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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 9, No. 7 June 19, 1946
First Fifteen Successfully Rehabbed in Senior Comps
First Fifteen Successfully Rehabbed in Senior Comps.
Rugby followers who decried the Wellington Rugby Union's March decision to reinstate in the Senior 1st Division the five Clubs which had been relegated to the 2nd Division during war years, have, since the commencement of competition games on 27th April, been forced to admit themselves wrong. No little part in the changing of opinion was played by the Varsity senior fifteen which, in each of the five matches played up to May 25, fully extended its opponents and actually defeated by quite large margins the much-fancied last year's senior teams Athletic and Petone.
Sixty-nine points for and forty-seven against was the record of the 1st XV which, on May 25, stood third equal in the WRU senior first division competition. Opening their account with 16-6 victory over Athletic, the seniors looked a particularly bright prospect and were featured on rugby headquarters for the following two Saturdays, but were unable at that stage to repeat against Wellington College Old Boys and Marist their initial performance. Ably led by Captain Dick Burke, the forwards in the first two and last two games were well-nigh irresistible. The backs at first failed to operate smoothly, this fault having since been overcome as revealed by the team's last two performances against St. Patrick's College Old Boys and Petone when 20-5 and 19-12 wins were registered.
To comment upon individual play is rather difficult in the team in which each member has gained and retained his place only through ability and performance. Perhaps just a shade ahead of their fellow forwards are Dick Burke, Red Murphy, Ray Shannon, Sam Meads and Bob Barraclough, but this is only one man's opinion, and in such an evenly matched, hard-hunting pack, opinions would vary considerably, and in any case would not cut much ice. Outstanding in the backs is the 18-year-old half, Ranfurly Jacob, who, with last year's first-five, Doug. Goodwin, has developed a particularly strong inside combination which is continued along the line by the recently promoted second division players Tom Larkin and Alister McLcod, the performances of both of whom have improved with each game. The team's "last hope" in full-back Hal Greig is indeed a strong and dependable "hope." His line kicking and tackling, not to mention his place kicking, have been an eye-opener to rugby enthusiasts, who are mentioning him as one of the best possibilities for the full-back billet in the Wellington representative side this year. Taken all round the seniors are a capable and formidable combination which bids fair to bring the "Jubilee Cup" "up the hill" for the first time in many years.
- v. Petone: lost 9-13.
- v. Berhampore: won 14-3.
- v. Onslow A: lost 8-17.
- v. Onslow B: lost 3-8.
- v. Miramar: lost 3-11.
Points for: 2; place in grade, 11th out of 15 teams.
- v. Oriental: lost 5-11.
- v. Athletic: lost 3-14.
- v. Poneke: won 3-0.
- v. Seatoun: drew 3-3.
- v. Onslow: lost 0-6.
Points for: 3; place in grade. 10th out or 13.
Comprised mainly of older returned players who are "out for a canter" the 4th XV. Junior 2nd division, has had the greatest of difficulty in fielding a full team owing to counter attractions on Saturday afternoons. The team's organisers. George Richards and Pix Hurrell, are overcoming this difficulty, however, by taking similar attractions with them. Operating on this system for the first time on Saturday 25th. the team registered its first win of the season: 19-3 v. Miramar. Sixty points have been scored against the 4th's 29. the team standing tenth in the grade, which comprises fourteen teams.
- v. Training College: won 19-9.
- v. W.C.O.B.: lost 0-3.
- v. Poneke: won 3-0.
- v. Oriental: won 27-11.
Points for: 6; place in grade, 3rd out of 14 teams.
- v. Woburn: lost 3-18.
- v. Onslow: won 9-6.
- v. Wainui: won 9-3.
- v. Hutt: won 6-3.
Points for: 6; place in grade, 4th out of 16 teams.
Perhaps the hardest hit by vacation of all teams was the third division side. Coach Alec Armour was never sure whether he would have even twelve men take the field each Saturday. Third C stands 14th out of 16 teams in the grade.
The club's overall performance is well summed up by quoting its club position in the WRU competitions—6th cut of 30.