I was assuming this involved the reciting of poetry at an opponent.
Finally a sport grammar might stand a chance in.
At risk of earning Georges ire and being consigned to the dribble category I would like to comment on the "versing" issue!
I have actually seen a particularly impressive exhibition of this! After a semi-final ( loss ) in the early 1980's the UWA players had a post season dinner/drinks at a Mexican restaurant in Subiaco. Players from the various tables rose throughout the evening to lead the group in songs and recite poetry and given the competetive nature of the group it soon became a case of each table trying to go one better! The standard of poems/recitations was very high and far from deterring or annoying the other patrons, the room soon became packed with other diners and even people walking past giving enthusiastic applause! The finale was a stirring rendition of "The Man from Ironbark" which brought the house down and a winner declared! Those of us on the losing tables considered that we had been "versed" comprehensively! The incident became known as "The Mexican Song Off"!
Footnote : Mexican food was a bit of a novelty back then - no-one really knew what they were ordering (except Margherita's)! The cheapest thing on the menu was a thing called a "Tostada" at $2.50. I distinctly remember one of the 2nd rowers complaining that he only had $2.00 left after buying drinks, and in order to save the 50c he asked for the Tostada to be served "plain and not tossed"! True story!
Thanks for indulging me! Cheers, Wreckless