Haslam Shield Match

The V.U.C. team fired in this match at Trentham on the afternoon of Saturday last. Weather conditions were very good.

The team consisted of eleven men as follows:—J. E. S. Bentley, D. I. Blackley, R. J. Corkill, C. J. Gates, A. A. Gawith, B. D. A. Greigh, T. J. Mulvey, H. T. G. Olive, P. G. Pasley, D. H. K. Ross, and J. B. C. Taylor. Only the eight top scores will count in the competition, and these were gained by the undermentioned in the order quoted:—Gawith, Corkill, Blackley, Gates, Pasley, Greig, Taylor, and Ross.

The top-scorer, Gawith, will receive a trip to Christchurch, and retains his hold upon the Mills Vase. This is the first occasion in which this trophy has been won by any person more than once.

Essential assistance was rendered by a number of Club members nor eligible to compete, but who, with the paid markers, made up the trained team-in-support which for two years now has been a feature of V.U.C.'s Tournament entry.

Mr. D. W. Oxnam, a V.U.C. student who attended lectures at C.C.C. last year, fired at the same time on behalf of the southern College.

Since Easter is so early this year, full-timers have only just returned to Wellington, and volunteers have only just concluded their camps. Consequently, of the twelve men who fired, only three had had more than one match practice, and the afternoon's shoot commenced in a very ragged fashion—not because the men couldn't shoot, but because there had been no time to create by ordinary methods the necessary team spirit. For a body of men who have not been able to get to trust one another, the Haslam Match in the most nerve-racking experience imaginable—and the most disappointing so far as scores are concerned. On Saturday there were present all the elements of complete fiasco, but a miracle happened, and before the second practice commenced there were a dozen riflemen who were a team, and not a mere aggregation.

The Club President wishes to congratulate the Club on its ability to perform such a feat of combination. Quite apart from the goodness or badness of scores, which are the concern of the Tournament Delegates, V.U.C. should feel proud of her riflemen.

The Club President adds that he had complete confidence that the team would act as a team. It did not disappoint him, though the circumstances were of immense difficulty. He is honoured to have been associated with a body of men which has always "turned up trumps" when difficulties have to be faced, and he is glad to have an opportunity of letting the rest of the student body know it.