Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 13 June 29, 1938

Sport

page 4

Sport

Wake Up!

We are failing to sustain the effort, begun so well at the Easter Tournament at Auckland, to raise the general standard of sport at V.U.C. and to regain the prestige we had some years ago in the sporting world. In some degree that failure can be attributed to inertia and apathy. There was a record attendance at the annual meeting of the Rugby Club and, apparently, players in abundance, including much good material. Results in practically all grades have boen frankly disappointing. Wilh capable coaches and improved facilities for practice, this should not be so.

The story of men's hockey is no better. Here is a large club that places six teams in the field every Saturday, yet the total number of games won by those teams so far this season could be counted on the fingers of both hands. The players are asked to attend practice for a couple of hours on only one evening a week. More often than not the attendance is under 30.

The harriers have suffered through the retirement of several old stalwarts, but the Club should still have been able to do better than come 7th (8 clubs competing) in the first inter-club race of the season.

We cannot take the basketballers to task; they are doing well. They have a record that the Women's Hockey Club probably envies. This Club now has only one team, which is noticeably improving. It may be true that, playing senior, it is in too high a grade, but V.U.C, with its scores of women students, should be able to held a hockey team of senior standard.

The remedy lies in the hands of the players themselves. Regard attendance at practice as a duty, membership of a sports club as a privilege, and von yourself and V.U.C. will benefit.

—L.B.S.

Rugby

Seniors Win

The Seniors scored an easy win over Miramar by 28 to 8, but wide margin was due not so much to 'Varsity's brilliance as to the extreme weakness of the opposition. In fact, 'Varsity did not appear to be very interested and played rather lackadaisically. It is to be hoped that the failure to secure promotion to First Division will not cause any lessening of interest as the Club now stand a change of winning both the Senior A Second Division and the Senior B Championships, which would be a line achievement.

The forwards played well in the light but did not display much dash in the loose. McNicol played a good game and Hansen was also prominent. It was unfortunate that injury caused the retirement of Burke and Meads, who were playing right up to their usual form. Burke's dislocated collarbone may keep him out of the game for the rest of the season.

Since the first few games Rissel has played consistently well as fullback and on Saturday he was again quite sound. Wild's penetrtation was again in evidence and led to several openings. Tricklebank was impressive on the wing and one of his tries was scored after a brilliant run in which be bumped off a couple of opponents and swerved past the full-back to the three-quarter line has proved successful.

A.U.C. 20-V.U.C.16

In spite of the heavy state of the ground at Auckland the game was interesting to watch. Both sides were willing to "give it a go," and some fine movements were seen. The V.U.C. pack had a decided advantage in the set scrums, especially in the second half. In the loose the two packs were more evenly matched, with Auckland slightly superior. Outstanding forwards for Victoria were Russell, who played a great game both in the light and the loose, thomas, meads and Taylor. Among the backs the five-eighths, Larkin and Bryers, handled the ball well and showed good understanding. The play of this pair was on the whole, most enterprising. Bryers frequently found gaps in the opposing defence, but seemed to lack just the necessary pace to showa clean pair of heels. The full-back, McVeagh, played a sound game in every respect, and he showed no unwillingness to going down on the ball.

For Auckland, Drake, Lange, Hodge and Caldwell were the best of a hard-working pack, with Martin and Hayman the best of the backs. Cooney was prominent in the first half, but did not get many opportunites later in the game.

In the first half play was fast and open, with the Auckland backs handling well and opening up the play at every opportunity. After half-time play was rather less spectacular: V.U.C. got most of the ball, but it rarely passed the second five-eighths. Some solid forward work marked this half, honours being equally divided in the loose, but V.U.C. had the better of matters in the tight.

At least half the regular V.U.C. Senior team could not make the trip, and it was, in the circumstances, a creditable performance to run A.U.C. so close. The northerners, however, have not won a single club match this season, are bottom in the grade and will be relegated at the end of the round. Four old stalwarts in Caughey, Bush, Mulvihill and Thomas decided not to turn out again this year, the loss of these men, all of whom were Auckland representatives, being severely felt.

