Apu Fiso (no 4) hustling for the ball in the game vs Otago.

Over Easter weekend the New Zealand Universities Sports Tournament was held in Christchurch. Victoria was represented in all seven sports by a team of over 60.

The weekend not only involved playing the game for a series of piss-ups were held as well as a drinking horn contests and a ball. More about these later.

The tournament was notable for its lack of organisation in most areas but the general consensus of opinion was that it was a success.

NZUSU

New Zealand University Sports Union is the governing body of university sport in this country. You are automatically a member of this body if you are a member of any sports club affiliated to the Students Association. It has a resident exec which meets about three times a year in Wellington and a full exec which meets at both Easter and winter tournaments. A meeting was held on Easter Friday and sports administrative matters such as eligibility, finance and venues for future tournaments.

Water Polo

A very strong Otago side played against Vic in the first round with Vic losing 8 - 1. The second game was a fight against Canterbury with a 3 all draw resulting. We also lost to Massey 7 - 5. Finally an invitation women's team was played but we only succeeded in getting a draw here. Kevin Moriarty, Admiral Mike McKinley and Warwick Dewe succeeded in getting into the NZU team which plays in the provincial tournament next year.

Swimming

We did not have very much success here but did achieve fifth place overall through two third place in the women's medley relay the freestyle relay.

Large Bore Shooting

This was one sport we were successful at winning by 12 points over Otago. Some outstanding shooting was seen by Neville Win who gained a total of 50 out of 50 on one day's events. Four Vic people, Kevin Win, Neville Wynn, Margaret Flynn, and Norm Robinson made it into the NZU team which was not quite up to the standard of the touring Australian shooters.

Snooker

We had a team of four entered into this competition but the more experienced South Island teams of Canterbury and Otago beat us to give us third overall.

Athletics

Vic was represented by a team of only three here which is in my opinion a pretty poor effort for a university of 5500. However everybody in the team did well with Shona Trass coming second In the women's discus, Ron Scott second in the javelin and Frank Nolan taking fifth in the 5000 metres and winning the 10,000 This was an incredible race for Frank opened up a 25 see lead on the field by lap four and held it until the end of the race.

Yachting

This event was held on the Waimakiriri River where a major problem was the lack of water and another was the lack of wind. The races were held in Ok class dinghies and Vic was represented by Stephen Wagstaff, Phillip Dellabarca and Allen Jacobsen. Stephen got the best individual yachtsman's award but the team was beaten overall by Massey, Otago and Canterbury to take fourth place.

Volley Ball

We were well represented in this sport and Vic defeated Canterbury A, Lincoln and Massey all by 3 - 0. The toughest game of the tournament was that against Otago who took the first set 15 - 13 but Vic came back to win by taking the next three 15-4,15-11,15-10. This meant Victoria came through the tournament unbeaten but we did not win the overall team's competition for we did not have a women's team entered and so we were beaten by Canterbury and Otago.

Four Vic members made the NZU team. They were Apu Fiso, Peter Thrush, Robert Wilson and Graham Steel.

NZU Blues

A NZU Blue is awarded for an outstanding individual achievement in a particular field of sport. A blues panel of five travels to both Easter and Winter tournaments and makes their way around the various venues trying to select these outstanding sportsmen. Ten Blues were given out at Easter Tournament - six relating to this year and four relating to last year. Of this year's blues none were awarded to any Victoria team members as the standard set was very high.

Other Sports

Next week reports will be given of tennis, cricket, rowing and the drinking horn.

Kevin Wright

Peter Thrush (centre) in action for Vic