Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 11. 1967.

Victoria expected to improve on last year

Victoria expected to improve on last year

Fencing

The Auckland team looks strong, with three of last year's NZU team—all men-still eligible. The Victoria team, although not at full strength, does not intend to let Auckland have it all their own way.

The women are hardest hit by unavailability, with Helen Schwarz representing New Zealand at the University Olympics in Tokyo and Sandra Willson a member of the New Zealand fencing team to tour Australia in August. There is still a good uniform strength in the women's team.

Of the three events contested by the men, the foil appears to be where our greatest strength lies. For the sabre event the team seems to be of a very even and quite good standard. But the epee team looks to be the weakest.

The best prospect for a blue among the men could be team captain Davies, with his experience in all three weapons, although a good performance from Hayman or Loh could see either or both of them sporting the green blazer with the gold edging.

In brief, then, a prediction: Auckland first, with a determined Victoria team not far away in second place.

Golf

Victoria's chances in the golf are not excellent, although the team is fairly strong. The Balmacewan course at Dunedin, on which the golf is to be played, requires a fair amount of local knowledge, and the home Otago team must, therefore, be given an excellent show of winning.

The Victoria team consists of Rodney Barltrop, who won the individual competition last year and is an NZU Blue; Duncan Simpson, who, after a year's lapse, returns to the team and hopefully will show the form which led to his being named a reserve for the NZU team in 1964; John Billington and Kevin Miles, both of whom have had Duncan Cup experience.

Barltrop must go out favourite to repeat nis last year's success. Not since the days when Peter Rankin was sweeping all before him has a golfer so dominated the university contingent. The other members of tne team are all capable of very fine rounds on their day, but it would be in the nature of a minor upset if Victoria won the teams event.

Hockey, Mens

Although there have been a number of changes from last year's Tournament team that performed so well at Auckland, this year's team should be a good one.

Last year the Victoria team finished second to Canterbury which again appears the team to beat. Auckland is also expected to have a strong side and the Victoria team will have to overcome some good opposition there.

The team's strength lies mainly in its defence. The regular competition's half line of Keith Purchass, Robin Kendrick and John Scott will be playing, as will Chris Kirkham, the right fullback for the Senior A team, W. Guildbransen is the goalkeeper and left fullback is John Nimmo, who normally plays centre-half for the Senior Reserve team, but who seems to fit this new position quite well.

The pairing on the right side will probably be P. Dentice and G. Dick, Thur Borren, the present Wellington centre-forward is playing excellent hockey at the moment and together with Richard Grant at inside-left will make a strong mid-field attacking force. The team is taking three utility players in G. Jackson, P. Marra and M. Meads and one of these will fill the left-wing position.

It is hoped that Victoria will be at least in the top three of the final placlngs.

Hockey, Womens

Victoria's record in Tournament has not been particularly good recently (though two years ago it managed second equal), but last year the team gained the distinction of carrying off the wooden spoon! with the inclusion of five new players it is expected that the team will come through this Tournament with a better record than last year.

The recent match against Massey gives an indication of the improvement in the side. Vic held a strong Massey team to a 3-3 draw.

The Australian Universities team, which is competing to the Tournament after a short South Island tour, should provide added incentive to Tournament competition.

The climax will be the NZU v. Australian Universities match to be held on the Thursday (August 17) Last year Victoria managed two representatives in the NZU team and one of these players, Helen Tilley (goalkeeper) is available for re-selection.

Indoor Basketball, Mens

This year's VUW Men's Indoor Basketball team cannot be expected to improve on Its fourth placing at Tournament last year.

The team's strength lies in its big forwards, who can probably hold their own with other teams both in scoring and rebounding on both attacking and defensive backboards. Pivotman John Hall is 6ft 4in tall and the average height of the three first line forwards is 6ft 2in. which is quite tall by New Zealand standards, although Otago fields a 6ft 7in centre.

Backing up the three first-line forwards is the speedy Malaysian student, Y. H. Khoo, who is expected to play well at Tournament, where the defence met is often less rigorous and exacting than that encountered in the Wellington A grade competition.

