Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.
[Introduction]
The first five Saturdays for one reason or another have seen the first fifteen fail to score a championship point. The Australian visit, with the demands on some of our best players which it made, can account partly for the lack of success; and rank bad luck has also played its part. A little more luck, and finish, could have won any or all of the Marist, Onslow, Oriental or Poneke games.
Generally speaking the forwards have been the main strength of the side, and have given displays of a consistently good standard. The backs, however, though they are made up of good individuals, have so far failed to settle down.
Apart from ordinary Club games there are other points to mention. On May 4 at Palmerston North, Massey won a hard fought game by 6 to 5 and on May 11 a combined team from these two sides lost to Australian Universities by 15 to 17. V.U.C. representatives in this team were:—B. Valentine, A. McLeod, J. Mclvor, R. and C. Shannon, J. G. Smith, H. F. Drake, J. Stone and D. Dillon.
On May 14 at Athletic Park, Australia gave N.Z.U. a shock and an 8-3 beating. V.U.C.-ites being C. and R, Shannon, J. G. Smith, and A. McLeod.
Congratulations also go to Jarden and Smith on their selection in the Wellington team to play Marlborough on King's Birthday; and sympathy to Dillon, probably the Club's most injured player, who is now recuperating after an operation to the shoulder.