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

Salient's Sports Editor analyses Tournament prospects

page 12

Salient's Sports Editor analyses Tournament prospects

Once Again, time for all conscientious sports editors to make their predictions. This is considerably easier to do for Winter Tournaments than Easter.

At least that seems to have been the pattern in the past. The story has been to predict success for Vic in August and attempt to disguise her wooden spoon destiny at Easter. But what of this year?

In Wellington this Easter, Victorian sportsmen surprised all. Progress reports snowed Victoria to be consistently near to the front—if not in front. However, she was headed off on the final count by the "grand old master" of Easter Tournaments. Otago again took the honours.

Now once again Victoria finds itself chasing Otago. This time it's because Otago holds the venue—but we hope not the upper hand.

Now for the predictions. The least that can be hoped is for wins in four of the sports: Badminton. Fencing. Squash and Association Football.

That leaves nine unknown quantities. Would it be rash, or just plain hopeful, to commit Golf, Harriers, Table Tennis, Smallbore Rifles and Men's Hockey to first or second placings.

With the introduction of a new grading system, the Judo team travel south as the prophets' nightmare. Hesitation is also felt in going beyond fourth placing for the Indoor Basketball teams.

I must join coach Bogle in wishing the Women's Hockey to make a good job of ridding themselves of that wooden spoon.

So there we have it. An overall tournament win for Victoria? Well, if not quite that perhaps a return to the glory of earlier tournament home comings with an im-provement on last year's fourth at Auckland.

The following are the tournament prospects as seen by the clubs themselves.

Association Football

With Ten regular first-team members in the side Victoria has high hopes of bringing home the Tournament Soccer Shield that they were co-holders of in 1965.

Five games in three days, however, places as heavy a strain on the reserve players as it does on the first line-up. Here the selectors have chosen a mixture of youth and experience. Two promising young players in A. Mann and J. Shuker, who play in the club's Intermediate team, have won selection along with more experienced players from the club's second team, J. Noon and A. Baystring.

Perhaps the team's strongest point is its fine defence. With R, Bustard in consistently tremendous form in goal and J. Mehl, A. Mudford and R. Lungard quick and able defenders, this should be more than able to control the other university forward lines.

R. Busted and K. Too find themselves reinstated in the nzu team to play Otago and a successful tournament could well see A. Laidler, R. Howell land C. Hongladarum join them.

The team is: R. Bustard, J. Mehl, D. Reddish, C. Wakefield, A. Mudford, R. Lingard, I. Glisic, W. Groves, A. Baystring, J. Noor, A. Laidler, C. Hongladarum, R. Howell, K. P. Too, A. Mann, R. Shuker. Manager. R. Kerr.

Badminton

The Badminton team is practising for Tournament in, a mood of cautious optimism. It expects to meet strong op-position from Otago. but is hoping that the more balanced team which is playing this year may be able to repeat the tournament winning performance of the 1965 team.

The men's team consists of Lim El Chiat, Brian Quirke, Patrick Tan, Peter Wilson and Brian Hadfield. Once again the main strength is in Lim El Chiat, who has represented NZU every year since 1963. His consistency can be relied upon. Patrick Tan has represented Victoria in 1965 and 1966 and is an experienced player; while the other three are all playing in their first tournament.

The girls are Janet Miles, Jocelyn Trewby, Patricia Tipler, Shirley Chew and Stella Zachariadis. Janet and Jocelyn played for NZU in 1966 and 1965 respectively, and they, with Stella, have previously played for Victoria. The girls are playing well and are a very much stronger team than played at Auckland last year.

Cross-Country Running

For the first time in several years Vic Cross Country runners go to Winter Tournament with the prospect of making a better than mediocre showing.

Brightest prospect is third-year science student Tony Woolhouse, who romped home 7th at the Wellington Centre Champs two weeks ago. He is very likely to finish with the first six at tournament.

Former almost sub four minute miler Dave ("Dish") Bullock is quite fast over longer distances like the 7 1/2-mile tournament course. Unlike some Vic runners he believes that a little training doesn't do one any harm and consequently he is fit enough to make his going to Dunedin worthwhile.

Others in the team are Dick Mace, Ian Stockwell, George Seconi, Bob Wilcox, Warwick Wright and Geoff Rashbrooke.

While there is no obvious individual winner running for Vic, there is a possibility we could win the cross-country team's race. Each university's first six home count for points.

Drinking

Reports from the Midland reveal the drinking team is now undergoing concentrated training. There are many new mouths in this year's team, occasioned by the retirement of old names and TV stars.

Prospects do not look bright as the judges will this. year be peering through an "Otago haze."