The major weakness in the team is a shortage of fast mid-court men with good ball control and passing ability, This has meant that the accurate shooter Bruce Ramsay has been shifted to the mid-court, a position to which he is not entirely accustomed.

There are weaknesses but Vic may be able to surprise at Dunedin. The team is: G. Annear, K. Elliot (capt.), J. Hall, Y. H. Khoo, P. Lay, W. Mullins, M. O'Connell, B. Ramsay.

Indoor Basketball, Womens

Women's Indoor Basketball approach Tournament with mixed feelings of confidence, This year's team is probably the most experienced for some time.

However, they have been without a coach for most of the season, and injuries have caused setbacks in practices, and so, consequently, hopes are not as high as they could be.

Lorraine Le Petit, Sue Jackson and Robyn MacAllan have played for Vic at previous Tournaments. Sue and Lorraine have both been NZU reps and are currently Wellington B grade reps.

Helen Cook, a newcomer to Vic, has played against Vic in the Massey side; Vikki Tilley. though new to the club, is an experienced player.

Two first-year students. Michele Sehoenberger and Janet Macdonald, have both played for their schools, and last year Michele was in the Hamilton junior rep team.

Judo

A Major change has occurred in University Judo this year with the introduction of weight limits for the Winter Tournament. Previously, competition was organised on a team basis with two teams of different grades.

The NZUJC felt that this system could be improved and clubs voted to bring in a system of individual competition restricted by weight and not by grade. The weight grades decided on are: Lightweight, less than 11 stone; Middleweight, 11-12 1/2 stone; Heavyweight, over 12 1/2 stone.

There will also be an open competition for the best in each weight grade. This new system will provide more competition for younger and less experienced Judoka and in this way should raise the standard of Judo in New Zealand Universities.

The Vic team this year is Ivan Kenna, Derek Freyburg, Dave Feickert, and Ian McMillan. Ivan and Derek will fight Lightweight. Ian Middleweight and Dave Heavyweight.

Our chances will be best in the Lightweight where Ian should get a place without much difficulty and may well win. All members of this team are keen and have been training consistently.

Rugby League

Rugby League is to be played as a tournament sport for the first time at Otago this August.

The tournament committee have invited teams from Auckland and Canterbury Universities to play in a series of matches over tournament.

Smallbore Rifles

Our team is inexperienced but quite capable of results. Norm Rollinson, who last year got the best score for the Massey team, recently shot 599 out of 600 in the Manawatu closed champion ships. Rollinson is the most experienced member of the team, and if he can repeat the above performance, he will be well on the way to get ting the first NZU blue in several years.

Roger Dewhurst only started shooting last year, but he too has been turning in some very good results. Although he is a C grader, he recently came third in the Wellington Open Championships with 498 out of 500, beating amount others Mr. B. Lacey. last year's Empire Games silver medallist.

Roger Smith the team captain, is quite capable of turn-ling in a very good score or collecting knitting needles (in lieu of the wooden spoon)

Pest Dowrick is after a Blue in the hope of keeping up with his wife: undoubtedly a good incentive.

Last, but not least, Sue Lothian is the first woman shooter to get in the Tournament team for quite some years. This was a grand effort considering that Sue only started shooting last April and beat half a dozen men to get into the team.

Strong opposition is expected from Canterbury with Vic only having a slim chance of winning.

Table. Tennis

Judging from last year's Tournament where Victoria finished second to a very strong Auckland side after winning the earlier rounds in a most convincing manner, the team should perform reasonably well.

The biggest factor for this year's team to overcome is the loss of last year's top player, Harrison Waterhouse, the NZU champion and New Zealand representative. His brilliance was the main factor in the team's success last year and he will be sorely missed.

Two members of last year's team, Robert Armstrong and Robert Tricklebank will be playing again this year and will be joined by two newcomers. Bruce Langridge and Bruce Collett.

In the Women's section Glynn Kelly, who played in last year's team, will again be playing along with Frances Smith, who last year had the good fortune of playing for Lincoln while studying at Victoria.

All players chosen for the team are keen and have been practising hard and it is to be hoped that this year's team will equal or better last year's performance, although a lot will depend upon the composition of the other teams participating.