"Smad" has covered Victoria over a year of sport. The records present a kaleidoscopic future—a portrayal of varying successes. One feature is prominent, Victoria has entered the field in practically every line of sport and can claim a truly representative record. Enthusiasm has not always reigned at the necessary high pitch and it is high time that individual clubs tightened their organisation. There is a lamentable lack in sporting clubs of old and wise heads. Each and every club should seek to capture the interests and services of experienced past members, whose days of active participation are over. The year in review provides few high lights, it provides a record of honest sportsmanship and it seems to prove that the ability is there but the stimulus lacking.

Ruru Memorial Shield.

On Saturday, 14th September, the game for the Ruru Memorial Shield was played between Weir House and The Rest. The final score 13-6 gave the shield for the first time to The Rest. Play throughout was fast and in the second spell was enterprising. However, the open play usually associated with games of this nature was to a great extent lacking, the inside backs, especially Weir House, being inclined to hold on too long. Consequently, the wing saw very little of the ball, and, on the few occasions when they did, they had no room to work in. The forwards played well and it is not unfair to say that Weir House were slightly the superior. Despite Mr. Howard Marshall both sides packed a 3-4 scrum.

After the game the Shield was presented to Rae, the Rest captain, by Mr. Ruru. In a short speech in Maori he expressed his pleasure at being present and that his son had been held in such high regard among the pakchas. He also presented a Maori mat "to act as a cloak for the Shield."

"Smad" congratulates the Football Club on this method of finalising the football season. It provides a last game for all those desiring a final run and for those who have become side-line critics some more material.

Smoke Concert.

The footballers of the College finished off the season in appropriate manner on Saturday, the 14th September at the Kelburn Kiosk.

Prof. Boyd-Wilson was in the chair and with quiet efficiency seized on each lull of exuberant disharmony to present the next toast to a partially interested audience. Unfortunately Frank Donovan lost interest in the proceedings when he heard that there was no fruit salad.

Mr. J. N. Millard, representing the rugby Union and in reply to that toast said he was sorry to see that Varsity was playing in second division football. He said that it would give the Union the greatest pleasure to see Varsity occupying the place they did a few seasons ago—particularly because of the bright open football they played

Athletic Club.

The Athletic Club held its annual meeting on the 16th September. Those present seemed placid and seemed satisfied with the organisation and management of club affairs, but a resolution to encourage freshers does not seem to have been carried out as well as it might have been. The election of officers resulted as follows—:Club captain, S G. Eade; Deputy Club Captain: W. R. Birks; Coach: C. B. Allan; Sec-Treas.: P. T. Bowie; Delegate to the Wn. Centre: W. R. Birks; Committee: B. M. McIntosh, R. Morpeth, E. R. Chesterman, L. S. Black and F. H. Stephenson.

The following cups were presented by the chairman, Professor T. Hunter: Dunbar Cup—S. G. Eade, Heineman Cup—H. J. Abraham. Ladies Cup—B. M. McIntosh Oram Cup—P. T. Bowie. Old Members Cup—W. R. Birks.

Prof. Hunter enjoined the club to lose the "wooden spoon" this year. Preparations are already afoot and the mistake of starting too late in outside competition will not be repeated. The club captain is available every Saturday afternoon for coaching; a permanent jumping pit will possibly be provided at Kelburn Park, and films of leading athletes in action are to be shown.

Tennis Hopes.

By "Forehand."

It is with great pleasure that I accept the invitation of the editor to say something about the personnel of the University tennis team which won the Wellington Senior Inter-Club Competition last season, and, no doubt, will be right out to retain the honour this season. The University team has no brilliant tennis players None of its members has brilliant strokes, but it has, what in teams' play is invaluable, a fairly even balance of players of good senior standard, with one man (Ferkins) of good provincial standard.

R. McL. Ferkins is one of the finest sportsmen playing in tennis in New Zealand to-day. In his younger days he gave promise of being a brilliant player, but he was wise enough to put his profession before mere sport, and while study has been to his advantage in the career he has mapped out for himself, it has been to his disadvantage as a tennis player. But his choice was a wise one; it is unfortunate that many others do not show the same wisdom.

