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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 13, No. 20. Thursday, September 7, 1950
Better Luck Next Time... — Vic Nearly Misses Spoon
Better Luck Next Time...
Vic Nearly Misses Spoon
Things were certainly looking up for Victoria in the opening days of Winter Tournament 1950. Your reporter arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday afternoon (August 22). and was greeted by other student press representatives with unaccustomed congratulations: The (bloodstained?) shield of ICI had gone unmistakably to VUC's shooting, team—won by 0.06 points, Brian Perry scoring 198 out of a possible 200. Our total, with Fletcher, Hogg, Mackay and Martin-Smith in the firing line, was 777.40, Otago being on our talls with 777.34.
Men's hockey, too, gave grounds for hope at the end of the first day. Although CUC beat us 1-0. we beat Massey 5-4. However, AUC, CUC and OU were already making heavier scores. We lost our first two soccer games, won our first round in men's basketball, and in Fencing Peter Hampton and Win Stevens were leading to a certain victory.
We won one of the first May's women's hockey matches—beating AUC 2-0.
The second day had sent our peckers right up. "Salient" found evidence of some rather heavy Victorian celebration, but we make no implication that it may have been in any way responsible for later inability to maintain our lead.
Wednesday continued to add leaves to our laurel crown. The previous night had won VUC Drama team first prize with "A Long' Christmas Dinner," for which congratulations to a competent cast and production staff. Phillipps and Weston did well in golf, though not well enough to lead us to first place—in any case this game does not yet count towards Tournament Shield. Our harriers tied with Massey in second place to Auckland for the Dixon Trophy. AUC also bore off the Shackleford Cup.
Our men's hockey team lost to OU 1-4.
Our men's basketball team beat AUC 55-40, but already Canterbury was doing better. Our Collins and Smith did well in table tennis, beating an AUC pair in doubles. Women's hockey brought us a loss to Canterbury 2-4, but women's fencing placed the Misses Burrell first and second.
Thursday brought a reverse in fortunes, with Otago jumping into the lead with 35 points. Even CUC passed us, gaining 23½ to our 23. Otago won the women's hockey, their A team being unbeaten. AUC, took the Table Tennis Shield, with OU second. OU men's basketball A team was also unbeaten, and won the cup. VUC being licked by CUC for second place.
In shooting we were still doing well. The North Island team beat Otago Province, with our Fletcher scoring a possible. In men's hockey, the Seddon Stick went to CUC for 14 wins and a draw.
Yes, We ended up with the last place strain, and that usefull culinary instrument that goes With that honour. But only just, mind you. And there is always the none and faith that we will do better next time. Our teams or most of them—are to be slapped heartily on the back for a fine performance. The black trophy's rearrival to take its old resting place is not after all, such an unforgivable blot on our good name. To damn with faint praise, we can say it was a good effort, and repeat: "Next time . . ."
Heartiest congratulation, must go to our Blues winners, especially Win Stevens and Peter Hampton, who fenced for us so honourably, and Brian Perry, our straightest shooter.
Also greetings to the victors of Otago, and thanks to them for a warm hospitality. "Salient" feels certain that, had he stayed longer in the deep south, he might have been overloaded with it.