In the most thrilling final for years, Victoria won the Men's Hockey Tournamnet and the Seddon Stick by defeating the holders, C.U.C., by one goal to nil. It was a magnificent match and a well-deserved victory. Every man in the team played like a hero, and "Smad" was scarecely restrained from dashing on and falling on Shaw's neck when he scored the winning goal. Superior combination among the whole team and the unorthodox defence, together with the fact that V.U.C. maintained the offensive continually were the deciding factors in Victoria's success. C.U.C. put up a valiant fight. Their efforts to penetrate the defence in the last few minutes of the game showed their dash and determination. They were not beaten until the final whistle blew, and Victoria's supporters relaxed after what were nerve-wracking moments of tension.

Altogether a brilliant display of hockey, particularly as both teams had already played a hard match in the morning. In the semi-finals, C.U.C. beat Massey 4-2, and V.U.C. beat O.U. 3-1.

The Women's Tourney was won by O.U. with an unbeaten record.

V.U.C. v. O.U.

On Monday morning the grounds at Karori were sudden after overnight rain, but in spite of this the game between V.U.C. and O.U. was a fast one. Victoria adopted offesnsive tacties from the start and were on top throughout. The short passing game of the forwards, the nippiness of the halves and the speed and steadiness of the fullbacks were too much for O.U. with their hard-hitting open type of game. Victoria's first score came from an opening by Shaw, completed by Webb. Following fast up and down play, O.U. ceded penalty corner, and from the resultant scramble in the circle, Stweart drove through, making the half-time score, V.U.C. 2, O. U. nil.

V.U.C. maintained the pressure in the second half, but it was not until half-way through the spell that, from a movement down the right, Webb scored again. O.U. now had a turn on attack and from a scrimmage in the circle, Warren nettled. Though taking things easier, Victoria's defence held, and the game ended 3-1

The Final.

The game of the Tournament was between C.U.C. and V.U.C. when they met in the deciding match. Despite a through rolling, the ground was still heavy, yet the hockey seen was among the best displays for many a day. Both teams worked tirelessly in a hard, fast game in which there was no letting-up. As against O.U., V.U.C. Attacked from the start and kept up the pressure with such effect that C.U.C.'s defence had little opportunity of recuperating. The Canterbury forwards were a brilliant combination, but whenever they got away there were always green men between them and their objective. The three full-back formation supported by the halves functioned perfectly. Whenever there was a free-hit against them Victoria were marking their men and rarely missed an opportunity of interecepting the long, hard passes of the Reds. The first spell was a struggle, both teams straining to gain the advantage. First the green forwards would go away in a short passing rush, closely supported by their halves, only to be sent back by hard clearing shots from the full-backs. Then it would be C.U.C.'s turn. Down would charge their forwards in a speedy dash, the ball travelling among them in long, hard flights. From nowhere, almost, would appear a speedy Victorian back, followed by two others, and the rush was stemmed. Half-way through the spell, Webb had a shot at goal which soared over the net. It is difficult to say which side had the better of the first half; both teams were putting all they had into it and there was little between them. Hlaf-time came with no score.

On resumption, Victoria took up the attack again and were continually laying siege to the Red goal. The pace was beginning to tell on Canterbury, but they defended strenuously. The four half-backs were a source of great strength to Victoria, and their support on attack was very disconcerting to the opposition. At this stage of the game, the green forwards were within striking distance several times but failed to finish off promising movements. The Canterbury full-backs were called upon to battle strenuously and did so with hard, clean drives. But V.U.C. gave them little rest and with ten minutes to go, from a movement down the right, Shaw secured, broke through the defence like a flash and sent a beautiful shot into the corner of the net. C.U.C. now attacked with great determination and the closing minutes when the light was fading were anxious ones for V.U.C. supporters. The tension was terrific, especially when C.U.C. gained a penalty corner. But the defence held and the Seddon Stick had found a new home.

The team won as a team in which combination and positional play counted for everything. Special praise is due to the coach, Mr. Jacobsen and his system, the success of which should be a source of as much satisfation to him as it is to us.