Tournament Soccer

Talent and teamwork. This year's tournament soccer team had plenty of both and consequently was the most successful one at Tournament for many years. In particular the team had a very strong half-back line which paved the way to victory in many games.

Vic didn't win the competition—after four wins in a row defeat came in the final game, but by then, fatigue and injuries had taken their toll.

Still, congratulations to Otago, they were a fine side.

The year's record: Lincoln, competing for only the second time, were crushed 7-2 in the first game but only after they had provided strenuous opposition. In fact they led 3-2 at half-time.

Then came probably the best game of the tournament. Canterbury, last year's winners provided the opposition and leading 2-0 after 10 minutes they looked like continuing their run of victories. Then a penalty was awarded against them. They then led 2-1. Just 20 minutes later they were losing 4-2. Vic had been transformed.

Another goal for the Greens, in the second half and Canterbury walked off the paddock well and truly beaten. Even the N.Z.U. selector could hardly believe his eyes.

Two hard games followed on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning against Massey and Auckland.. Both ended in victory — 4-1 and 4-2 respectively, but the dressing room before the Otago game on Wednesday afternoon really told the story of these games. Bandages, energy tablets, aspirins, olive oil and three types of linament lay scattered on benches and tables.

Otago went into the lead fairly early, and they were then nearly home and dried. Shortly before half-time, goal-keeper Baker was injured, and while he was off, they scored another in the second half.

Players of both teams' were dog-tired and could scarcely raise a gallop. Vic reduced the arrears but a 4th goal by Otago put the issue beyond doubt. The final whistle was sweet music to both teams.

Four players turned out for the N.Z. Universities team on Saturday which defeated the Manawatu 5-2. Another was unavailable because of injury.

The team.—Goal-keeper, K. Baker; Full-backs. M. Stockwell. G. McGrcgor. D. Gibbs; Half-backs, G. Neef, R. Morgan, N. Morris; Forwards, P. Garraud, B. Begley, P. EM wood, G. Allison, R. Sharman.

T. Cooper, a member of the boxing team played against Massey. B. Gall was selected but was unable to travel and M. Wesseline was not considered because of injury.

Selected for the N.Z.U. team: G. Wall, P. Garraud, R. Sharman and B. Begley.

Lines written beneath Tin-Pan Alley.
Ten steaming stalwarts
Plugging on to glory (or not)
Trying to keep all thoughts
Of sensuosities and all that
Far from their wrought-iron brains.

A senseless tumbling of tired minds
Driven on by duty (to whom?),
Buffeted by the ambiguous winds
Of the intellectual pursuit.

(Why isn't necrophilia offered as a subject anyway?)

—Dawkins.

* * *

A four-fold antiquity breathes,
Auras of mind and soul

(If it comes to that, why isn't necrophilia defined in the C.O.D.?)

and still the struggle for honour and for glory.

—Omow.