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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 13 June 29, 1938
Rugby
Rugby
Seniors Win
The Seniors scored an easy win over Miramar by 28 to 8, but wide margin was due not so much to 'Varsity's brilliance as to the extreme weakness of the opposition. In fact, 'Varsity did not appear to be very interested and played rather lackadaisically. It is to be hoped that the failure to secure promotion to First Division will not cause any lessening of interest as the Club now stand a change of winning both the Senior A Second Division and the Senior B Championships, which would be a line achievement.
The forwards played well in the light but did not display much dash in the loose. McNicol played a good game and Hansen was also prominent. It was unfortunate that injury caused the retirement of Burke and Meads, who were playing right up to their usual form. Burke's dislocated collarbone may keep him out of the game for the rest of the season.
Since the first few games Rissel has played consistently well as fullback and on Saturday he was again quite sound. Wild's penetrtation was again in evidence and led to several openings. Tricklebank was impressive on the wing and one of his tries was scored after a brilliant run in which be bumped off a couple of opponents and swerved past the full-back to the three-quarter line has proved successful.
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A.U.C. 20-V.U.C.16
In spite of the heavy state of the ground at Auckland the game was interesting to watch. Both sides were willing to "give it a go," and some fine movements were seen. The V.U.C. pack had a decided advantage in the set scrums, especially in the second half. In the loose the two packs were more evenly matched, with Auckland slightly superior. Outstanding forwards for Victoria were Russell, who played a great game both in the light and the loose, thomas, meads and Taylor. Among the backs the five-eighths, Larkin and Bryers, handled the ball well and showed good understanding. The play of this pair was on the whole, most enterprising. Bryers frequently found gaps in the opposing defence, but seemed to lack just the necessary pace to showa clean pair of heels. The full-back, McVeagh, played a sound game in every respect, and he showed no unwillingness to going down on the ball.
For Auckland, Drake, Lange, Hodge and Caldwell were the best of a hard-working pack, with Martin and Hayman the best of the backs. Cooney was prominent in the first half, but did not get many opportunites later in the game.
In the first half play was fast and open, with the Auckland backs handling well and opening up the play at every opportunity. After half-time play was rather less spectacular: V.U.C. got most of the ball, but it rarely passed the second five-eighths. Some solid forward work marked this half, honours being equally divided in the loose, but V.U.C. had the better of matters in the tight.
At least half the regular V.U.C. Senior team could not make the trip, and it was, in the circumstances, a creditable performance to run A.U.C. so close. The northerners, however, have not won a single club match this season, are bottom in the grade and will be relegated at the end of the round. Four old stalwarts in Caughey, Bush, Mulvihill and Thomas decided not to turn out again this year, the loss of these men, all of whom were Auckland representatives, being severely felt.
Footballers of Weir
Thanks to Parker's lone try, North defeated South 3-0, in the annual match. The Weir fifteen to play "The Rest" for the Ruru Memorial Shield has not yet been selected, but some players are more or less certainties.
Promising forwards are Baunister and Langley, Mahood is ideally built for football and should attend practices more often. For genuine scrummaging Corkill and Ryan are superior. Parker is a fast flank forward who has a good sense of anticipation, but he should curb his propensity for off-side play.
One of the fastest and nippiest backs playing for 'Varsity is Ongley. Unfortunately, like Mahood, he does not seem to be enthusiastic about the game. Larkin is a heady back, but he could improve his defence.
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