Massey Visit

On Monday, the 20th June, at 8.15 a.m., twenty-seven men and women hockey players set out for Palmerston North to play the annual hockey matches against Massey. During the trip up the time was spent by various people in various different ways. Here a group of knitters, here a group of card-players, and in the odd corner the odd industrious student improving the shining hour.

The train arrived at Palmerston North at 11.30 or thereabouts. After a welcome from Massey the women were whisked out to Massey while the men set out in search of food. After impressing a few Massey onlookers and themselves with billiards and snooker prowess the men arrived in time to change and to give the women some (im)moral support.

Although the women's match did not attain such a high standard as we would have liked, it was an open fast game and we were impressed by Massey's defence which seemed to us stronger than in previous years. Miss Campbell, the Massey women's coach, has kindly presented a trophy for competition between the women's teams. The Victoria women are very thrilled to have won it for the first time.

The first half started at a fast pace, the play being rather inclined to move up and down one side of the field as Massey seemed to prefer the left and Victoria the right (wot. no left-wing?). Jean McKelvie scored the first goal for Victoria and play continued to be uneventful with fairly even play. After half-time Jean scored her second goal! The final score was two-nil to Victoria.

The men's match was a different game altogether. Scotty Munro, the Massey centre-forward, a few minutes after the start of the game lifted a shot over the goal bar. This was a sign of things to come. While Victoria had as many opportunities as Massey they were unable to score. The Massey goalie was too quick for our forwards. At half-time the score was three-nil to Massey.

After half-time Victoria got cracking and a goal was scored by Dave. From ten on the play went up and down the field (not really!). The game ended with a win for Massey, the score being four-one. Although beaten, the Vic. men set out to the Club Hotel with will, to compete for the hockey version of the Drinking Horn, This was won by Massey by a glass and a half. The next item on the programme was the dinner at which the trophies were presented. A dance which followed was held in the Massey Hall and was enjoyed by all, as was the appearance of a pig, fowl and a ram (we have heard of these farm boys). General fraternisation was the order of the day, or should I say, night, and helped to while away the time while waiting for the train which left Palmerston North at 5.40 a.m. As the fraternization was continued in the train some of the Victoria women had a comfortable trip. The general impression held by the teams was that the trip was worthwhile.