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This morning the Boston Rugby Club will bring two teams to face Harvard on the rugby field behind the tennis courts on Soldiers Field. The second teams play at 11 a.m. and the first teams start at 11:30 a.m.
Several ex-Harvard ruggers now play for Boston, which promises an unusually spirited match. John van Schalkwyk, captain of Harvard's ruggers for two years, plays lock in the Boston scrum, much to the amusement of his former team mates since he did not play that position at Harvard.
Yeomans is Threat
Former track star Frank Yeomans will be a Boston break away threat in the three quarter line, and Lyle Michely will be in the scrum. Michael Stepanion, formerly of the San Francisco Olympic Rugby Club, will be a terror as prop in the scrum.
Boston's scrum will outweight Harvard's, but the Crimson pack claim they are "fitter than ever" and bank on winning the ball despite their lightness. Doug Hall, who was out last week due to a strained back, will return to the second row, Ed Quattelbaum will be in lock position in his initial game with the first team.
Vickers Out
Backs Ross Shiel and Tag Sweeney have been playing well in practice, but the Crimson will miss scrumhalf Ray Vickers who is ill. Although there was no scrimmage this week the team seems to be gaining coordination from practice.
Open play and hard running during the first half may wear Boston down. They have the edge on Harvard in experience, but the Crimson banks on their getting tired. (The average Boston Rugger's age is only 29.) Toward the end of the game, when they tire and become lax on defense, pressure will bear down.
The second team's inexperience may well cause it to have a difficult time. The Crimson is fielding this second squad so everyone can play. "You learn more in five minutes of play than two hours of practice," commented a senior rugger.
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