Footballers of Weir

Thanks to Parker's lone try, North defeated South 3-0, in the annual match. The Weir fifteen to play "The Rest" for the Ruru Memorial Shield has not yet been selected, but some players are more or less certainties.

Promising forwards are Baunister and Langley, Mahood is ideally built for football and should attend practices more often. For genuine scrummaging Corkill and Ryan are superior. Parker is a fast flank forward who has a good sense of anticipation, but he should curb his propensity for off-side play.

One of the fastest and nippiest backs playing for 'Varsity is Ongley. Unfortunately, like Mahood, he does not seem to be enthusiastic about the game. Larkin is a heady back, but he could improve his defence.

Harriers

First Inter-Club Race.

The were 14 'Varsity Club members in the field of 188 runners for the Dorne Cup, held at Lower Hutt over a two-lap course of 5 miles. D. R. Scrimgeour, finishing 8th, was our first man home, all the others being well back. Seventh was our position in the teams' race.

The lesson taught by the race is that all Club members must train harder. The adoption of two training nights a week is wise, and we should fare better in the race for the Vosseler Shield in a fortnight's time.

Farquhar Wins Sherwood Cup.

Run this year at Paekakarlki, from the home of Mr. G. C. Sherwood, the race was over a 3-mile course rendered slippery and treacherous by heavy rain. No fewer than 25 fences had to be negotiated besides an awk ward water jump. All fifteen runners got away well, but were strung out by the time the main road was reached. W. A. Robertshawe and F. D. O'Flynn were second and third respectively, the deduction of handicaps having disclosed G. S. Farquhar as the winner.

Table Tennis Club

This Club commenced activities for the year with a Handicap Tournament, both Club tables being fully occupied. Though the women generally are weak. Miss D. Croxton certainly showed good form to win the Women's Section. There are several possibilities amongst the men N. Morrison. E. Robertson and Staples revealing talent.

Considering the fact that the majority of players were unknown quantities, the committee deserves credit for the efficient handicapping. The Club night has not yet been definitely decided, but if they are run on the same efficient lines there should be no falling off of enthusiasm. The talent is there.

Basketball

On Saturday the Senior "A" Basketball team, which has been playing consistently well since it won the Tournament Shield, was a little unfortunate in going down to the Kia ora team by 18 goals to 15. the half-time score was 11-9 to V.U.C. but particularly able defence by their opponents and an unaccountable lapse in goal-throwing by our girls swung the score in favor of Kia Ora.

Slow to Begin.

As is all too common in their play, 'Varsity were slow to begin, but after being down 3-1 they rallied and by extremely fast and accurate positional play scored goal for goal with Kia ora. At this stage the goal combination between Erice Overton and Janet Grainger was undefendable and the many snappy movements were topped off by accuate shooting, especially on the part of the latter player. A newcomer to the team, Grace Kniverton, was proving most useful in backing up.

In the defence third. Marie Walker was giving her best exhibition of the season against a most able goal combination. Joan Bythell used her reach to the greatest advantage and made Kia Ora's goal-throwing very difficult. Sylvia Hefford made some brilliant interceptions, but in general did not play up to her usual consistent form.

Centre Combination.

Playing against some of Wellington's very best centres the Victoriatrio acquitted themselves admfrably, Rosamond Drummond found herself persistently well defended by her N.Z. Representative opponent and it says a good deal for her that in the second spell she managed to come well into the picture. Nora McLaren, whose experience has been of such value to the team, did all that was asked of her with her usual thoroughness. Her line play is probably as good as that of any player in the city. Pixie Higgin gave us her best performance to date. She is especially alert for unusual opportunities, and passes most accurately to her forwards.

The half-time score, 11-9 to V.U.C. was a fair indication of the run of play.

