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Rugby . . .

Varsity Finds Form

Teamwork and Jarden

The individual brilliance was supplied by All Black Ron Jarden who scored 23 of the points. To do this was extraordinary enough—but to were most of these points in the last few minutes was amazing. How glad we were to nee Varsity win but we were equally glad to see Jarden confound those people who expect genius to flower in every game. Critics have at times used nearly all the superlatives available in describing Jarden's attacking play and I will not try to outdo them. Let us hope that he gets the chances in the remaining representative comes to prove again that he is a true University player—one who has determination, ability and above all, brains.

Jarden could not have scored so many points had it not been for the efforts of the University pack who supplied their supporters with a great thrill as they gradually wore down the virile Hutt eight. Early in the game the Hutt forwards had the game all their own way. University were bustled Bad mistakes were made and infringements were many and glaring in several line-outs the ball disappeared into a forest of University arms and then came out on the Hutt side: But when the forwards settled down, it was a different story. They out-nicked and outscrummed Hutt; they "out thought" them too. For the first time for some weeks they went as a pack and it would be idle to sort out individuals, except to say that John Fisher's return to his best form was most welcome. The forwards only fault was that they sometimes, knocked the ball back in the lincouts instead of rucking or passing it. These tactics must be nightmarish to a half-back when his opponents are breaking fast.

Consequently Larry Savage had a torrid time for a while until the clever nicking of the Varsity forwards trapped the Hutt loose forwards offside several limes. Savage showed determination in breaking through a tackle to score a blindside try but some of his passes to Fitzpatrick were difficult to lake. This was not always Savage's fault as Fitzpatrick was standing well back and clear of the fast Hutt forwards. It would have been a great half to have put the ball into his hands every time Brian Fitzpatrick had an "in and out" day. Beaten three times by Riley, he was, nevertheless, next to Jarden the person most directly responsible for Victoria's win. He "kicked" several of Jarden's tries and nearly put the ball in a position for Jarden to score another. Jim Fitzgerald was shaken by a first spell tackle and even more so by one in the second spell, after which he took little part in proceedings. He kept Loader in check and the try that the latter scored was no fault of Fitzgerald's. Brian Battell looked as if he had played loo many games on the wing this year to remember what it was like to be a centre. Tony Clark who replaced Muller, once again showed promise and kept the speedy Mooney in check. Osborne was not quite his usual self—that is he was caught in possession once—or maybe twice!

The next game, against Marist will, if University win, be the last club game of the season. What "Salient" would like to see as a glorious finale to the club Rugby season is a typical University game. If the forwards play as they did on Saturday, and give a better service from the line-outs, and If the backs speed their passing up we will win. If the weather in line, let the team spin the ball and give us some of the brilliant football of which they are capable but which this season's mud has prevented.