Crimson Ruggers to Meet Golden Bears Here Today

Rugby will return to the Harvard Stadium after a twenty-year absence at 3 p.m. this afternoon, as the Crimson plays the University of California.

Not many bookies are still taking bets against the Golden Bears, last year's Pacific Coast champions, but the Crimson should do better than in its last Stadium appearance in 1937, when it lost 34-0 to the touring Cambridge University side.

Bears coach Doc Hudson declined to forecast the result of today's match, but he hinted it might be closer than lost year's 18-6 and 21-5 decisions on the coast.

Like all touring teams, Cal has had to leave several of its stars behind due to "persona committments," and this factor, plus yesterday's long plane trip and the snow-free quality of this year's Eastern season should improve the Crimson's chances this afternoon.

Bears Weight Advantage

One of the greatest Bear advantages is their size. The fifteen-man team will include ten varsity football players, including starters Max Hale, who converts 50-yard place kicks, Norm Becker, the country's leading pass receiver until he broke his shoulder, Mike White, first four-letter man in Cal's history, and Frank Mattaroci, the center. The average weight of the scrum is about 200 pounds.

At fly-half, which roughly corresponds to quarterback, the Bears have ex-New Zealand international captain Pat Vincent.

So far this season the Californians have run up a record of 8-2-2 including two losses to the University of British Columbia and two victories over Yale, the latter by 31-12 and 13-0 scores.

The Crimson has also lost two matches this season, while winning three. Both defeats came during the Bermuda tour, however, when the team was without several of its regulars. Today's game will be its first at full strength.

The local football squad will be represented by Jim Joslin at fly-half, Ron Eikenberry on the wing, Jim Damis at fullback, and Charlie Eaton and Stan Merkel (next fall's probable fullback) in the scrum. Joe Conzelman of the '54 squad is playing center.

The overseas contingent includes Scots international trialist Alan Waddell at scrum half, Argentinian Mike Reynal on the wing, and South African John Chalsty at flank.

Captain Terry Turner, now in his fourth season for the Crimson, is the most long-standing member of the squad. Rounding out the forward's with him will be Tom Fritz, Bill Shane, and Ash Hallett. Hal Churchill is the other center.

Fast Three-Quarters

Both sides claim a fast set of three-quarters, though the Crimson backs have yet to combine well. The big question for the home team is whether the forwards can get enough of the ball to give the three-quarters a chance to score.

Admission to the game will be free for undergraduates with bursar's cards, and 50c for others. Proceeds will go towards defraying the Crimson's share of the tour's expense.

To celebrate its admission to the Stadium, the ruggers have arranged for the track team to run the Bird Handicap Mile between halves. The race, which is open to all members of the track team, will be started by Olympic champion Tom Courtney.