As accuracy is a point upon which we pride ourselves, we cannot say that the record of the Club in this season's football is an unexpected disappointment. Despite the optimistic paragraphs which appeared in the daily press at the beginning of the season forecasting our probable performances with joyous anticipation, we were not misled, and have always had a tolerably good notion that final results would be just about what they are. An unusual number of accidents and the breaking up of the team in mid-season by the visit of the University team to Sydney may stand partly responsible for the worst failures, but these are not the only reasons. As brute strength and ignorance have been more in evidence than science in senior football this year, it is the more unfortunate that we still seem unable to furnish many exhibitions of which scientific play is an outstanding feature.

Ever since the Club was founded it has been customary in discussing our continued defeats, to cloud the issue by dilating on the improvement sure to follow the erection or proper training quarters. A good gymnasium has been at the Club's disposal all this season, and there is certainly no improvement due to a regular use of it—on one occasion three men held the floor. Until a keen desire to train is more cultivated in our midst, we may expect history to repeat itself. In the heyday of the season, some excellent fights were put up, notably against Melrose, but the best that can be said of us is that we play the game in a decent spirit rather than with a murderous determination to succeed at all costs. Taken altogether, affairs are no worse than usual, and we may rest content that our achievements fairly represent our deserts.

As blatant optimism has achieved so little in the past, we venture to express a conviction that, whatever the distant future way have in store, Victoria College will not win, the championship next season.

Hitchings, de la Mare, and Prendeville have represented Wellington Province on different occasions during the season.

de la Mare showed fine form during the recent visit of the New Zealand University team to Sydney. A typical newspaper opinion from the other side runs thus:—"Two men who stood out throughout a hard game were Lang and de la Mare, and their work was occasionally reminiscent of New Zealand representative forwards."

On the eve of his departure for Edinburgh, a complimentary dinner was tendered by the Club to G. V. Bogle, captain of the First XV. since 1906.

First XV. Matches

V.C. v. Melrose. Lost 11—0. Our men were in great heart after the win against Wellington on the previous Saturday, and gave probably their best all-round showing of this season. Till within fifteen minutes of the finish there was no score, but by that time the Melrose forward "tactics" had completely worn down the lighter opposition, and three tries were scored in quick succession. "Melrose stand or fall by their forwards" as the admiring cry of the sporting writers so often has it, and when it comes to a question of winning at any price without much regard to the ways and means of accomplishing that object, we should imagine that they are unparalleled in this or any other city.

V.C. v. Poneke. Lost 14—0. Poneke were strongly represented; Wallace was again selected and appeared to earn his place. College were shorthanded, and on a wet ground were quite out-played by the opposing forwards.

V.C. v. St. James. Lost 29—0. The fact that the flower of our flock were absent in Sydney and several more were injured, making it necessary to take the field with ten juniors, must stand as an extenuating circumstance of this awful rout. St. James's backs played an excellent open game, throwing the ball about with a most reckless disregard for the chances of unexpected disaster which might so easily overtake any team which held our heroes too cheaply. Providence was with them this time.

V.C. v. Southern. Lost 8—3. "An even but essentially uninteresting game" vide Evening Post. Southern scored at the start while we were a man short, and again towards the end of the day. The middle game was all to our advantage and several chances were narrowly missed. Curtayne scored nicely from a line-out.

V.C. v. Wellington. Lost 9—3. Our team was strengthened by the return of the Sydney contingent, and as Wellington were burning to avenge their former defeat, a tight game was expected. However we quite failed to reproduce our form of the first match and suffered defeat as above.

