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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 14 July 6, 1938
Sport
Sport
Hockey at Dunedin
This week a men's team and a women's team of V.U.C. hockey players are in Dunedin, fighting through the annual inter-College hockey tournament. The men are led by F. L. Newcombe, centre-half, captain of the Wellington representatives in the recent match with the Indians. His team should have a moderately good chance of success, although little is known of this season's standard of hockey at the other colleges. Little notice need be taken of the decisive defeat of the senior team by the second Karori team on Saturday, for players on the eve of an important tournament and splendid trip are unlikely to throw themselves into an ordinary club game with their usual zest and disregard of consequences. The prospects of the women's team cannot be regarded hopefully. Very severe club defeats have been their lot this season.
—L.B.S.
Heavy Defeat.
A fortnight ago the seniors lost 1-7 to the first Karori team; last week they fell before the second Karori team 2-5. The game provided a mediocre exhibition of hockey. Play was scrappy on the heavy ground, on which the Karori men were more at home than their opponents. 'Varsity might with advantage have changed their tactics in the second half, when it was found that little progress was being made with a short-passing game. A disappointing feature as the poor combination.
Senior B Teams again Lose.
With only eight men, the Senior B [unclear: D] team again lost. This team is unfortunate in that it has to act as a [unclear: leeder] to the senior eleven. In the circumstances effective combition is difficult to [unclear: attain]. Chisholm. Pitt and Camp played quite well in a [unclear: forlogn] cause on Saturday.
A draw would have been a better reflection of the play in the match between the Senior B (2) team and Huia at Nai Nai. Despite the heavy ground, the game was surprisingly fast and open. F. Walker, left fullback, was forced to leave the field with a knee injury ten minutes after play started, but with ten men 'Varsity did surprisingly well. At half time the score was 2-all, and for much of the second half we held a [unclear: territorial advantage] Unfortunately the infrequent sorties of Huia into V'Varsity territory were capped by goals, although Olive effected several courageous and well-judged saves. Again Whittam, at left half, was outstanding. His stick work and mobility are consistently good, the other halves, worked hard, and England, in the forwards, displayed nippiness and good stick work. Packing the circle provided sound tactics for Huia.
—L.B.S.
Basketball
The Senior A team commenced the second round of the Wellington Basketball Association's Competition with a big win over Dental Clinic. Two of the latter's usual players were absent, but this did not account for the wide margin of twenty goals in Victoria's favor. The half-time score of 17-7 grew to 37-17 by the end of the game.
The combination of Victoria's forward third was a revelation of combination and understanding. For the first time this season an even "triangular" game prevailed, the ball being worked to the goal by snappy passing that completely discouraged the Clinic defenders. A high percentage of attempts were successful, scrolling being at the rate of one goal a minute in the second spell.
clinic's centre third are weak. Our girls had a feast of interception and fast passing movements which should serve as excellent practice for the hard games to come.
Sound Defence.
It is in the goal third that Clinic have superior combination. Ethel Howard, a New Zealand representative, shoots well and improved combination makes Clinic dangerous once they get the ball. The V.U.C. defense stood the test well. Sylvia Hefford's lighting interceptions were a feature of the game.
We can only hope that the two big games, against Wellington East and Kia Ora, will result in favor or Victoria College, who are playing sound, scientific basketball.
Senior B.
Against the mechanical perfection of Island Bay B. Victoria College Senior B team did well to core fourteen goals. The first half ended 15-8 against V.U.C., but the superior positional play and team work of the Bay added 16 goals to 6 in the second spell.
To balance the loss through ankle of their captain, Nancy Bullen, the B team now has Joy Osborn playing for them. An early injury kept the latter player out of the A team and her height and experience should prove an asset to the B's.
Owing to very late notice the B team defaulted in the final of the Opening Day Two-life Tourney to Wellington East. It is hardly likely that the three goal handicap would have been sufficient to stave off the East nine.
The goals of the Island Bay team had a wonderful combination and proved altogether too fast for our defenders. Their shooting was accurate and they nearly always managed to score when they got the ball in their third. The passing of the 'Varsity team, especially in the center, was poor again, which meant Island Bay had more than their share of the ball.
Table Tennis
Tournament
Youngest of 'Varsity sporting clubs but already developing into a lusty infant, the Table Tennis Club is recommended to all those students who like an indoor game that is fast, skillful and sociable and yet one that makes only brief demands on spare time. Forty enthusiasts vied which one another in a handicap tournament on the successful opening night, and "Salient" now publishes the full report which considerations of space prevented from appearing in our last issue.
Staples and Mis Croxton Win.
