Varsity league team playing well

The way the Victoria University rugby league team has been playing recently could ensure it a place in the premier grade next year.

Currently, the team is leading the senior A grade after successfully coming through the preliminary round, and in the main round has to date remained unbeaten.

In the preliminary round, Varsity made a shaky start winning only two matches and losing three. However, in the all-important main round, the team has come right and has so far won all of its matches, beating Wainui 20-17, Marist 39-13 and Upper Hutt 17-16.

The game against Upper Hutt was a hard and closely fought match, with Varsity being perhaps a trifle lucky to win.

But the players are very keen and confident that they can continue their winning way, and that Varsity will be one of the two teams which will be promoted into the premier grade at the end of the season.

Perhaps the real test as to how well Varsity will do in the competition, and possibly how well it would fare in the Premier grade, will come when the team plays St. George, which was demoted from the Premier grade after the preliminary round.

St. George is a tough team with a large pack of forwards, using it to crash through for its tries.

If the lighter Varsity forwards can contain these tactics and ensure that its fast backs gel sufficient ball. St. George should be beaten and Varsity will thus show that it could hold its own among the lop teams in Wellington.

Already several players have gained higher honours.

Trevor Smith and Kelvin Smith are both in the representative squad, and John Haynes has played for New Zealand Universities.

Also there is Wayne Nicholls, who played for Wellington last year and George Rasmussen, who has played for Universities.

Unfortunately both of these players have been out of action for most of the season because of injuries.

Like most university teams, Victoria's strength lies in a set of fast and incisive backs, supported by mobile and bustling forwards.

The two wings Trevor Smith and Robby Robertson have been outstanding, and between them have scored the majority of the team's tries.

Both are fast—with Smith able to crash through wouldbe tacklers, and Robertson having a devastating side step.

Both the centres Kelvin Smith and Evan Nathan are also among the lop players in the team, having the ability to run their wings into position.

Kelvin Smith is the iron man of the backline, able to take the hardest of crash tackles and still come up for more.

Fullback Graham MacBride is safe and has a booming kick, while stand-oil half John Fugler has been very sound.

Among the forwards, team captain John Haynes has been playing well, using his experience to good affect in selling up moves for his backs.

Loose forward John Dixon covers well, while hooker Ron Burbury has ensured that his backs get plenty of ball, ably supported by his two props Bill Powell and Jeff Gamlin.

But one aspect in which the forwards will have to improve in is tackling. In league tackling can make or break a team and the forwards will have to make an improvement here, especially as they play against teams who may have men of 16 or 17 stone.

Another highlight of the season will be the Winter Tournament at Dunedin.

The competition here will be no less tough, as university league teams in other centres have all been playing with outstanding success this season.

The Auckland team this year made the top grade, which is no mean feat considering the high standard and lough nature of Auckland's premier grade.

The Dunedin team is easily leading the local premier grade, while in Christchurch, the Varsity team is currently unbeaten in the senior B grade.

Unfortunately several players will not be able to make the trip, and the club has thus decided that it will be willing to take to Dunedin some people who have not yet played league and who would like to try it out.

Anyone interested here should phone Andy Strange at 838-882.