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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 12. August 15, 1957

Victoria Victorious? — Tournament Topics

page 6

Victoria Victorious?

Tournament Topics

V.U.C. have a good record in Winter Tournament and are expected to be among the leaders in most events at the coming Tournament at Auckland (Vic can't do worse than at Dunedin last Easter).

Vic's main strength appears to lie to the fencers, miniature riflemen ana golfers. The harriers are confident they can do much better than last year and the table tennis team expects to go well, at least in the men's section. The hockey and basketball teams (male and female) are well up to Tournament standard. It is in badminton and Soccer that V.U.C. may not do so well. The Badminton Club has not been able to get a hall for some weeks and so the players will lack match fitness. The Soccer team, drawn as it is largely from the various lower grades, and having had little practice as a team, will be up against sides who have been developing combination throughout the season.

Badminton

The women's team is Misses J. Kent. H. Reed. J Tomsett and C. Comes, and the men's team: W. Patterson, C. Johnson. D. Usher and A. Bentley.

The team is of unknown quality but contains one or two useful seasoned players. Its performance at Tournament will probably suffer, not from lack of keenness of its members, but from a lack of match practice. This was brought about by the very short season at the Winter Show Building.

—A.R.B.

Men's Basketball

This year the men's indoor basketball team intends to be N.Z.U. champion. Canterbury have four provincial representatives. Auckland and Otago three each, and Victoria have two. However, this ponderous opposition will not deter Victoria in its efforts to gain supremacy. At last Tournament. V.U.C., possessing only one representative player, came a close second to Canterbury.

The Tournament team consists of all the seven A grade players and one B team member. The team is captained by Wellington representative star player N. Dawkins, who is equally at home in any position on the court. D. Johnston. G. Aitken and K. Stevenson comprise the remainder of last year's strong team. The "terrible twins." Johnston and Aitken, are renowned for their devastating fast breaks, which have made many a team back-pedal. If Stevenson can agairr use his height effectively at Tournament, he will be a great asset to the team. A valuable acquisition from Auckland is P. Reid, from last year's A.U.C. team. His knowledge of Auckland tactics will prove invaluable in Victoria's success. His brother, T. Reid, is a young, highly promising player promoted from the B team for this Tournament. R. Martyn and D. Edwards have behind them much basketball experience. A member of last year's Nelson rep. team (they are South Island champions). Martyn has proved a great asset to both V.U.C. and the Wellington reps.

This smooth functioning team will uphold the true traditions of V.U.C. basketball.

—W.G.W.

Soccer

The V.U.C. team is: S. George. H. Eastgate. R. Vilash, R. Pemberton. D. Haigh. P. Naidu, R. Holland. R. Kerr, N. Greenwood. R. Greenwood. B. Goffman. M. Nightingale. B. Swarbrick. T. Lienert.

The outstanding player is New Zealand representative right wing. Perumal Naidu, a virtual certainty for a Blue. Other regular members of the senior side are Nick Greenwood (left wing) and Stan George, the captain, who has played for N.Z.U. each of the last two years.

The other members of the side are all promising lower grade men. Those expected to go really well in Auckland include Ram Vilash, a most tenacious player. Ben Goffman, a solid defender. Headly Eastgate, a good shot with either foot. Dick Holland, a high scoring forward and Ron Pemberton, one of the club's outstanding defenders.

If the side can get a couple of practices as a team they should be able to hold their own with anybody. V.U.C. should certainly do better than last year.

Harriers

This year's team is a nice blend of youth and experience and should be seen to much better advantage than those of the previous two Tournaments. Team members are quietly confident of their prospects and are training hard to be in peak condition on the eve of Tournament.

The team comprises six men—four of whom have had considerable experience in top-grade competition for several seasons, though only one, Tony Gow, has represented V.U.C. at Tournament before. The two less-experienced members have run with some distinction in junior events this year, especially Brian Davies.

Individual prospects are as follows:—

Bill Gaudin: In top provincial class and one who would appear to have excellent prospects of annexing the individual title at Auckland. He will be suited by the fiat nature of the course—two circuits of the Ellerslie racecourse.

Tony Gow: The veteran of the side, who should be close up at the finish but would have preferred a more vigorous test of cross-country running, however.

Bob Creed: A highly capable road runner who has recently transferred from Christchurch. He has been running with much more dash over country this year than in previous seasons. Would seem to have good prospects, especially if the conditions underfoot are firm.

Frank Walkley: Very determined and getting filter. Has several meritorious performances on the track to his credit and in similar conditions at Auckland should give a good account of himself.

