to play (basketball) at 9 a.m. the following morning. . . .

C Team

The C team played in the D grade. At the start of the season they were mainly inexperienced, but as time went on their improved tactics and combination proved conclusively the good study they had made of the game. Always prepared to exercise, they finished as the fittest team in the grade. C team has been a good school for beginners: many of the players in this team will be seen in higher grades next year.

Men's Hockey

With six teams playing in the WHI competition we have had a most successful, if not impressive, season.

The first grade team started well but failed to hold first place when their early finish and cohesion were lost.

At Winter Tournament the team again began well—beating Otago, but found wanting in later matches. Buxton and Laurenson were chosen to play for the NZU team against Auckland, the latter winning 7-6. The best game of the season was the annual fixture against Massey, who won 3-1.

Members Of the first grade team gaining representative honours were Wollerman, NI reps and Wellington A reps; Tong, Wellington A; and Laurenson and Maclean, Wellington B reps. The second grade A team had a long succession of draws and losses, but all games were keenly contested. The second-grade A team started well, but as usual, holidays interfered with the regular team, resulting in some rather disappointing games at the end of the' season. The third A team was our most successful one and was always very close to the leaders, finishing fourth in the grade.

The third B team, always keen, were one of our most consistent teams. The 4B team, composed mostly of beginners, showed definite improvement which should be more noticeable next year. The club dance' in the 2nd term was quite successful, although poor weather made the attendance rather disappointing.

Finally we wish to express our best wishes to Ivor Ting, who left recently to study in France. A Wellington rep for many years, he will be remembered for the tremendous amount of good work he has done for the VUC Hockey Club.

Rugby

This season has not on the whole been a good one except possibly for the third firsts.

R. Jarden, however, has played an excellent game consistently throughout the season and has been rewarded by inclusion in the Wellington reps.

The seniors, who were poor to begin with, improved greatly to beat Wellington. They also had a very close game with St. Pats who just beat them. Also, at one stage, they had a good chance of winning the Hardham Cup, Unfortunately their form-fell and they receded from the picture.

The junior first and second teams both finished near the bottom; the latter team did give a few good displays.

The third firsts had only two losses one of which was against Hutt in the finals—rat a previous stage the results were reversed, Hutt being beaten by us, the first time they have been beaten in two years. At some time during the year they went north to play Te Aute. The game was very enjoyable although lost 19-17.

The third seconds were not very good—due mainly to the number of replacements they had to endure.

Weir House v. The Rest proved to be an excellent game, the result being uncertain up to the last minute. The final score was 16-18 to The Rest. This was a very stout effort on Weir House's part as they had one senior to the 13 The Rest had.

Rowing Round In Circles

This is to announce that the VUC Rowing Club is commencing its activities by taking part in the Opening Day Regatta which will take the form of the Annual Contest for the Redding Shield.

This is for the benefit of any students who haven't heard about the activities of the Rowing Club (and is there a man with soul so dead who never to himself has said, this is my own Victoria Club, when rowing in a cosy tub . . . )

The VUC Rowing Club is composed of all the hardy types (laurels? Ed.) round the College who have the urge now and then to take to the water, followed by an urge to take to liquids with a little more body in them.

If you're interested in enjoying yourself, and feel the necessity to keep fit during the long vacation when most of the VUC spivs just sear their fat in the sun, then the club for you to join is the VUC Rowing.

Come to the opening day and see the sport and the sports. Get in touch with Mike Pownall, the Club Secretary, per the Men's Common Room.

Wellington Women's Cricket Club

The Annual General Meeting of the above Association will be held at the YWCA on Monday, October 10, at 7.30 p.m.

Every Club is entitled to have two voting delegates but we ask you to get as many of your Club members as possible to come to the meeting as we are really trying to make a big effort this year to recruit more teams. All members' ideas will be helpful.

J. F. Yeatman

(P.O. Box 1063—Phone No. 45-559)

Although at the moment there is no Women's Cricket Club here at VUC there is at AUC and according to rumours we have heard it is flourishing and, at any moment, might issue challenges to all Colleges. We would therefore suggest that such a Club be affiliated here in order to keep up with the times and, more particularly, AUC. We also suggest that prospective members go along to the meeting advertised above to find out how things are run and also to possibly get some experience in handling bats and balls—Sports Ed.)

Swords In Line

The Swords Club is one of the University's keen dubs. Every Tuesday night at 7.30 and Saturday morning at 10.30 the boys and girls are pulling on their Jackets and looking round to see where they put their foils. "Class," calls Mr. Dickson, and the evening is under way.