Ferkins plays a straightforward game with determination, and a refusal to admit defeat until the last point has been played. His game lacks the frills. To maintain length, to hit hard, to go to the net and volley whenever possible, are things he strives to do. There is no ball so difficult that he will not make an honest effort to get to, and return it. It is, indeed, this last virtue that beat. An opponent can never be certain that Ferkins will not return his best shots from almost impossible positions.

Apart from his smashing, Ferkins weakest point is his service. It is more reliable now than it used to be, but it does not assist him in his net attack. He is compelled to play too many volleys from too far back from the net. The volleyer should be right on the net, so that he can punch his volleys down. Further away than six to eight feet means that the volleyer must play the ball from below the level of the top of the net, upward—a distinct weakness.

J. J. McCarthy is a disappointing player. At one point last season his game showed a decided improvement, and then he slumped. His game is of the heavy type—that is to say, he plays too flat-footed and appears to be always having to urge himself after the ball. Because he is so often just that fraction of a second late his accuracy suffers both off the ground and in the air. He has, however, played many games that have shown him to be a dogged fighter, but his game generally lacks consistency.

W. Gosnell has probably the most limited stroke equipment the most limited stroke equipment of any player in team. His strokes are confined almost to a forehand and backhand drive, and an accurately placed service. But he does better than many players with far more strokes, because he knows how to use what he has got. He is essentially a baseline player, who drives accurately down the side lines or cross court at will. He is also a very determined player, while he never rises to the heighths of brilliance, he never falls to a level of dull mediocrity. His knowledge of tactics is confined to putting the ball as far away from the opponent as possible to keep him running. Who is to say that is not good tactics? He is not a good volleyer, and his smash is indifferently fair. But in his backcourt game he maintains a sound court position, and he anticipates well.

B. J. McCarthy is another determined fighter, but unlike Gosnell, he aims to get to the net as soon as possible. He believes in pursuing hustling tactics. This causes him to fall into frequent error, but also, as compensation, causes many opponents to get rattled. McCarthy has no outstanding strokes, but his game last season showed considerable improvement—the result of keenness and concentration. His game has an almost complete lack of defence: he feels he must be always attacking. The exercise of a little patience to wait for the ball he can attack on would effect an even further improvement in his game.

N. A. Morrison is seen at his best in doubles. That is because he volleys and smashes well. His ground strokes are weaker in comparison. Until he strengthens them he will not become the player that his fore-court game gives promise. His chief fault is that he hurries these strokes in his desire to reach the net. He is inclined to play the ball for his fore-hand drive too early, instead of waiting for it to reach the top of its bound. The fetish of the rising ball has been the grave of reputations of many promising and better young players. In his desire also to reach the net, Morrison does not always take care with his service. Thus he serves double faults too often. He must learn to possess his soul in patience.

L. H. Marchant is a steady, reliable, player who goes about his work on the court without any frills, but with a stolid solidness that disconcerts many opponents. He is purely a baseline player with good control over his shots and an eye for the weakness of an opponent. He is apt to be slow, however, against a fast-hitting opponent. His service is reliable but not outstanding.

E. Page is another disappointing player. He has fine strokes but does not know how to use them properly. He often gives the appearance of carelessness. Nearly all his errors are in the net—a bad fault. He might easily become a better player than he is, for he has strokes. Like Morrison and B. J. McCarthy he wants to win the point too quickly. He lacks patience: he, too, could, with advantage, hit the ball at the top of its bound. His overhead suffers from the same complaint as his service—unreliability. He shows he can volley, but because of the inconsistency of his ground strokes he does not always get the chance to reach the net.

P. E. Webb is another steady player who has performed well for his team. There is nothing spectacular in his game, but one can always be sure that he will do his best, and that his game will not slump much, even if the general standard is not very high. His present standard is the result of courage and determination to improve a somewhat limited assortment of strokes. By preference a baseline player he has made himself a fairly good volleyer. He is able to take the net because his ground strokes are reliable and well controlled. He is a hard fighter who will beat mere flashy brilliance.

Coming Events.

To-night—"Spike" out

Thursday—Swimming Club Annual Meeting.

Saturday—Cricket Club practice at St. Patrick's College.

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