Football

Slow progress in the club championship is still being made, and the efforts of the teams have resulted in the obtaining of 32 points (possible, 70).

Seniors have beaten Air Force 7-0, Athletic B 16-3 and Seatoun (Army) 8-0 in rather scrappy games. The work of this team suffers because of a superabundance of would-be loose forwards: in fact there are only two or three who attempt to put their heads into a scrum. The consequence is that the half-back and first five-eighth have to - 'do far too much defending than is good either for their play or their side's.

Congratulations to Buck Ryder on his "pot"—married life apparently agrees with him.

Juniors have drawn with Old Boys 6-6 and lost to Base Camp 0-15 and Taita 6-16. As a result of these games three backs are injured badly enough to put them out of action for some weeks. The chief faults of the team are poor handling by the backs, and lack of protection afforded them, especially the half-back, by the forwards. G. S. Orr deserves special mention for his brilliant try against Old Boys.

Third A.—This team has been playing consistently well, beating Seatoun 25-3, Air Force 5-3 and Marist 4-3. Among those playing well are Haldane, Watson and Ackroyd of the backs and Perham and Igglesden in the forwards.

Third B are still suffering from want of a coach and have lost to John-sonville 8-15 and Upper Hutt 6-29. The form shown against Upper Hutt in the second spell was, however, very encouraging. Drummond and Atmore, backs, and Goodwin and MacDonald, forwards, are playing well.

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Harriers

Remembering their previous year's faux pas (fox pass to you) harriers plotted and ran quite a short course from Island Bay on June 24th. They were amply rewarded for their restraint by the afternoon tea which, awaited them at the Shorlands', who we thank for their long friendship to the club. A round of speech-making was started by Mr. R. M. Daniell, Vice-Captain (not to be confused with Vice-Captain Dick Daniell slated in the last issue) and concluded with the presentation (by V.C. R.M.D.) of a fine toffee apple to Mr. Sherwood for the best story of the week, unfortunately un-reproducable (but see V.C. R.M.D.).

The club's turnout was as unexpectedly large for the Dome Cup on July 1st The weather was so cold that had any brass monkeys turned out they also would have been compelled to run to prevent their teeth from chattering. On the points counted for the first ten men, we were judged second once again to Scottish. We also must make note of (1) a saboteur, Wolfgang Rosenberg, who ran in a singlet on June 24th but convinced of our weakness led an Air Force deputation from the Delta in the Dome, and (2) of the ill-luck of the leaders, including McDowall and Geddes, in losing the trail about one mile from home. Had it not been for this mishap Varsity certainly would have been represented in the first four men home. As it was, honours of the day went to a Hutt man not so much for his running as for his local knowledge of the peculiarities of a poorly marked trail.

Answer Please

Is there something wrong in the football club? I hear complaints on every side. Recently at a Wednesday night practice, for a club of 60 or more members, 9 turned up. How many know the names of every member in their own team? Is anything done to tell them who their team-mates are? (Compare the procedure in Weir and the Hockey and Harrier Club.) Do the men get together at all off the field?

I am told that if a man who has played for Otago happens to be in town some Saturday he is given a game, but at the expense of regular V.U.C. men.

What is the attitude of a Varsity sports club—to win the local competition or to develop a good club by giving all V.U.C. students a chance to learn the game under good coaching? Are we to teach our own students to play together, to improve and, when they merit it, give them a place in the leading team automatically—or are we to choose our players on their reputations—what they have done in the past, or on what they have done in general work for the club?

At one match last year the senior team had five emergencies—none of whom, as it happened, were needed, while the juniors played short. Is the club run so that the senior team wins [unclear: matches] as often as possible? Should it not be run so that every team gets equal consideration? Every member pays the same Stud. Ass. fee—does he pay it to add to the honour and glory of the senior team at the expense of the others?

For two Saturdays running the juniors have finished their game with 13 players. Last week there was one emergency, while on some occasions they have just had the 15 players when they went on the field. The same week as the football club had 9 at a practice the hockey club had between 40 and 50 present. A soccer club was formed last year—the athletic and harrier clubs are stronger than they have been for years. If other clubs have a good spirit what is the matter with what was, in the old days, our strongest club?

—Enquirer.

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Boxing

It is a considerable time since the Varsity Boxing Club has had the services of such a competent and enthusiastic instructor as Mr. B. McFarlane, who attends the Varsity Gym. each Monday evening. It is also probably a considerable time since any Varsity Club possessing the services of an instructor, coach or trainer has been con-fronted with such apathy and lack of interest and even lack of consideration, first from its own members, and secondly from sportingly minded students in general, than has the Boxing Club.

Doubtless the cancellation of Tournament was a contributing cause to the disinterestedness which has been all too evident. But the Boxing Club should not be any different from other Varsity clubs who do not have to rely on Inter-Varsity Tournaments to stimulate interest. Students who have never laced on a glove are welcome. The rudiments of the game will be painstakingly explained and taught to all so desirous of learning.

With a reminder that the [unclear: annual] [unclear: general] meeting of the club will be held in the Gym. on Monday, July 17, and with an exhortation to sporting enthusiasts, the club is now signing off.

Table Tennis

In the second round of the Wellington Grade Championships the four Varsity teams distinguished them-selves by winning all four of their matches. In the B Grade V.U.C. defeated Grey Cabs by 11 games to 1. Hannan, keeping on top of the ball, virtually "flicked" his opponents off the table and de la Mare baffled the opposition by his unusual solid style. Smith, who is fast developing into a top-notch player, did not have much trouble in winning his two singles. His devastating attack and sound defence were too much for the opposition. The fourth member of the team, Alpe, played a very clean game and acquitted himself well. In the doubles Smith and Alpe combined well and with a little more practice should develop into a fine team.

The C Grade team defeated Wellington Jewish Social Club by 8 games to 4. There were no outstanding games in the match although some were closely contested. Grinlinton, Philllpps and Couper all won their two singles. Of the four doubles games V.U.C. won two. This team needs doubles practice very badly.

In the D Grade our A team narrowly defeated Wellington Hospital by 11 games to 9. Dickson and Bay played well and each won three out of four singles, Evans and Langbein winning two and one respectively. Dickson and Bay won two doubles and Evans and Langbein lost two. This team would win far more games if its members would not insist on throwing away points at the wrong time, but otherwise it is playing well.

The second D Grade team had a decisive win over N. W. Thomas, defeating them by 18 games to 2. Stewart, Gunn and McKenzie won all their singles and doubles, Hayes losing two singles.

Full details of the third round matches are not yet available, but in the D Grade V.U.C. "A" defeated Tramways by 11 games to 9, and V.U.C. "B" lost to Shipping by 14 games to 6. On Monday, July 17, there will be a knockout tournament commencing at 7.15 p.m. in the Gym.

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Chess

A new Chess Club has recently been affiliated, so would all interested please watch the notice board for information regarding the holding of the first annual meeting.

Although no real playing facilities yet exist, three teams of six a side have already entered the Wellington League competitions, one each in the A, B, and C Grades.

The A Grade team has so far played only one match: a draw, 3-all, which is quite a satisfactory start.

On its first appearance the B team, apparently horrified at the lack of the V.U.C. spirit shown by the other teams, got off to a standard V.U.C. start to the tune of 0-6.

In the C Grade, our team has won one match and lost one. with scores of 4-2 and 2-4.

There are still opportunities for keen players in the teams, and anyone interested should see Colin Button, Hugh Jamieson, Noel Henderson or Dave Steele.

Internal competitions will start as soon as the club is installed.