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Football

The season which has just concluded will long be remembered in the annals of the Football Club as the first in which our Senior team succeeded in winning the Wellington Senior Championship.

The team played 16 matches of which they won 13, lost 2, and 1 was drawn; the points scored being 332 for, and 148 against. Prior to the final game against Poneke, they were lying second with 25 championship points while Poneke had 26. This final game is worthy of special mention o account of the organized "barracking" of the "Wikitorians" on the western bank. It must have gladdened the hearts of the past students and earlier members of the club, to see the interest and enthusiasm displayed by the whole College in the success of the team.

This success was in great part clue to the untiring efforts of the coach, Mr. P. Martin-Smith, who throughout the season worked unceasingly and inspired the whole team with his infectious enthusiasm. Craig Mackenzie made a capable and efficient skipper, and he was assisted by the wonderful spirit of "cameraderie" which existed in the team.

The results of the matches played were as follows:—

v. Berhampore. Won 20—11. Tries by Foden (2), Mackay (2), Irwin and Blacker. O'Regan converted one.

v. Poneke. Lost 21—9. Tries by Hart, Mackay and Leys.

v. Wellington. Won 15—3. Tries by Cormack (2) and Brown. Cormack kicked two penalty goals.

v. Eastbourne. Won 27—6. Tries by Grigg (3), Irwin (2), Childs, Mackay, Cormack. Cormack converted two, and O'Regan one.

v. Marist. Lost 5—0. Distinctly an "off day."

v. Old Boys. Won 21—11. Tries by Brown (2), Irwin and Grant. Ramson converted three and kicked a penalty goal.

v. Oriental. Won 41—6. Tries by Brown (3), Mackay (2), Deiderich (3), Leys, Mackenzie and O'Regan. Ramson converted three and Cormack, one. This match was played the day after "Capping," and Oriental up to that time were unbeaten. "Capping," apparently had not affected our players.

v. Petone. Won 30—25. Tries by Brown (3), Cormack, Mackenzie and Mackay. Ramson converted three and kicked two penalty goals.

v. Athletic. Drawn 9—9. Try by Ramson, who also kicked two penalty goals. Mackenzie and Brown did not play in this match owing to injuries.

v. Oriental. Won 22—11. Tries by Williams (2), Irwin, Mackenzie and Brown. Ramson converted two and kicked a penalty goal.

v. Wellington. Won 26—8. Tries by Brown (2), Grant (2), Ramson and Williams. Ramson converted three, and Cormack, one.

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v. Berhampore. Won 20—6. Tries by Williams (2), Brown, Ramson and Deiderich. Ramson converted one and kicked a penalty goal.

v. Petone. Won 27—0. Tries by Mackenzie (3), Mackay (3), and Hislop. Cormack converted one, Mackay converted one, and O'Regan one.

v. Old Boys. Won 16—13. Tries by Brown, Mackay and Cormack. Ramson converted two and kicked a penalty.

v. Marist. Won 30—0. Ramson (2), Deiderich (2), Blakeney, Irwin, Brown, Leys. O'Regan converted one, and Ramson two.

v. Poneke. Won 16—12. This game attracted about 12,000 spectators who were rewarded by an excellent game. The first score came early, when Leys made an opening and sent Childs over unopposed, and Ramson converted (5-0). Ramson made an opening and sent Mackay away in a fine run down the line which ended in his scoring near the corner. Ramson converted with a magnificent kick making the score 10-0. Elliot next potted a goal for Poneke, and the first spell ended 10-4. Mackenzie made a great run and Ramson following up fast, scored near the corner. Elliott, the Poneke wing, then caught our defense moving in the wrong direction and scored a brilliant try near the posts. Shearer converted (13-9). Mackay then made several good runs but was pushed out when on the point of scoring. Poneke then attacked, and from a forward rush, H. Tilyard scored and Turner made a good attempt to convert, which just failed. (13-12). Pickrang, the hefty Poneke forward broke away but Noble-Adams took him low with a wonderful tackle and the position was saved. The Varsity forwards were now playing a magnificent game, and transferred play to Poneke's line where Deiderich scored. Ramson s kick hit an upright and bounced back. Time sounded soon after and Mackenzie was carried from the field by the wave which swept from the "bank," and the enthusiasm of the general public demonstrated that the win was a popular one. Later, in the dressing shed, Mr. Griffiths and the Poneke team congratulated the team on their win, and Mr. Martin-Smith responded.

