Fencing . . .

V.U.C. Licks Aussie

The first international fencing match ever held in Wellington was fought at Wellington College on Wednesday, April 24. It was between the Australian Universities team and Victoria University College, and a gallery of well over 100 watched.

The Australians had been twice defeated in Auckland the week before, but they seemed to be settling down quickly.

Ours is the leading university fencing side in the country—having won at Winter Tournament 3 years in succession. The team to meet Australia had 5 N.Z.U. representatives—Misses D. Fussell and D. Franco, and Messrs. K. Beard, C. Beeby, and A. Ellis—and there were also Misses J. Scrivens and L. Hancock and Messrs. B. Pomeroy, A. Wilson, and C Kozora.

There were 4 events: men's and women's foils, epee, and sabre.

The touring team—N. Whitman. D. Ross-Smith, C. Watford, and G. Watford (men) and M. Sax by, B. Long. M. Sehreiber, and V. Stiles.

The men's foil event was the most tense match yet fought by the tournaments whose foil is their strong weapon. Whitman won all his tights, including an exciting one with A. Ellis, an X Z.U. champion. By a judicious selection team sequence the home team's No. 1 fencer had to fight the deciding Lout against the tourer's No. 3, and with the score at 8.7 in favour of Australia, although the home team led on points, V.U.C. won the last bout 5.2 to win s bouts all 55 points to 58 against.

Some fine point control by the tourers' leading epee. Don Ross-Smith, won the next event for Australia 9-7, although K. Beard won his 4 bouts for the home side with a penetrating long arm.

Evening events were commenced at 7.30 when Group Captain A. E. L. Davies from the Australian High Commissioner's office, met the two teams. The women's foil event was notable for slow fencing, although Miss Sax by impressed as a very competent fencer winning all her bouts. However, Miss Fussell and Miss France fought consistently to carry the V.U.C. team to victory, 8-8, again on points.

The sabre event, again the audience favourite, was as closely contested as others. V.U.C. won 9-7 on the last bout A. Ellis, the Vic. captain, won his 4 bouts, losing only 6 points.

A very fine finish to the match was a party in true fencing style which should not be the subject of comment hero. Sufflee it to say, the Australians did catch the boat to Lyttelton next day.

The N.Z.U. v. Australia Test match fought on May 4, saw Miss Fussell and Messrs, Ellis and Beeby in the N.Z. team.

E.