Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 8, No. 11. August 8, 1945

Sport

Sport

Winter Tournament

A week from today, about sixty students from VUC, representatives of eight winter sports clubs, will be travelling to participate in the first official New Zealand University Winter Tournament. Their hosts will be Otago University, and appropriately so, for it seems fitting that the oldest and the largest University centre in New Zealand should have been selected as the venue of the inaugural Tournament. The sports which will be represented are: Women's and Men's Hockey, Harriers, Soccer, Men's Basketball, Table Tennis, Fencing and Golf. A debating team will also be travelling to contest the Joynt Scroll.

Noticeable by its absence is Rugby Football, which for reasons nament as a recognised NZU event, these clubs will no doubt increase in numerical strength and general status in future years. Ski-ing is also included in the programme this year, but the proposed arrangements for a competition at Queenstown involves so much time and expense tha VUC has found it impossible to send a team.

A superficial examination, however, reveals that the major winter sports are, in general, co-operative rather than individualistic as in Easter Tournament, The mode of competition is such that more time is better known by the NZU football clubs has not been incorporated.. Noticeable by their presence are some newer clubs whose rejuvenation was encouraged by the prospect of a tournament, viz.. Men's Basketball, Fencing and Golf. With the establishment of the Winter Tour-necessary to play out the requisite number of matches for any one particular sport. With only three or possibly four playing days in which to conduct the large number of events, the problem of arranging a suitable programme with the minimum of clashes becomes a sticky one. Further, there is likely to be a tendency to overload the Tournment, if, indeed, it is not already overloaded. Much will no doubt be learnt by the delegates.

The question of dates this year has also presented a problem, but one which appears to be unnecessary. It will be noticed with understandable disfavour, not only by students, but by College authorities, that the date set down for the departure of VUC teams (August 15) is in the middle of the last week of the term. Such overlapping is unnecessary. Although Otago has emphatically set down the dates for this year, it is unquestionably desirable that, if Winter Tournament is to survive as an annual event in future years, it will have to be run (travelling included) over a vacational period common to every College participating.

However, in spite of all the imperfections and difficulties. Winter Tournament, 1945, will simply be what every participant makes it. There is absolutely nothing to prevent any VUC competitor from deriving the full mental benefits of such an inter-University event—the development of team-spirit and a sense of generous sportsmanship, and the lasting impression of genuine good-fellowship.

—I.T.

Weir Hold Out

Ruru Shield.—The annual match. Weir House v. The Rest, for the Ruru Shield, was held in extremely bad conditions on Kelburn Park last Saturday. By a narrow victory of three points to nil Weir retained the Shield for the fifth year in succession.

Any attempt at constructive football was out of the question, and Weir, playing with greater keenness and determination, proved themselves slightly better at the game of soccer into which the game developed. They overshadowed The Rest pack in line-outs and loose rushes, but were decisively beaten for the ball in the set scrums. Nevertheless they contrived to hold a territorial advantage for the major portion of the game, and would, on the run of play, been a little unlucky to lose.

The only score of the game came early in the first spell, when Barraclough picked up the ball near the line and dived over.

Seniors.—Congratulations to J. P. Murphy and R .T. Shannon on gaining selection in the NZU team which played Otago on July 14.

In its club games the team lost to Onslow 3-29 and beaten Berhampore 26-0. No greater contrast could be presented than that shown by the performance of the backs on the two occasions, their play being well below standard on the first day. The forwards, apart from Shannon, Dun and Bennett, an energetic trio, did not seem nearly vigorous enough against Onslow, but against much weaker opposition the following Saturday, they played fairly well.

Juniors.—After a good win, 19-3, over Oriental, the team was perhaps a little unlucky to lose to Woburn 13-14. The general play of the juniors in the last two matches has been extremely pleasing, and at last a good set of backs is making full use of its opportunities. Ackroyd as full-back was faultless against Oriental, and has scored 20 points in his last two games. Berry at five-eighths and Drumnond on the wing, are a couple of first-class men. The forwards are energetic but light, and feel the effect of their lack of weight rather badly at times. The consistent shires is showing fine form, and Wilson and Perkins give him good support.

Soccer Hopefuls

The team which is travelling south to the Winter Tournament is composed of the following:— Tiny Moore (goal-keeper), played for Training College last year and is one of the most reliable members of the team. He always appears on the best of form.

Roy Dickson (left full-back), in his third year with the club, has proved one of the strongest and most consistent links in our defence and is a first-class back.

Brian Sutton-Smith (right fullback), another ex-TC player, shows plenty of dash in his defensive play, though he has had little experience as a full-back.

Alec Williams (left-half) has played most of the season with our B team where he has shown consistent defensive play.

Colin Richardson (centre-half), a member of the school rep. team which toured Australia before the war, and a Victoria blue in 1943, is undoubtedly the mainstay of the team.

Bruce Mackie (right-half) is more accustomed to forward play, where he has proved most active, originating many of the Varsity attacks.

Jack Williams (left-wing), a 1944 blue, is playing better this year than last, and feeds the inside men well from the wing.

Ray Trott (inside-left) is a solid forward and follows through well.

Jack Walls (centre-forward) was one of the founders of the Victoria soccer team, was a Wellington rep. last year, and is a blue of two years' standing. His ball-control is exemplary and he has scored most of our goals.

Faiz Sherani (inside-right) has good control of the ball but was unfortunate to injure his knee earlier in the year.

Bruce Weir (outside-right), the writer of the report, is prevented by-natural modesty from eulogising his ability.

Harry Priddey, who generally plays at left half, is unfortunately unable to travel with the team.