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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1934

Reviewing the Sporting Year

page 123

Reviewing the Sporting Year

Although we have failed badly in certain branches of College sporting activities, the past season has certainly not been without its successes. For although Victoria University College's representatives gained but one trophy at Tournament—the Wooden Spoon-to offset this, two of our lower grade football teams, the Third C's and the Fourth Grade, won championships, these being the first lower grade Rugby sides ever to win their divisions.

The Football Club was also fourth in the Wellington Rugby Union Club Championship, no mean achievement when the size of the clubs above them on the list is considered.

For one thing alone we can find no consolation—the death of Jack Ruru, captain of the First Fifteen, following an injury on the football field. To his people we can only say that his death was as saddening a blow to his fellow-students at Victoria College as it was to the members of his family.

At Tennis the Third Grade Women's team has won the division championship, this being the second year that a women's tennis team has won a grade, which augurs well for future Tournaments.

The First Eleven of the Cricket Club are to be congratulated on their good showing, at least in the field and with the ball, Tricklebank and Dean proving a most dangerous combination. It is years since the first eleven has gained the equivalent of 36 championship points.

Another important sporting event this season was the first New Zealand Inter-University Cross Country Championship race. Victoria's representatives performed very creditably in this event, which should grow in importance with the years.

There is now a very full University sporting programme and even so the tendency is to have still more clubs. Therein lies the peril. Under the present system of the one guinea Students' Association fee, it is very easy for a small group of students to form a club, apply to the Students' Association for a grant, and start merrily on their way.

The inevitable result of this mushroom growth of clubs, unless it is carefully checked, will be that there will be at Victoria College a great number of small clubs, none of them strong enough to prosper. At the same time the serious drain on the Students' Association finances of so many small clubs, is a definite problem. Had many of these new clubs been compelled to seek finance themselves as did the V.U.C. institutions of the Foundation years, it is more than likely that they would never have sprung into existence.

J.A. Carrad.