The following played for the senior fifteen during the season:—Noble-Adams, Mackay, Brown. Ramson, Irwin, Mackenzie, Leys, Childs, Hislop, O'Regan, Deiderich, Blacker, Cormack, Grant, Blakeney, Hart, Williams, Malfroy, Rodger, Airey.

The Club also won the National Mutual Challenge Cup, and met Poneke for the second time in that match. Nine of the team which beat Poneke on the first occasion were absent for this match, but the substituted Senior B., players rose to the occasion the match ending in our favour by 22-9. Foden, Bailey and Malfroy each scored two tries, two of which were converted by Cormack. Apart from Leys the back line was an entirely new one, the team being as follows:—Griffen, Bailey, McKenzie, Foden, Malfroy, Arndt, Leys, Airey, Childs, Richardson, Cormack, Blakeney, Deiderich, Grant, Hart.

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We feel that these notes would not be complete without our placing on record our appreciation of the sportsmanlike attitude of the Poneke players in these final games, and both games were very evenly contested and played in the best possible spirit.

The team travelled to Christchurch on August 1st and played the annual match against Canterbury College which was lost 16-13. We were without the services of Mackay, Mackenzie and Blakeney, but it was admitted by all sides that we were unlucky not to win. Irwin and Ramson scored tries, one of which was converted by Ramson who also kicked a penalty.

A team from the Club succeeded in winning the Seven-a-side Cup at the Hutt Gala last Easter, and this success very happily coincided with the Tournament and therefore lost nothing in its celebration. This team was:—Brown, Williams, Irwin, Grigg, Rodger, Grant and Blacker.

The Senior B. team had quite a successful season finishing fourth in that grade, and with a little more luck might have occupied a higher position. They were, however, well satisfied to be able to help so materially in the National Mutual Cup fixture.

The Junior, Third and Fourth teams met with a fair measure of success in their respective grades, and although not gaining the higher rungs of the ladder, derived from their games the enjoyment which, after all, is the reason why we all play.

There has been especially noticeable throughout the whole club a universal goodfellowship which, in addition to auguring a successful future, shows that 'Varsity still lives up to the reputation that the Wellington public has given it, namely, that of playing the game for the game's sake.

A team selected from the lower grades travelled to Waipawa and played a match against Te Aute College which was lost 21-16 after a very exciting and evenly contested game. This team was as follows:—Read, Hogg, Bailey, Fear, J. Griffen, Turner, Logan, G. Richardson, Moore, Sykes, Mahoney, Loekett, Hope, O. Richardson, Banks, Nelson.

We must again place on record our appreciation of the hospitality extended to our team by the people of Waipawa who make these trips so sought after by our members. This hospitality, we understand, was suitably accepted and acknowledged by the manager of this year's team, Mr. Martin-Smith.

In conclusion we wish to convey to the Senior Officers, Vice-Presidents, and supporters of the Club our sincerest thanks for the interest they have taken in our doings during this memorable year.

In view of the team's success in the Senior Competition, it is not surprising that a number of our players gained representative honours. Mackenzie and Mackay played for the All Black team against West Coast, and also against New South Wales in the third test. Brown, Mackay, Ramson, Mackenzie, Leys, O'Regan, and Blacker gained places in the Wellington representative team. D. Griffen secured a place in the Senior B. reps., and C. M. Turner was half back of the Junior rep. team in their two games.