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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.
Why Do You Play For Outside Clubs?
Why Do You Play For Outside Clubs?
What is lacking in the Sport's Clubs at V.U.C.? In the last two years it has become more and more noticable that students are looking outside the college for their recreation. This has become very noticable in the field of Rugby. Those regular attenders at the Park will tell you that on some Saturdays, out of the sixty players there at least six or seven are V.U.C. students. This does not help our Rugby Club at all. This percentage of V.U.C. types in other Rugby teams is even more noticable in the lower grades. Why does this happen? Other Sports Clubs in the college notice the same thing. Is there something lacking in our own clubs? In the U.S.A., many people go to Varsity merely for the honour of playing sport for the varsity. We do not suggest that this should be the case here but feel that a certain enthusiasm for Varsity Sports Clubs should be shown.
If those people who play for outside bodies in preference to V.U.C. and have strong reasons for doing so, would write a letter to the Sport's Editor and state those reasons we would be very greatful as we want to know what is causing this lack of esprit de corps.
D.E.D.
Hockey One - - -
Women's Hockey is as popular as ever this year and we have four teams entered in the Wellington competition, one in each grade. We are particularly lucky in having Mr. Fleet, a most experienced player to coach our senior teams and his most helpful advice is already showing in an improvement in our teams.
The A Team, with a stronger forward than for several years, did well when the Team beat Y.W.C.A. 5-0. J. Francis, H. Spencer, and Capt. B. Young are three players from last season and we welcome the addition of J. McKelvie and J. Young. Also new assets to the team are P. Barr, I. Hoe, and V. Anderson, the latter a Dannevirke rep. goalie, T. Marwick who has been moved back to the half-line is adapting herself extremely well to her new position. B. Hill, our well-known Wellington sprint champ, is showing rapid improvement this season and uses her speed and quickness to great advantage. M. Spiers is playing her usual reliable game.
P. Sleeman, I. Ashton, B. James, N. Bannister, and goalie J. Florance, were unlucky to miss selection for the A Team, but will be a great help to the Reserve team. D. Thorogood, B. Stern, E. Hodgson, V. Jones, and graduate C. Spencer are all playing good hockey and the competition for the three reserve positions for the Tournament team should be strong.
The Senior B team had a decisive win last Saturday over Athletic. Captain M. Wakelin is a competent centre half and the rest of the team are working up a good combination.
The Junior team have been handicapped by many of their new players having missed the first two matches through holidays, but are lucky in having Miss P. Ralph as coach. They will no doubt redeem their losses in the latter half of the season. There is much enthusiasm shown by the beginners and amongst those showing promise are A Todd. T. King, and A. Lovell.
Rugby On Down Grade?
The first five Saturdays for one reason or another have seen the first fifteen fail to score a championship point. The Australian visit, with the demands on some of our best players which it made, can account partly for the lack of success; and rank bad luck has also played its part. A little more luck, and finish, could have won any or all of the Marist, Onslow, Oriental or Poneke games.
Generally speaking the forwards have been the main strength of the side, and have given displays of a consistently good standard. The backs, however, though they are made up of good individuals, have so far failed to settle down.
Apart from ordinary Club games there are other points to mention. On May 4 at Palmerston North, Massey won a hard fought game by 6 to 5 and on May 11 a combined team from these two sides lost to Australian Universities by 15 to 17. V.U.C. representatives in this team were:—B. Valentine, A. McLeod, J. Mclvor, R. and C. Shannon, J. G. Smith, H. F. Drake, J. Stone and D. Dillon.
On May 14 at Athletic Park, Australia gave N.Z.U. a shock and an 8-3 beating. V.U.C.-ites being C. and R, Shannon, J. G. Smith, and A. McLeod.
Congratulations also go to Jarden and Smith on their selection in the Wellington team to play Marlborough on King's Birthday; and sympathy to Dillon, probably the Club's most injured player, who is now recuperating after an operation to the shoulder.
The Lower Grades:
Junior A: Like the Seniors, and one might almost say, because of the Seniors this side has yet to win a game, though it has drawn once.
Last Saturday should have seen the first victory for the team, especially in the forwards, showed that, given luck and opportunity, it will win marches.
Junior B: This team, little inferior to Junior A, has won a couple of games, and lost the others by narrow margins. Better backs are the pressing need—not only in this team but throughout the whole Club—and until these are found the record is not likely to improve.
Third A: The Colt XV, containing the best of the fresher talent have yet to have their line crossed, having scored 57 points to 6 (two penalties) in their four games. They have 8 games to go to beat the record of last year's 3A team, which kept its line intact for 12 consecutive weeks; but still could finish only second equal in its grade. It is easy to prophesy, but the least that can be expected from this team is a high place in its grade at the end of the season.
Third B: This team has not yet realized its capabilities and should do better as the season progresses, but up till now lack of fitness, and the weak tackling have lost several games. Still, the regular attendance which the members of this side make at practices should soon result in a greatly improved performance.
Cross Country
The Harrier Club, held its first race on Saturday, May 28. The Sherwood Cup run over the usual 3 mile course as an open instead of a sealed handicap this year, was won by Ian McKellar, the fastest times being Bob Hunt (1) Bill Wright (2) and Peter Whittle (3).
The Club has just printed a training syllabus drawn up by Bob Hunt ex O.U. captain who is now running for V.U.C. The preliminary period of jogging, reaching 6 miles for up to 4 nights of the week, has just been covered. The regular practices from Weir House on Tuesdays and Thursdays have been well attended, and the results obtained later in the season will in no small measure be due to the training enthusiasm of Bob Hunt.
The Club is unfortunate is losing Clem Hawke to wider fields of fame, firstly to Australia and then to England."- We wish him good luck and we also send a health germ with Peter Whittle who goes to Sweden shortly.
Five Saturday races have already been held, of which one was a Paekakariki with Massey College who have just formed an independent Harrier Club.
The "Novice Race" (May 7) was won by B. Cameron, with Mike Truebridge 2nd. Bob Hunt won the "Veterans Race" also held at Worser Bay. We regret that no provision made for those who turned up in dinner suits after Capping Ball.