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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 9. July 1, 1954

[Introduction]

Last Sunday we saw an enjoyable "picnic" game at the Petone Recreation Ground. Both teams had a good sprinkling of star players and the open style of play plus Winston McCarthy's comments over the loudspeaker provided an enjoyable afternoon's entertainment.

Early in the game the friendly rivalry between Scott and Jarden brought laughs from the crowd which numbered about two thousand, There was no serious rucking, but a surfeit of open play garnished with sound tackling.

In Scott's team there was, of course, Bob Scott. He played only one spell and was content to spin the hall rather than carve his usual great chunks off the side line. Crimp on the wing put Jarden off the field and after that showed up quite well. Bowers and Riley playing as five-eighths in the second spell were overshadowed by Mike Greig, who had come on in place of Eddowes, and by All-Black Fitzgerald. Reld, the half back, was the best we have seen for a long time and could displace Davis from the next New Zealand team. In Scott's scrum Jones scored two runaway tries, and most of the forwards had a gallop with the ball at some stage of the game.

Although the rucking was never fierce, the Green's scrum often pushed the Whites off the ball. Bill Clark was the star, but again the play was so open that all the forwards had the chance to materialise their dreams of being a second Mark Nicholls. Jarden was the pick of the backs and in his brief stay scored two good tries. Frank Muller turned it on on the other wing, often beating Freebairn and later, ably deputising for Jarden on the left wing. Fitzgerald although not playing seriously, and quite slipping when sidestepping made some good breaks, and his two "pots" reminiscent of Jackie Dougan, were well received by the Petone crowd. Tony Clark, although making some good runs, was best seen on defence, and on quite n few occasions Hashed from nowhere to smother a likely looking throw.

Mike Greig can be well pleased with his display. He slipped past All Black Bowers on many occasions and capped a really sparkling performance by scoring under the post.

All in all, it was splendid football, played in a friendly manner, with the score being only a secondary consideration. As students of Victoria College, we wish to thank Bob Scott and all his fellow sportsmen for turning out on Sunday. It was a fine gesture to our four All Blacks and one which the Rugby Club and the College appreciate.