Play took place in the Gym., on the ground floor, the two new tables being in constant use. Handicapping was rather difficult, for little was known of the ability of many of the competitors, but the closeness of games is after the first round kept interest up. Staples won the men's section. Miss Croxton prevailing in the women's.
In the second round Staples was rather hard pushed by Culleford, who drove hard, played good balls with respect, and hit any weak returns with plenty of confidence. The scratch men were eliminated early. E. Robertson found his handicap too much and went down to Brooker in the third round. Several good games resulted when players of about the same calibre met, intense concentration being a noticeable feature of these matches. Gallagher's victory over Anderson in the second round came only after what could be described as a grueling tussle, if that expression is permissible in the language of table tennis.
Moss and Black both played well neither man having trouble in defeating back-markets in Pitt and Rushbrooke.
The outstanding women players were Misses McEwen. Croxton and Foley, Kathleen Pears, the Tournament tennis player, did rather well from minus 6. More consistent play marked this section. Occasional wild smashes in the men's games evoked mirth and lost points. The girls were more canny.
The Tournament was well organized by L. Pitt and S. Braithwaite, better known as senior hockey players. The Tables were in continual use and provision was also made for those participants eliminated in the early rounds.
Wellington's Hockey Captain
Honour for F. U. Newcombe.
Cool, fit, and able centre-half. F. L. Newcombe, we, as Club Captain, plays a large part in guiding the affairs of the V.U.C. Hockey Club led the Wellington Representative side against the Indians at the Basin Reserve. With his men hopelessly outclassed. Frank won admiration by the way he saw the game out to the bitter end, never letting up. Forced to defend practically throughout, he did so tirelessly and resolutely, and, particularly towards the end. Was several times under notice for effective play.
Unimpressive Win
Marist Defeated
The Senior A Rugby team scored an unimpressive win over Marist, one of the teams promoted from Senior B.
In spite of the absence of Meads ad Burke through injury, the forwards played quite satisfactorily but received little support from the backs. Hansen was the outstanding forward. Playing a lively game, and McNicol and Russell were also prominent. The pack as a whole worked hard, securing a fair share of the ball in the set scrums and staging many effective dribbling rushes. Eade seems to be losing his good form and did a lot of aimless running about.
The backs were not impressive and in the second spell especially, indulged in a lot of misdirected passing. Bunddle returned to his position at half-back after several weeks absence through injury, but his service from the scrum was slow. Larkin also had an off day, his handling and passing being poor, briers, at second five-eights, showed excellent handling in picking up poor passes and played soundly.
Backs Lack Cohesion.
The lack of cohesion among the backs gave the men outside few opportunities, but Wild still gave a good ambition. Eastwood made one or two good runs, but then his condition appeared to give out, an indication that more attention to training is needed.
Once again Kissel was in good form at full-back.
Senior B Loss.
The Senior B Team, sadly depleted through injuries, went down to Petone 9-15. It was unfortunate that the team was not at full strength as this was the most important game, Varisity and Petone being level at the top of the championship ladder. The ground being extremely heavy, the game was confined almost wholly to the forwards.
Clendon and Lewis played good games, The Petone pack was too weighty and almost monopolized the ball in the scrums.
The Varsity backs spent most of the afternoon on defense, Brock and Betts having to stand up to a hammering from the Petone forwards. Hermans played a particularly good game at full-back and his line kicking saved the forwards, a lot of running about. Unfortunately Dean, who was defending well, suffered a broken collar-bone just after half-time.
Good Club Spirit
Third a Doing Well.
The Third A team, which is at present in second place, and which has defeated the leaders in its Section, is developing into a solid combination. Its main strength and the foundation upon which team tactics are built is its pack of bustling and tireless forwards, all of whom are expected to develop with experience and continue as a source of club strength for some years. The backs are an even lot with the virtue of knowing their own limitations, and they prefer combined play to brilliant but risky individualism.
The team is fortunate having its best talent in the key positions. Taylor (hooking specialist), Smith (lock) and Bannistter (back row) are forwards who might hold their own n the senior team; while Papps (half), Campbell (five-eights) and Greig (Full-back) are a solid foundation for any set of backs. The most admirable feature of this team's activities is the way players consistently train and get together. Their team spirit and attitude towards the game is an example and should be an inspiration to the Club. It is in a large measure due to the able coaching of Mr. H. E. Moore.
Harriers 7-Mile Run
The Club run on Saturday, 25the June, was from the home of W.K. Serymgeour at Island Bay.
