Massey Plough Victoria

Owing to various reasons, such as the difficulty of obtaining leave and the forthcoming North-South Varsities match, it was impossible to send the full senior team to play Massey, but a party composed of eight seniors and nine lower grade players made the trip. The game, played on Palmerston Showgrounds in ideal conditions, was fast and entertaining, and resulted in a win for Massey by 19 points to 5.

The result would certainly have been better from the VUC point of view if the backs had been given more opportunities, but as it was, starved for the ball, all they had to do was to stop rushes by the highly dangerous Massey backline. We were also unfortunate in losing Larkin after the first quarter of an hour, though the man who replaced him, Wilde, played a fine all-round game. Victoria's only try came after a typical dodging run by Loveridge, who handed out to Wilde right on the line, and the latter had virtually only to ground the ball. Mean-while Brian had been having a certain amount of dispute about the ownership of his pants, but, stepping into an overcoat, he demonstrated his resourcefulness by converting the try. Of the forwards Bennett the captain played a fine game, especially in the line outs, and Benseman and O'Regan supported him well. O'Regan's performance was particularly promising—he is going to be one of the best forwards in the club. Of the backs Paterson and Wilde played excellent sound football, while Loveridge produced many extremely fine runs. The wings had little opportunity but Hyett did everything required of him with competence.

The team was managed in most efficient style by Tanu Jowett, whose comments on the return train journey—5 ½ hours of it—were a revelation.

Competition

Seniors.—Against Eastbourne, the leading team in the Hardham Cup, the seniors were leading 11-0 until 10 minutes from time, but then faded away to lose by 16-11. It was, however, an extremely lucky win for Eastbourne. The game against St. Pat's. Old Boys, won 6-3, was fairly scrappy, and scarcely up to the standard of a senior competitive match. Goodwin returned to the team for this game and showed most of his old form, and Hyett, especially in the last three games, has given grand displays as a wing three-quarter. Murphy and Shannon continue to pound the opposition to great purpose, and Bennett and Dun Just now are in top form. Congratulations to Goodwin, Bennett, Shannon, Murphy and Dun on their selection for the North Island Varsities' side to play in Dunedin on July 11.

Juniors.—By the combined efforts of Laurie Berg, the coach, and fifteen members, the Juniors beat Petone, until then lying second in the competition, by 11-3. Drummond scored two beautiful tries on the wing, and Ackroyd's boot was on form. However, the effort must have been too much: the side went down to Athletic by 25-3, the only bright spot in the performance of the team being Shire's try, a really excellent effort. However, with a full team, we hopeto annex quite a number more wins, since the back line is beginning to function efficiently, with Berry at second five-eighths a star. The forwards, too, seem to have developed greatly, and the play of Wilson, Orr, Lyver, Kilgour and Co. is excellent.

Third A.—This team has won its last two games—one by default—but the other, with a scratch side, against Porirua, one of the leading teams. Perhaps it was Orm Creed's turning out that won them the latter game; at any rate it was a fine performance. Two members of the Third A side, Wilde and O'Regan, travelled to Massey and both thoroughly Justified their inclusion. Godman also is a most promising three-quarter and showed his versatility by turning out for Third C as a forward against Plimmerton, and generally the back line is functioning very well, while the forwards, with Battersby, O'Regan, Catley and Dansher usually well to the fore, are developing into a formidable combination.

Third B.—The social team was unfortunately forced to default last Saturday and lost to Taita 3-13 the Saturday before, after holding their opponents to 3-3 until ten minutes from time. However, even with the loss of Ben Overton through injury and Moore Tweed to the Juniors, the team still keep together extremely well, which is in large measure due to the enthusiasm and energy of Tanu Jowett. The fame of the team has even reached Burma, whence Roy Mackay writes: "Tell Tanu to keep me a place in the scrum."

Third C has been rather heavily defeated in its last couple of games, but battles on with undiminished vigour, while there are several bright spots in its play. To Combie goes the credit of being probably the best tackier in the side, and Mason, Parsons, Ornberg and Burrows are good honest toilers who give the game everything they have got. Gilchrist at half, Rea, Bogle and Watson continue to form a combination which must do very well if given the opportunity. The last three in particular are all well worth a place higher up. This side also sets an example in keenness to the rest of the club, for last Wednesday, when no regular practice was held owing to the absence of the team at Palmerston, some ten or twelve members staged a practice of their own on Kelburn Park.

Soccer

In a fifty-mile-an-hour gale and driving sleet our A team defeated Navy at Seatoun on Saturday, 14th. During the first half, Varsity, playing a defensive game because of the adverse wind, succeeded in stalling all Navy's attempts on their goal. By half-time play had reached a stalemate, no side having scored.

Shortly after the opening of the second half, Varsity, making full use of the wind, began a series of concentrated attacks on the Navy goal. Richardson was the first to score from well out, and this was shortly followed by a neat goal from Walls, who, playing at centre-forward, pressed his opportunity and netted again. With yet another well-played shot from well out, Richardson at centre-half scored again for Varsity. As is usual after a period of success, the team became over-confident, with the result that ten minutes before the finish of the game Navy carried the ball down the field and netted their first goal. This aroused Bruce Mackie, who, taking time by the forelock, left Varsity's lead in no doubt by driving the ball hard into the goal. At the final whistle, Varsity led by five goals to one.

On 21st, our A team played Petone Tech. Old Boys at Wakefield Park. A poorer exhibition of senior football has rarely been seen. From the start, a spirit of apathy and weariness was displayed by all. Neither side played as a team, and lack of team-work in the Varsity forwards was lamentably evident. During the first half, either side could have scored easily, but the frequent opportunities were neglected by both teams.

After half-time, neither team having scored, the play grew keener and the general standard improved. Williams, playing at left wing, carried the ball down to the Petone goal several times, and was well backed in these rushes by Trott. In contrast with the forward line, the backs played well, and Sutton-Smith and Dickson staved off several determined attacks by the opposing team. Towards the end of the game it seemed that neither side would score until Walls, intercepting a pass from Weir at right wing, netted for Varsity. Shortly afterwards the final whistle blew and Varsity stood in the lead by one goal to nil.

It is felt that the general torpor of the Varsity team was due either to Extrav Reunion, held the night before, or to the presence of a Varsity women's hockey team on an adjoining ground.