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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 3, No. 4. 1940
Sport
Sport
Physical Education
The proposed Physical Education scheme for Undergraduates as outlined in this issue, is of paramount importance to College Sports Clubs. It is by discussion of this problem by Clubs and Club Committees that such a scheme can be started.
Generally, during such a period as the present, club functions and especially sporting activities are allowed to lapse. In the interests of Sports clubs, this attitude is definitely wrong. In times of war it is most important that these activities should be carried on, even if it is necessary to do so in a modified form, otherwise the Student Body and Clubs must suffer through loss of sound administration.
The Physical Education scheme is an excellent project and College Sports Clubs should rally round the Executive and endeavour to induce the College Council to give the scheme their support in a practical manner.
The benefits derived from this project will be felt by the College, not only in the field of sport, but also in the general standard of physique of the Undergraduate.
A.R.A.
First Fifteen Rugby
Varsity in Senior Rugby to date, his not a very impressive record on paper. A win against St. Pat's College Old Boy, a draw versus Wellington College Old Boy s and losses against Poneke and Athletic.
The Team's performance has however been better than results would have it. Against Old Boys a penalty kick of the opposition, given over, definitely missed, and against Poneke and Athletic it was only the inexperience of the backs which lost the side each game.
In the forward division the team has played with dash and skill and in this department it is living up to the high standards of the past few seasons. Outstanding in a good pack have been McNicol and Burke whilst Hansen, Corkill, Shannon and in fact the whole pack have played with real determination. Powerful packs such as Poneke, W. Coll. Old Boys and Athletic have if anything had the worst of the encounter forward and it is indeed strange that che trend should continue at Varsity—strong forwards but not so strong backs, as University teams have always been noted for their back piny.
The University back line needs one experienced and solia back close to the scrum. Given a tactician such as Dick Wild in any of those positions it is doubtful if the side would have been defeated to date. However we have not at the moment such a player and the young backline gracing the fifteen will learn. It is imperative that the inside backs should move up more quickly on defence and when tackling an opponent that they should go low and hard. The number of high tackles made by the members of the senior team this season would be impossible to cultivate. Individually the backs have much promise. Churchill is improving at half but is still a little slow. He throws long and good passes however. Patrick at first five eighths needs to remember that it is a five eighth's duty to go up to his, man if he nans with
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the ball at all. Larkin has boon quite good in each of his appearances and Cooney shows promise. Here again a tendency to go up on defence is apparent. Parker has boon out of position at centro. A promising player, it is unreasonable to expect him to blossom out as a centre overnight; never having played in what is probably the most difficult position in the backs. Tricklebank in each appearance has boon solid and good. On the wing Shaw has been dashing but seems to lack a little on defence and it would pay him to give a little attention to the side of his play. Mahood has boon a trier. Kissell has shown improved form at full back.
For a young team however the performance has boon good and since the team must inevitably improve very heartening for the Club.
A spirit of keenness exists today thanks to the coaching of Mr. Jim Parker and the good administration of the Club that will ultimately, war permitting, bring Varsity back to the position it hold in the halcyon days of the twenties.
J. A. C.
Tramping News
Tauherenikau-Alpha.
This was an amazing trip. It was surely unprecedented for all but one of a varsity party of seventeen which had set out for Tauherenikau to go on to Alpha (in spite of the gloomy forebodings of R.L.M.). We were first amazed by the freshers and others who ran up the Puffer quicker than you could say "Excelsior" and left Chas and their leader standing. Chas was first to reach Alpha, however.
At the Chateau we decided after considerable discussion (and bread and honey and peanuts) to go ontto Alpha. Some began to regret this on the Block XVI ridge which was a little steeper and a lot longer than some had realised. The ascent however was made thrilling by the wild slashing of slashers (we were supposed to be blazing the track). All things come to an end, oven Block XVI, and we wire glad when we dropped down from Omega to Hell's Gates, because we knew we should have to climb all that way up again. J.K.J. was reluctant to leave Hell's Gates and indulged in backsliding all the way up the zig-zag. Alpha was reached by dusk. The amazing Bill Roberts hawe was not satisfied with having come all that way in bare feet, but insisted on feeding every body. Alec MacLeod made an excellent stew.
There were two discussion groups during the evening, the politicians and the low-brows. We must thank Chas who stayed behind in the morning to clear up after the mob, and Henri, Ron, Bill and others who took turns in carrying the pack of The B———, who was not well.
We came out over the slightly boring Marchant ridge in good time and were little more than an hour late for extrav rehearsal!
J. W.-H.
Totara Flats.
After half an hour's wait for the members who had slept in, Mr. Anderson arriving strangely unabashed and Miss Ross arriving not at all, Ron Meek's party for the new Dalefield-Kaitoke trip left the Telephone Exchange at 9a.m.
When Kaitoke was reached, Joy Stock and Messrs. Anderson and Johnston loft the lorry to make their way to Tauherenikau. The rest of the party travelled on over the Rimutakas.