Brian Davies: Perhaps the most promising runner the club has had in years. His performances in junior ranks are outstanding and on the strength of these efforts he should be well to the fore in Auckland.

Peter O'Brien: The baby of the team. He is running with much more confidence now than earlier in the season. He has trained hard and deserves to be placed on this occasion.

Women's Basketball

This year the club has felt the loss of some of their most experienced players and is building up a new team which may not reach its peak by Tournament. But will benefit greatly from the experience.

Those who are new to Tournament are G. Hemery, T. Feast, M. Cameron, and B. Kerr. Gillian Hemery has not been available for club play for the last part of the season because of an injured ankle, but she is a second year player who has improved this year as a guard. Thelma Feast is a first year player who has played in Masterton. She is beginning to work in well with the rest of the team in the forward court. Marion Cameron and Bridget Kerr are two players recruited from outdoor basketball and should make good indoor players.

The experienced players are Ina Bowman. A.U.C. Blue. 1955. V.U.C. Blue. 1956, Wellington representative squad, 1956-57. N.Z.U. team 1954-55-56; Judy Davenport (captain), V.U.C. Blue. 1956, Wellington rep. squad, 1956-57, N.Z.U. team. 1955-56; Elizabeth Chrisp. a second year Tournament representative who has made the Wellington rep. squad this season and Penelope Riske, a third year representative who is our only guard with experience.

The side may not carry off the S. G. Holland Shield this year, but is looking forward to Tournament in Auckland this year.

—J.D.

Golf

The following team has been selected to represent Victoria. The matches are to be played on the Titirangi course, which must rank among the finest in New Zealand. The team T. M. Gault (2). J. Page (3). P. C. Armstrong (3), and J. R. Port (5).

The above team is probably the strongest ever fielded by V.U.C., and although only T. M. Gault attended Tournament last year the other members of the team are not lacking cither in match or stroke experience. While no information is available concerning the strength of the other colleges, the club is confident that the above team has every chance of finishing in first place.

Miniature Rifles

The miniature rifles team appears this year to be quite strong, though perhaps not so strong as the team which gave C.U.C. such a fright last year. However, the range, the climate and the Waitemata being to their liking, they are again expected to finish only a few glasses behind the leaders.

The team will be:—

Brian Brad burn: Back for the fifth time (sucker for punishment). Has not been shooting particularly well until just recently, when he commenced to train on Vodka—is now shooting in fine spirits.

Jim Mansell: Back for the third time. Jim's experience should be invaluable to the team. He trains on Rifle oil and Carrots.

Ian Chatwin: is capable of drinking any opposing teams under the table and shoots best from that position. Ian is expected to turn on some spectacular performances this year.

Brian Frankpitt: For the past three years Brian has been the person who has missed out on a place in the team. Now. with his own rifle, he will be a hard man to beat.

Ian Newton: A newcomer to Winter Tournaments, Ian is already well known (notoriously, in fact!) as a Fullbore Rifle shot. It is hoped that he will be equally as effective in the Smallbore field.

Graeme Barnard: Will drink anything, anytime, anywhere in almost limitless quantities, then shoots at his best after having done so. His experience will do much to strengthen the team.

Table Tennis

Our hopes of retaining the table tennis shield are as high as ever this year, for the men's section is probably stronger all round than last year's team. Two of last year's team will again be representing the college.

Jeff Thomas, who reached the finals of the men's singles last year, is a splendid defensive player who has played consistently well in the A Reserve grade and is again expected to be there at the finals.

Robin Court, another A Reserve player, although not so consistent, is nevertheless a reliable and extremely versatile player both in attack and defence.

The two newcomers to the men's section are Bede Rundle and Don Kenderdine. Bede, the best-equipped player of the four, is mainly defensive, but uses his sponge bat with devastating effect, especially with his backhand shots. Don has made a spectacular rise from a mere C grade player last year to the club's best B grade player this year. Anything is liable to happen when this hardhitting. (hough somewhat reckless, hunk of man starts up.

In the women's section, we have Nevenka Hegedus and Anne Mcllraith, both of whom have improved vastly on their last year's form. Although quite strong, the two lack serious competitive play. They are expected, however, to do well.

—R.J.H.

Womens Hockey

With a N.Z.U. Women's Hockey Team in Australia during Tournament this year it is difficult to predict the strength of any side. Otago, the winners of the Pember Reeves stick for several years, have nine players in this team and naturally there is some speculation as to whether their second string will be able to carry on this impressive record.