Disappointing Second Spell.

Immediately on resumption Kia Ora leveded the score but Victoria regained a lead of one at once: prospects of victory were bright. Then followed the Japse in goal-shooting which cost us the match. Something like a dozen shots almost went in!

In every department of the game V.U.C. improved on their first last throw to the ring, the forwards' combination was even better than in the first half and it is bad luck that the movements were not topped off.

The final score. 18-15, is a tribute to Kia Ora's dogged display, and accurate goal work.

A feature of the game was Miss L. Sturrock's first-rate refereeing.

Senior B.

The Senior B. team met Training College on Saturday morning, by whom they were defeated 25-19. The teams were evenly matched, and both played a good fast game.

In the afternoon 'Varsity suffered a heavy defeat against Y.W.C.A. Two of the most experienced members of the team being unable to play left the team rather weaker than usual. The game was scrappy, especially in the second half, and, owing to poor passing, the goals did not obtain as much of the ball as they might have.

Junior A Review

The Junior A. team has had an unfortunate season. Hopes were high when the competition opened, but little has been achieved.

The loss of both five-eighths has proved a severe handicap and the consequent extra work thrown on the remainder of the backs has not lightened their task. As originally constituted, the team functioned well against Porirua in the opening game, when they registered their only win. Since then, throgh injuries and other causes, their effective power has dwindled and the fine pack of forwards who have gone well every Saturday have seen their good efforts wasted. With anything like a decent back team, they could have, on at least two occasions turned defeat into victory. However, the first round having been unkind, the second may be more lenient.

Henderson and Simm will throw their weight into the backs in future and will give a much-needed aid to the team. Of the forwards, Drummond Shannon Berendsen and Craig may be mentioned as just shading the remainder of a good solid pack. With McVeagh as full-back, the team was very fortunate, but through the dearth of backs whose places were filled with emergencies (and forwards in some cases), an enormous amount of work was thrown on his hands, and it is to his credit that he never shirked or linched at his sometimes impossible task. On several occasions he has had to retire unwillingly through injuries, but the next Saturday found him at his post again. Scotney, at half, hared the honours on defence with McVeagh well and willingly. Murphy and Johnston would have made a great attacking combination as five-eighths, but both these players were out early in the season through injuries.

Arnold, on the wing, is still as strong and powerful a runner as ever, but with little or no ball this potential try-getter's services have been annulled. Dan Campbell at centre, is captain of the side, which to date, has put through about 30 players never having had the same fifteen twice. This is enough toworry any captain but Dan still remains cheerful and the team are a happy family.

Hockey

The Thirds are to be congratulated on their first win of the season. At times the positional paly reached a good standard and if the players would only realise how essential this is the team should steadily improve.

J. Lewin, in his second game, showed he has a good eye and is now palying in goal. If one of the 4th grade players would emulate Lewin's example the defence of that team would be considerably stregtherned, Dowars and Johanneson played well at full-back. However, they were incliaed to play square instead of one being slightly in front of the other when awaiting an attack. Johannesson has previously played in the forward line, but seems to have found his [unclear: "nsche"] in a full-back position.

Brasted and Till for first year palyers are doing well. The former needs to avoid moving too far into the centre. All, on the other band, should not get drawn away from there. O'Donnell, who has palyed two-games in the half line has now a better idea of the game and it will not be long before he settles down in a position where keenness and fitness are essential.

Theforwards maintained their positions in a far better manner than previously. They fell back when their side was defending and went up on attack in line, with the halves supporting them, thus obviating any long gaps between the different lines. Black will have to avoid crowding in on Wallis and if he moves back to his correct position immediately he has passed. As the two wings, Bowyer and Osborne, kept well out it was and thus initlate some excellent attacks. Treadwell played his first game in the forward line and should develop on the right lines if he remembers not to drop back in his old half position. Wallis at centre-forward led the forwards but should not walt quite so far upfield.

—"Scoop."