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Starting from Dalefield three hours' bush scrambling brought us down into the beautiful Totara Plats. On arrival at Sayers' Hut Messrs. Viggers, Collin and Butchers declared their intention of crossing the Waiohina that night to relieve the congestion at Sayers. Accordingly, Don was attached securely at the end of the many feet of rope that had luckily been brought, and he sallied forth into the treacherous current. After 20-minutes battling in the icy water he finally reached the bank.
A pleasant night was spent by the main party in singing Extra v songs, consuming stow, and discussing the historic mission of the working class in the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the establishment of a socialist society. Early to bed with our Devine insisting on reading "True Confessions" in bed.
Next morning as the mists cleared Totara Flats were soon at their best. The Waiohina was crossed without too much trouble and the party proceeded down the river and up into the, push towards Cone Saddle. Cone Saddle Hut was visited and came the descent to the Upper Tauherenikau. At Top Hut an amazing meal of bread butter cheese sardines onion was masticated. This later had the most amazing effect on some members of the party, especially Mr. Boyd.
At the Chateau two been bottles on the mantelpiece proved that the two other members, had boon and departed. Over the hill and to the lorry, concluding one of the pleasantest trips the Tararuas have to offer.
P.A.M.
Notes on: Inter-University Hockey Tournament for the Seddon Stick
The Tournament just concluded was probably played in the muddiest conditions yet experienced but the standard of Hockey in spite of this was very high.
On the opening day teams played in a continuous downpour of rain and grounds very soon became veritable bogs. Instead of damping the enthusiasm of players the bad weather appeared to inspiro thorn to greater efforts and the display given in the Otag o-Auckland match was, in my opinion, the best given by these teams throughout the Tournament. The tremendous physical effort put forth by these to ams was evident in their play on the following day when they appeared to be somewhat "done" towards the end of their games.
The feature of the Canterbury-Auckland game on Thursday morning (won by Canter bury 3 goals to 1) was the magnificent display put up by the Canterbury goalkeeper, Maister, who had undoubtedly saved his side from being beaten by Auckland, who had a marked territorial advantage but could not manage to sec score, whereas Canterbury made the most of their opportunities on the few occasions they reached the Auckland circle.
The victoria A-Auckland game on Friday morning brought forth some sparkling hockey. The attack of both teams was fast and spirited and the ball control was excellent. Equally good was the defence, both sides defending well and frequently the ball was taken right to the circle for a back to emerge from a melee with the ball and crack it hard down the field and start a counter-attack. This game was won by one of the finest goals
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over shot from a corner—the ball was tapped across to Braithwaito on the edge of the circle and belted home behind the goalkeeper at a very sharp angle and kept very low all the way.
The surprise of the Tournament was the Massey College Team who started very shakily and only managed to shade Victoria B by 2 goals to 1 in their opening game and lost to Otago 4-11 on the second day. From then on However, they appeared to improve and wont on to register their first "Seddon Stick" victory.
Massey are to be congratulated on their winning the "Stick" which will do much to further the game at Massey College and so enable them to improve on the already high standard of hockey displayed at the Tournament just concluded.
A lot of credit must go to Hoe Lawry for Massey's win and he has shown what Enthusiast and Leadership can do over a number of years to build up a really strong team.
On behalf of the referees I should like to pay a tribute to the very fine manner in which players accepted the ruling s of "the men with the whistle" and also to pay a tribute to the very fine sporting spirit in which the games were played.
When games are played in such a sporting manner, then it is no wonder the Annual Inter-University Hockey Tournament is such a popular and looked-forward-to Annual Fixture.
My memories of the 1940 Tournament will always be pleasant ones, and I hope I shall be able to assist with the whistle when the Tournament is held again in Wellington.
V.U.C. hockey players were loud in their praises of Massey, who for to first time took the honours in last work's N.Z.U. Hockey Tournament. The standard of play was on the whole high providing spectators with an interesting throe days' play.
Victoria A responded nobly to the coaching of Mr. N. Jacobson and reached the finals. A1thought the B team could do no better than collect the wooden spoon, their gamos were keenly contested.
Stan Braithwaite gained his third N.Z.U. blue and George whitham, the youngest the youngest member of the senior team, also won his spurs. George was outstanding in the half line and shows promise of being one of the Club's greatest assets for several years to come.
—And the social side
The visitors appeared to enjoy fully Victoria's hospitality last week, and the hosts have every reason to feel satisfied with their efforts to please. Highlights were the dinner and tournament ball which brought the function to a close. Club captain Bill Bryan and secretary Stan Braithwaite earn the warm thanks of everyone for bearing the heat and burden of those social arrangements which, although drawn up at such short notice, wont without a hitch.
Volume 3, No.4
Printed and published by the Victoria University College Students' Association, Salamanca Road, Wellington, 27.5.1940.