The beginner will not fight as soon as he or she joins, for, as in any art, a proper knowledge of groundwork is the only basis on which proficiency can be laid.

The fencing crowd are a friendly crowd and if you want to join never let it be said that shyness or modesty held vou back. The ladles could reach Juliet Burrell (runner-up Ladies' Provincial Foil Championship, by the way) via their letter rack, and the men could use the Common Room to contact Peter Hampton, the club captain.

The Varsity Swords Club has produced some real talent in foil, epee and sabre, with Eric and 'Bub' Flaws starring provincially in the latter roles. Mr. Dickson has been training a large group of college girls, so come along and acquire this ancient and most elegant of arts. A pair of sand shoes is all you need.

Athletics

The Athletic Club offers you a unique opportunity to get fit and stay fit. On Club nights, every Monday on Kelburn Park at 530 first-class experienced coaches are in attendance to give instruction to the budding athlete. The social events which are a feature of the Club include the Annual Ball, the Club Dinner, a week-end trip to Hastings to compete against the Hastings Club (this meeting is the outstanding meeting of the year) and a week-end trip to Stratford. The Athletic Club offers you a greater opportunity to represent your College at the Easter Tournament in which Victoria College Athletic Club constantly wins a trophy.

For further information consult any member of the committee. Committee members are:—

Club Captain, J. Goldfinch; Secretary. G. I. Fox; Treasurer, T. Levy; Committee, Helen Burr, D. R. Batten, G. J. Barnard, J. A. McLevie, D. J. Mitchell.

Come along to the opening night on November 7 and start to get fit with Dave Batten (N.Z. 220 and 440 yards champion), Fred Marshall (ex-N.Z. Discus champion). Helen Burr, Barbara Hill, Icar Lisslenko (all Wellington champions), and John Holden (N.Z.U. Champion and co-record holder).

Down Among The Tryers

I paragraph devoted week by week to VUC lower grade teams.

Football a la Social Style

There are always a few who like football without tears—In other words, they want the odd game on a Saturday without spending time at practices. This gives rise to a peculiar phenomenon Known as the "Social Team." This means, of course, that if you play for the social grade, you have a legitimate excuse for not winning any matches. However, this year the social team did actually win one match, and quite comfortably too. It was played on our own home ground before a large crowd, both of whom were kept in a constant state of expectancy. Our team took the field almost confidently, believing that another defeat was in the offing and that it didn't matter anyway. However, as I said, we won. I don't remember the score, but it must have been about sixteen-eight or thereabouts. We actually played many matches [unclear: in which] we very nearly won; In fact, I think I am safe in saying that we were really outplayed in only two matches, and on both of these occasions we were playing with only 14 or so men. The first of these matches was again Miramar, which we lost about 26-6. Highlight of the day were two glorious potted goals by our full-back.

Some time later we were featured as an entertainment programme on Petone Rec. where we lost to the tune of 58-0. This was due in large measure to the tact that it was near the end of the season, and only about half of our regular team turned up. We took the field with 12 men, and picked up a few more stragglers as we went along. Generally, though, we only lost by a small margin—6-9 to Wellington, 3-9 to Kaiwarra, on the mud patch, and so forth.

All in all a good season, and I think we are to be congratulated on our above-mentioned, well-earned win against Oriental.

Table Tennis

This club has a very poor record indeed this year—defaulting a very large number of matches. This seems to be the case in all colleges at the moment as one of our team at tournament B. Holingham, although winning the men's singles, did not get a Blue as the standard was too low. If this state of affairs was due to the fact that everyone was concentrating on outdoor activities it would not be so bad but from tournament results that it obviously not so, so all we can say is that this club ought to feel thoroughly ashamed of itself and make up its mind to do a lot better next year.

The club plays five teams in the Wellington Cricket Association's competition series and a further team from the Training College plays under the club auspices. In addition to the regular Saturday play, a team is sent on tour through some minor associations over the Christmas-New Year period and the club also takes part in the inter-college university tournament at Easter.

In the coming year our college will be hosts to Auckland before Easter and the team will travel to Christchurch at Easter to defend the honour of being the leading university team amongst the four colleges.

Regular practices are held during the season on Kelburn Park on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, commencing at 5 p.m. All intending members who have not already done so are asked to communicate with the honorary secretary, Mr. J. H. Murray, c/o Atkinson Dale Mather & Watterson, solicitors. 217 Lambton Quay (tel. 43-087).