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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 9, No. 5. May 7, 1946

Otago Wins Tennis Cup Easily

Otago Wins Tennis Cup Easily

The performance of Victoria's tennis team this year at Easter Tournament was well below their usual standard, indeed it well lived up to our whole tournament standard. It is a long time since Victoria failed to collect a title and this year apart from the men's doubles final where Goodwin and O'Connor took four games convincingly in the second set, they never looked like so doing.

The play of the girls was disappointing being far below that of the other Universities. Nancy and Rae Turner did well to win the first double but were not just good enough for the Kitson sisters who were unfortunate to miss recommendations for Blues. After a win in the first single Nancy Turner was unable to match the driving of Jean MacGibbon, high ranking Canterbury intermediate player.

Avis Reed did not quite seem up to standard in the singles but she played well in the combined doubles with Jack Walls. The keen and exuberant Misses Ilott and Webley were rather out of their class, but another season's play may well find these two knocking at the door.

VUC Eclipsed

Doug. Goodwin was disappointing in his single against Bushell. At 4-3 in the second set with the first set won be seemed to be in a strong position but lack of match play told the tale and he slumped badly in the third set. Peter McKenzie did not supply much support for Jack Walls in the doubles but Jack almost reached the final of the combines with Avis Reed. O'Connor, like the rest, of the team, could not accommodate himself to the asphalt surface and after beating McKenzie of Auckland in a game which he should have finished earlier, he could not match Robson's consistency in the second round and was beaten decisively, having difficulty in keeping his drives inside the court. In the men's doubles, playing patchy tennis Goodwin and O'Connor went down 6-2. 7-5 after leading 4-1 in the second set against Green and Robson. Goodwin scored some excellent volleys and smashes but must remember that it's not always possible to hit the cover off the balls. The ground strokes of the two were rather "iffy" and O'Connor although playing well at times unaccountably missed several head-high volleys.

Otago, who won the tennis cup, were at a distinct advantage on the surface as they play all their tennis on asphalt courts.

In Geoff. Robson they have one of the best players in New Zealand, and one who, whether on grass or asphalt, in going to prove a thorn in the side of other Colleges for some time to come.

The results of the Tennis Shield at a glance:—
  • Combined Doubles.—Green and Pyle, OU, beat Piper and Miss "Miller. AUC.
  • Women's Singles.—Miss MacGibbon, CUC, beat Miss Pyle, OU.
  • Men's Singles.—Bushel. CUC, lost to Robson, OU.
  • Men's Doubles.—Green and Robson, OU, beat O'Connor and Goodwin. VUC.
  • Women's Doubles.—Misses I, and P. Kitson, CUC, beat Miss Shove and Miss Miller. AUC.

Breaststroke Title to Cath. Eichelbaum

The swimming, like the rest of Tournament, proved a sad failure for Victoria. Apart from Cath. Eichelbaum, the women's 100yds. Breaststroke Champion, our efforts were singularly unproductive. Otago once more swept the pool. Although we had several people in the finals they failed to make the grade and once more we were left at the bottom.

In the 50yds. Women's Freestyle Championship Pat Cummins of VUC held the title last year, but this year, with more competition from the other Universities, only came third.

The Diving Championship was held for the first time this year and Patricia Young did very well in coming third for Victoria, considering that she had done some of the dives for the first time that afternoon.