The V.U.C. team selected for Tournament is:—J. Scott, R. Kingsford, J. Gumbley. R. Goodwin, B. Major, S. Hekey, M. Lyons. N. Griffin, C. Baird, D. Bremner and J. Arnold. Reserves: E. Beck and J. Duncan.

The team, though not playing spectacular hockey, is very sound and improving with every game. On occasions some stylish movements have been produced and it is to be hoped that these will be displayed at Auckland.

We will be losing only one player to the Australian four—Barbara Saunders, our goalie. Her place at Tournament will be taken by Jo Scott, the "B" team goalie. Janice Gumbley. Diana Bremner, Jill Arnold, Sybil Hickey and Cynthia Baird are newcomers to Tournament All five are playing good hockey. Beverley Major at centre-half is playing excellent hockey. The experience gained at previous Tournaments by Ruth Kingsford. Rae Goodwin. Natalie Griffin and Mary Lyons will provide the solid core for the team.

Fencing

Fencing in Tournament is qiute rightly confused with swordplay, and it is from this apparent confusion that the V.U.C. team hopes to benefit at Auckland. We need only point to a similar mistake of like middlemen to illustrate the effectiveness of such deception. Did not the Trojans mistake swordplay for horseplay?

To press this disadvantage the team has taken the precaution to select the men's team from Wellington representatives exclusively and though the women's team includes only one such it relies on youth and elasticity for its strength. The new member of the men's team is aquiline Bob Binning, who, despite being New Zealand sabre champion and a New Zealand foil finalist, will add considerably to the strength of the team and the eyer-ready offer of "another glass of suds" will boost social morale no end. Helen Maddison joins the women's team and with a variety of unexpected strokes. She is impossible to upset on the piste—her off the piste activity is, of course, her own affair! For Alan Wilson, Tournament holds little new. This year, to add to his other activities, he is taking his car to Auckland. Janet Servians has been coached by a former New Zealand epee champion. She just missed last year's N.Z.U. team and will be in the running for top honours this year. Kent Beard has learnt to swim in beer, and if he does not attempt to fly on it, Icarus-wise, his speed and natural malevolence on the piste will add several of the more prized scalps to his belt. Dawn France is the top woman in the team and is a worthy successor to Diana Fussell. Her present form, as yet still reconcilable with blooming youth, should put her into the N.Z.U. team again this year. Chris. Beeby and Anthony Ellis will lead the foil team and, like the elephants, have many scars. Beeby has reduced fencing to a logical impossibility. This perhaps explains his fine record of wins, or docs it? Ellis never knew any fencing, anyway, so everyone wonders and few are told why he keeps on going to Tournament.

V.U.C. have won the N.Z.U. fencing title for the last three years. We do not have to rely on prestige, however, and our team is the strongest Tournament has seen since 1951 (maybe!).

—K.B.

Men's Hockey

This year's Tournament team is very young but also very strong. Even without the three players chosen for the Australian tour the team should acquit itself very well and could possibly bring home the Seddon Stick.

This year's captain is Don Mathieson, who is an old hand at Tournament. Don has been playing really well lately for the senior team and thoroughly deserves the position of captain. Ray Hambly is the vice-captain. Ray went to Tournament last year and has plenty of experience. So also has Mike Corballi, who played for C.U.C. at Tournament for two seasons. He should give plenty of thrust to the half line.

M. Lints is an experienced half who has previously represented Wanganui and was captain of the New Zealand secondary schools in 1956.

Centre half is Barry Cathro, another old hand who really looks forward to Tournament.

Lints. Corballis, and Cathro should combine to make a really sound half line.

The two backs are Patchett, a newcomer to Tournament, and R. McArthur, an old hand, both of whom are really reliable.

The custodian is Kirk Taylor, who is a former N.Z.U. goalie. The team will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing they have a really safe goalkeeper. (Prove us right, Kirk!)

On the left wing is G. Browne, who is an experienced Tournament man and also an ex-New Zealand secondary schools rep.

N. Jaine, A. Sarncak and J. Thomas make up the team. All of these players are really promising and could make the senior team next year.

All players chosen are really fit and deserved their selections. The club wishes them the best of luck for an enjoyable and successful Tournament.

Of the team seven have had previous Tournament experience and most of the others have been representatives of their respective cities.

The delegates to the A.G.M. of the N.Z.U. Men's Hockey Council are Don Mathieson and Ray Hambly.

Printed by The disabled Servicemen's League. 21 Lloyd St., Wellington, for V.U.C.S.A. Inc.