Canterbury College Match

The Spike has no hesitation in disagreeing with the two local journals which considered that Victoria College were unfortunate in being defeated by Canterbury College and which asserted that the score of sixteen points to nine did not accurately represent the abilities of the two teams. In the first spell the V.C. forwards kept the ball at their feet and had the better of the play. However, at half-time, the score stood at five points to three. C.C.'s try obtained by Rattray, resulted from Arch. Tudhope with nobody backing him up, waiting for the ball to bounce, which it did—in the wrong direction. V.C.'s try was scored by Fathers from a very ragged forward rush. The same player spent some time in having shots at goal during the course of the spell. In the second spell Canterbury wisely made the game open; Victoria, ever courteous, did the same and further assisted their opponents by consistently refusing to tackle a man below the shoulders. McMorran got the ball away occasionally to O'Leary at five-eighths who did his best to outshine the three-quarters by consistently refusing to let them have the ball. Goodbehere rested on his laurels and should have felt much refreshed at the end of the game. A. Tudhope full-back found the line once in the first spell and twice in the second, whilst the forwards spent the intervals between the scrums in wandering aimlessly about the field. The Reds played a dashing open game which, though quite safe against V.C., would have been somewhat reckless against any other team. For them Williams scored two tries and Collyns one, converted by McCallum, during the second spell. As a result of the continued practice he obtained during the game, Fathers managed to kick two penalty goals for V.C. The final result was Canterbury College 16; Victoria College 9.

Junior Matches

V.C. v. Kia Ora. Lost 9—0. Feel rather proud of this result, as opponents ultimately went through to the final.

V.C. v. Poneke. Lost 20—0. Once more our dashing forwards played their usual fierce game. Naturally a little rest was necessary on occasion, and Poneke efforts during these lapses were too strong for the back division. No one particularly worse than his fellows.

V.C. v. Wellington. Lost 6—5. So near and yet so ——. Backs positively brilliant—at times. An extra-special concerted movement saw G. W. Reid over the line, and East converted the try. We led 5—3 till well on time, when one of our many breaches of off-side rule occurred under the posts. Result as above.

V.C. v. Melrose. Lost 15—3. A close game in our favour except as regards points. In second spell we kept them very busy, while we piled on our three—a "simultaneous" try by Smith and Reid.

V.C. v. Selwyn. Lost 23—5. We faced the foe with a miscellaneous team in of all grades. Lyon scored from a "centre" after a fine three-quarter-line rush. Long score due mostly to silly mistakes in which the whole team cheerfully participated.

V.C. v. Petone. Lost 48—3. Nice quiet game. Petone were leading for the championship, we were not, and we are "sports" if nothing else. We were but eleven anyhow till big John Ross saw "green" and farewelled his relatives on the side line to join the gallant fray. Mitchell scored from a nice opening by Hill, but generally speaking we were amenable to reason.

Third XV.

V.C. v. Kir Ora. Won (by default.)

V.C. v. Melrose. Lost 32—3. Played with twelve men in first spell. Afterwards reduced to eleven. O'Reilly's nether garments gave out. Inder kicked a penalty.

V.C. v. Poneke. Won (by default.)

V.C. v. Johnsonville. Lost 8—3. Our team very tired. Johnsonville played short. Phillips scored try after good dash from 25-line.

V.C. v. Railway. Lost 6—0. Only three third-class men took part in this match, the remainder of the team consisting of Professor Hunter and eleven fourth-class men. Play all through was of a scrambling nature, but finally our condition gave out, and the other side put on a couple of tries in the last ten minutes.

V.C. v. Oriental. Drawn 0—0. Twelve men on each side lined up, after much consultation, on a field half of which was at least six inches under water. Skinner touched down in the corner, but lost the ball immediately after and no score was given, while our opponents kicked "a poster" right on the call of time. A draw was a fitting result of a very fast and even game.

V.C. v. Southern. Won (by default.)

V.C. v. St. Johns. Won 13—0. Full team for once owing to Juniors having finished their games. Tries scored by Eating, Burnett and A. Rutherford. Randrup potted a goal.

V.C. v. Wellington. Lost 9—3. Played under water. Wellington played number of junior players. A. Rutherford swam in for us.

Fourth XV. Matches

V.C. v. Athletic. Lost 11—5. Dowling kicked a goal from a try by Nicholls. Superior combination, especially among the backs, gave our opponents a win, although we had much the better of the second half.

V.C. v. Melrose. Lost 8—3. Spratt had his back injured, and most of the game was played with only fourteen men. As usual we ran over the opposition in the second spell, but the only score was well-deserved try by Clemance.

V.C. v. Southern. Drawn 3—3. This was at least a moral victory, for we were first to score a try against our opponents, the ultimate winners of the championship. We had easily the best of things in the first half. Gray scored from a forward scramble, but the position was reversed in the next spell, and we had hard work to keep our line clear. "Jenness D," at full-back, played a great game, and made not a mistake from start to finish.

