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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 12. September 6, 1954

Varsity Does The ... — Jubilee Cup Hat Trick

Varsity Does The ...

Jubilee Cup Hat Trick

Against Petone two weeks ago, Varsity clinched the Jubilee Cup. It was the culmination of a season's bright Rugby and on three season's performances, they showed that they were still the premier club in Wellington. But in that decisive game, Varsity were definitely overshadowed.

With the wind with them. Petone could only manage a six-point lead and the Varsity supporters sat back with the start of the second spell to watch the slaughter. But something must have upset the Blue forwards because they tore into the game like terriers. This aspect of the game was not pleasing; Varsity had let Petone attack all the first spell so that they would tire against the wind and here was Petone hogging the limelight. They threw everything at the Varsity goal line and excellent breaks by Abbot Dougan and Brockle-bank failed through bad luck or bad handling. Varsity rallied all the time but the forwards could not get the ball away cleanly, Scott's line kicking and the very solid rucking had made them slower than they had been for several games.

Bremner comes in for a lot of praise from the local press. However, how many times did our scoring wingers get the ball? Bremner showed some excellent sense in not letting the ball out to men who because of the close-up defence of the Blue backs were in a worse position than himself. But why in the name of alt that's green and gold did he go down, ball and all, on so many occasions? He had to be very chary of the kick-through or of a grubber kick because of Maestro Scott. He also had to watch the loose ball in case Jack Dougan slipped through with his forwards. Loose foot rushes would have nullified the superior weight and packing of the Blue scrum and could have easily had Scott in trouble. Put Laurie Haig in the same position and he would have known what to do with the ball. But his breaks and defence were excellent. He kicked passes off his toes and smothered many of the Petone breaks. His highlight though came with the clock showing full-time and the Petone defence moving across to cover the anticipated break through. Bremner swung the attack across in the opposite direction with a little lobbed punt for Jarden to take at full steam and clinch the Jubilee Cup.