There has been little cohesion in the forwards. To be outplayed in scrums and line-outs by the strong Poneke pack was not surprising, but it was disappointing to see the University forwards so slow to the ball—traditionally their strong point. After a very good all-round display, for which every pack member deserves credit, there was another lapse against the not very highly rated St. Pat's eight. Only Don Reisterer seemed to have any purpose and vigour in his play that day. The rest of the forwards rarely showed any concerted drive or any desire to cover up errors in the backs. Apart from Reisterer (his imminent departure for Southland will be a seemingly irreplaceable loss both in general forward play and in goal-kicking) other individual forwards worthy of mention are lanky Hanker Dave McDowell and captain Barry Hutchinson.

Varsity has never been short of good loose forwards and this year is no exception. Weir House President Don Trow began the season in brilliant form with vigorous and intelligent displays. When he was injured young ex-Scots College player Don Campbell (an outstanding third first forward last season) took his place for one or two games but as yet is a little inexperienced and gave way to McDowell. Starting with a versatile game against Petone he shared the general lassitude against St. Pats, in the Old Boys game McDowell did some outstanding things without giving the same impression of 80 minute vigour and all-round usefulness as Trow. Still, both are young players with a promising future.

Able Play

Barry Hutchinson on ability alone could easily have gone into the 1957 All Blacks as a prop or lock and was unlucky that this tour is being regarded in some measure as team building for South Africa in 1960 when "Hutch" will be a little old for big football. At the moment he is playing very well and should have little difficulty in retaining his place in the Ranfurly Shield team.

Backs Shaping Well

The University backs have on the whole shaped very well, bearing in mind the dire predictions made after the loss of the name players at the end of last season. Peter Osborne continues to give the same reliable service at full-back that he has for the last five years and seems to have developed in the ability to elude charging forwards and step out of tackles. Dick Heron has been spoken of as a possible representative winger and he certainly has shown great try-scoring ability this season. Heron's great assets are determination and an appreciation of the possibilities of wing-three-quarter play all too uncommon in Wellington senior football. However, without outstanding pace or Katene-like power it would be rash to push Heron into big football just yet. On the other wing Terry Ryan docs everything asked of him, his defence being particularly sound. A more set and experienced player than Heron, he could well get a run with the rep, team this season. Tony Clark figured in the All Black trials earlier this season but although very fast his handling lets him down badly at times. At second five-eighth Mike Watson seems at last to have found his right position but is still inclined to hold on a little too long on occasions. Unfortunately he has missed a few games through injury. Bill Roberts has the handling ability and quickness Varsity has needed for so long at first five and his covering ability is first rate. However, he could well do with another stone in weight and a more hefty boot—both would have saved him some of the nasty pounding he has taken from such Hankers as Thompson of Petone and Ngalu and Corkill of St. Pat's.

As was well demonstrated in his absence against St. Pat's. Col Henderson controls the Varsity back line. Although young Paul Jones tried very hard and threw out some good passes University badly missed the variety and ruggedness that Henderson showed so well the next week against similar tactics by Old Boys. At his best, Henderson is a very good half-back with more versatility than his rival for the Wellington halfback position, Poncke's Makcham, yet little behind him in ability to tighten up a game.

Good All-Round Team

All in all, this is a good club team, measured by the lack-lustre standards of 1957 Wellington football. It is especially good in the light of the pessimism with which Varsity supporters viewed the team's prospects at the beginning of the season (although our contributor of 9th May must be excluded from this category). And when valuing the inconsistency of this season's performances it is well to remember that rarely does any club team possess three such players as Jarden, Fitzgerald and Bill Clark—each unparalleled in their special abilities—supported by such good footballers as Varsity had in their vintage years.

And when all's said and done at the time of writing Varsity are at the head of the championship table, although It's anybody's bet who'll be there at the end of the season.

Sports Editor.