V.C. v. Poneke. Won 36—0. Ten Poneke men were rash enough to face the green avalanche on this occasion, and they led the strenuous life for sixty minutes. If our two five-eighths and centre had not been quite so anxious to show what a tremendous amount each could do, by himself, the score might easily have been doubled.

V.C. v. Old Boys. Lost 12—0. If several "sports" had come out and taken a hand in this game, instead of watching a certain hockey match on the Basin Reserve, we should at least have made a draw of it.

University Rugby

page 25

The Teams Compared.

Most or those who are interested in the game have heard all that is to be said concerning the respective merits of the teams. Scores speak louder than words. But, if this is to be a record of the trip it is perhaps necessary to recapitulate. There is, of course, only one explanation of our defeat. The scores, 39 points to 9, and 26 points to 11 declare unequivocally that Sydney University had the better side. But friends at home cannot judge from the figures why the 18,000 people who saw the first match and the 8000 who witnessed the second, were delighted with the games and with, the play on both sides. The Sydney papers, which treated our team with great fairness, not to say generosity, were unanimous in saying that the margin of defeat was less than the scores indicate. "For practically two-thirds of the time" says the "Referee" of the first match "the football was tit-for-tat, full of bounce and buzz and interesting bits, with New Zealand backs, as a division, superior in attack, and Sydney forwards superior all round. In the end the Kiwi was shattered by the rushes but he had already shown some dainty movements." The same comment applies also to the second match. The loss of Nuku as an active factor during the first spell of the opening match deprived the New Zealand side of its best opening-maker. But this could not have affected the result. As long as our forwards had their full measure of dash our backs were enabled to take advantage of the loose rushes from which the ball could be snapped. But as soon as our forwards began to flag, the magnificent opposing vanguard swooped down with a combination and skill which was not to be denied. Then it was that we called for a Roland or an Oliver, a Bogle or a Hitchings, to go down to the onslaught. Our back defence was not so strong as our attack and this told its tale in the last minutes when our scrum was being hoisted where Sydney listed.

The Sydney forwards were in fact an exceeding good lot. James and John Hughes, and Bullock have since been picked to represent the State in England. They are big strong, hefty men, keen on the leather and able to handle the ball like backs. The other forwards, too, are fast and good. Both R. G. Waddy (who goes to Oxford as Rhodes' Scholar) and J Fitzhardinge, hold their running "blue," and McKeown, Reynolds, and Hammond completed the octette which dealt us two strenuous defeats.

Of the Sydney backs W. F. Matthews, captain and scrumhalf was the star performer. He played to his team all the page 26 time, passed well, made frequent openings, and kicked magnificently. It was delightful to see the way he nursed his forwards with the touch-line, and his in-field kicks were so high that they would have been difficult to field without the rush which had time to accumulate underneath. Luddy and Roe were both prominent in the three-quarter line, while Nigel Barker the famous sprinter, gave several exhibitions of his speed. C. A. Verge at full-back played excellent games in both matches.

It is a difficult matter to criticise backs who had never played together in the same respective positions, and this was the case of every man in each University match. O'Leary filled a difficult position with credit on the first day, but he showed some hesitation in taking the ball in the second match. H. B. Young of Canterbury College proved a reliable three-quarter and, in the last match, an effective wing forward. Rhodes of Canterbury should develop into a strong player. At fullback in the last match he played an excellent game. A. Adams of Otago fame played at centre in the second match and the team had the advantage of his sound judgment. Goodbehere scored two pretty tries in the first match. His defence was not strong, perhaps due to the fact that he was slightly injured. Goodbehere has played better games for Victoria College. Dansey, the captain, was on the whole disappointing. He did brilliant work at times, but was not consistently good, especially when watching the blind side. Lomas and Nuku the Otago five-eighths were a source of great strength to their side, and had Nuku not been injured the scores would probably have been closer. Nuku made the cleverest openings we saw in Sydney. Lomas handles the ball beautifully and passes with great judgment. W. A. Gray of Auckland is a clever little half, but his compatriot Robinson did not seem to get into his stride, due, no doubt, to his much travelling.