Starting from Dover Street, the trail, laid by D. R. Scrymgeour, led up to Melrose and down to the back of Newtown Park, then down donald Terrace through the town belt to Constable Street. Desending into Newtown, it crossed over Rintoul Street and Adelaide Road, continuing up to the Ridgeway in Mornington, thence returning round Wakefield Park. All three packs covered the distance of approximately 7 miles in good time. It was a good afternoon for harriers and there was no rain.
Mr. and Mrs. Scrymgeour entertained the Club after the run, and the opportunity was taken by Mr. Sherwood to present his cup to Farquhar, who had won it at Paekakariki.
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Board and Residence: Would anyone interested in board in a men's flat in Hill Street with three ex-Weir House and V.U.C. Students please leave a note for R. Edgley, c/o Executive Room? Applicants should be over 20 years of age.
Indians at Hockey
Why They Excel
Professor Jagan Nath, manager of the Indian hockey team at present in New Zealand, advanced three reasons when asked by "Salient" why indians excel at hockey.
"In the first place," said the Professor, "the climate of India enables hockey to be played for practically the whole year around. Secondly, Indians start playing the game when they go to school, receiving a thorough grounding in elementary principles from competent coaches. And, thirdly, they specialize, many playing hockey to the complete exclusion of other games."
The Professor is one of the most colorful figures to visit New Zealand in the capacity of manager of a touring team. He teaches at one of the fifty-four colleges that constitute the University of the Punjaub, his particular college being in Lahore, capital of the province. He has already given several talks over the air from New Zealand stations. Local hockey umpires who watched the Indians in action at the basin Reserve probably learnt something in the way of interpreting the rules from him, for he was one of the two men in charge of that game and is to officiate in all the games played by his team in the Dominion. An umpire of international standing, he has Olympic Games experience behind him and is acknowledged to be the leading man with the whistle in India.
"After the Indians, what nation has the highest standard of hockey, judging on form shown at the last Olympic Games?" asked "Salient."
"The Germans come next," Jagan Nath replied; "then the Dutch. The Germans have made [unclear: g progress.] Since the war, and particularly since the beginning of the Hitler regime, they have largely given up their old methods of physical training by means of gymnastics, and have turned their attention to such games as Soccer and hockey. To the mastering of games they are now bringing the same degree of dogged determination and persistency that have made them great in other spheres."
The Professor is a busy man, but "Salient" just had time to put a question about co-education in India.
"Co-education" Yes, it has been started at some Indian Universities, particularly in the more progressive towns like Calcutta and Bombay. There are in fact, a few women's colleges, although, generally speaking, parents consider that better education is obtainable at the colleges that are open to both men and women, like yours. But there are comparatively few women students. At my College in Lahore there are only 35 girls on the roll of 1300 students."
That afternoon "Salient" watched the Professor's invincible Indians trounce Wellington by 12 goals to nil. Three seemed to be an insufficient number of reasons to account for their superiority.
—L.B.S.
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Sparks Fly at Tawhai
At last a strong, determined working party of 14 has left its mark on Tawhai Hut, which has consequently taken a new lease of life. The leader and Ernie Tait arrived at 5.30 on Saturday to find the hut deserted. Where was the party? Two hours "hiss" up and down the river by the leader was without result, but on his return to the hut he found it full to overflowing with a noisy crowd which proved to be the party. Feeding was, of course, well under way, "Ginger" Anderson acting with his usual efficiency as Home for Lost (and Stolen and Strayed) Food.
The only excuse offered by Messrs. Bradshaw and Robertson for their arrival at 1.30 on Sunday morning was "pictures at Eastbourne." Cross-examination however elicited the fact that, overcome by a strong desire to see once more their native heath, they had climbed all the way up the Cattle Ridge to gaze wistfully at the twinkling lights of Wellington. Well, well!
On Sunday morning attention was paid to many matters about the hut, such as repairs to the fireplace, pack hangers, firewood rack, a railing along the bank, etc. The committee wishes to thank those who assisted in these good works, not forgetting the ladies who did the cooking.
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E.E. Blacker, still one of the best forwards in the V.U.C. First Fifteen, was a Wellington representative for ward for the first time in 1927. In 1928 and 1929 University won the Senior A Championship. In the powerful team that represented V.U.C. In 1929 there were no fewer than ten men who also represented the province that year. R.H.C. Mackenzie captained the Wellington representatives, the other Varsity men to gain provincial honors being F. Cormack, E. K. Eastwood. F. S. Ramson (also a noted athlete). J. D. Mackay, E. T. C. Leys, H. Cormack. C. E. Dixon, R. E. Diederich and J. M. Edgar, Mackenzie and Mackay were All Blacks in 1928, Leys in 1929.