The New Zealand forwards, though out-classed in the scrum, could have done much better in the second match had they been in consistent training. Tansey, Lynch and Collyns, three of our best forwards were unable to last out die second spell, and the opposition took full advantage of the fact. J. H. Lang a scrummer of Otago was perhaps the most solid of our forwards and he showed great facility for getting into position for defence when he was not leading the van. He was well backed up by W. Grace who is young and should improve. Potter is also a promising player. Fenwick and Wilson played well in the front rank, but they never had weight enough behind to give them a chance of securing the ball. Ongley (five- page 27 eighths), and Brosnan and Wigley (forwards), did well in the games they played, and will all benefit from the experience gained on the tour.

After these remarks it is not proposed to give a detailed account or each match, though something must be said of each.

Entertainment.

It is now common property that the first New Zealand Football Team had a "glorious" time on the trip. The members "made friends" from the beginning and were thus in a position to enjoy all the hospitality of the friends across the sea. Receptions, entertainments, and trips were arranged, and were so kindly conducted that all were made to feel at home. For the rest a great deal of freedom was allowed and this was taken advantage of to the full by those who wished to cultivate their private friends or see the magnificent city.

The first reception took place at the Sports' Club the day after landing. Mr. Hyam Marks was in the chair, and amongst those present were: Judge Backhouse (University Senate), Mr. J. J. Calvert (N.S.W. Rugby Union), Mr. H. D. Wood (Metropolitan Union and an old University Captain), Messrs. E. S. Marks, J. R. Henderson and W. W. Hill (New South Wales Rugby Union), and N. R. Johnson, who captained the last University team which toured New Zealand. Judge Backhouse delivered an interesting speech of welcome in which he laid stress upon the "clean sport" which ought to be and is fostered by the University. Mr. J. J. Calvert an Oxford "blue" of 1851, and Mr. E. S. Marks also spoke, and Dr. Hunter replied on behalf of the team.

At the University the team was welcomed on behalf of the Senate by Sir Norman Maclaurin, and Dr. Hunter and H. F. O'Leary replied for the New Zealand University. Amongst the other festivities was a dinner at the A.B.C. Rooms after the page 31 first match, a theatre party to the "Prince of Pilson," and morning "tea" at Lindeman's wine cellars. An interesting afternoon was spent on the Harbour visiting the training-ship "Sobraon" which is really an industrial school. Few missed the National Gallery, in itself worth the trip across. The Botanical Gardens and the "Zoo" found many admirers. But the principal source of enjoyment was the manifold glory of the Harbour and the hills. The variety and beauty of the views seemed inexhaustible, and few of the New Zealanders who saw Sydney for the first time this year would be inclined to dispute its claim to be the most beautifully situated city in the Southern Hemisphere.

During their stay in Sydney the members of the team were invited to five dances, and the social side proved not the least enjoyable part of the trip-albeit the exigencies of football called for some heroism. The Women's and St. John's Colleges entertained us in turn and there was thus an opportunity of seeing the Collegiate Buildings and of hearing something of University life. At the Sports' Union Dance in the Paddington Town Hall, the team was allowed full measure—and no thought of Saturday was allowed to cloud the horizon. Two impromptu dances were arranged by the kindness of our hosts at the Hotel Mansion and they were very much enjoyed.

Sydney University

There is no space to set forth the beauty and the strength of the great seat of learning it was the privilege of these Rugby footballers to visit. The Buildings and the grounds are worthy of the great city. There is, to New Zealanders even, a suggestion of antiquity about the great hall which is adorned by portraits of men who have left their mark on the University as students and as chancellors, and have passed with honour into the history of their country. It may be well to remember that it was these men half a century ago who laid the foundation of an institution of which Australia is proud.

Let it only be said that the children of that great University held out the hand of friendship to the children of another mother. Headed by Mr. Frank Cen they made the New Zealanders welcome. And it may be said here that not only did the University people treat us as honoured guests, but the press and the public treated us with great fairness and liberality.

It was with many regrets that the battered legion parted from its friends and embarked on the "Warrimoo." The passage was, on the whole, good, and the bitterness of parting was repeated when the team lost its unity in Wellington. Dr. Hunter carried with him to Dunedin a photo presented to him by the team which had come to regard him not only as a master of tactics but also as a personal friend.

F.A.M.