The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

With less than two weeks before the
baby Rugby game between the Cali
fornia and Stanford freshmen, the
coaches at both universities will put
all their energies into rounding the
men into proper shape. The coming
week will probably see a further big
cut in the freshie squads at both col
leges, and the coaches will then have
only about 20 or at most 25 men who
show ability in very marked degree
to handle. This number can be prop
erly handled and justice done TO all.
while at the same time the smaller
squad will naturally be able to pick
up more quickly any extra points that
the coaches have to teach them
Both the blue and gold and the car
dinal babies have played. several games,
and in the matter of wins the Stanford
men on paper certainly look superior
to the Berkeley boys Nevertheless
these respective scores and wins are
not very good criterion for Judging
the merits of the two teams, and the
team that can absorb the most knowI-
edge and get into perfect physical con-
dition within the next two weeks stands
a very good chance of being declared
the victor on October 16.
At both colleges the fight for the Is
places on the final is going 10 be very
close. So many men have shown equal
ability and knowledge of the game
that the coaches are going TO have a
difficult task ahead OF them to select
the 10 to do battle. At both colleges
ly changed that one is unable even to
guess who are likely TO be the lucky
men to be CHOSEN.
OF the blue and gold team there are
only three who annPaF he
onably certain of being selected. They
are Pearl, Stroud and Graft. All three
nave shown such marked ability that
Coach Schaeffer has seen fit TO play
the varsity squad has indulged l..
For fullback at California there are
two men who stand an equal chance,
namely Hill and HIbbard. Hill has
played in nearly all the opening games
with great success, though in the later
games Hibbard has been placed in the
defend his line ably and he also has a
very sure boot. Equally can the same
remarks be applied to Hibbard. The
latter if anything finds tOucS a trifie
better and gains more ground than his
rival for the position. For the three
quarter line there is an array of talent
that will be hard to cOnjure with.
Peart's natural position to the writer
seems to be on the three-quarter line,
though he has played in every position
on the field from fullback 10 forward.
He has shown natural aptitude for
the center three-quarter position and
will make good If he finally lands this
responsible place.
Morris is Pearts rival for this posi-
tion. In all the games he has played
Morris has shown up splendidly on the
center of the attacking line. He tackles
well and can generally get his kick
away at the right time. Still another
man looms up for the center position
in Campbell though should he be nosed
out of this he also has an excellent
chance to make the five-ei ghths line.
Baker and Brant appear TO be the most
logical candidates for the two wing
three-quarter positions. Both men are
speedy runners and are also very good
on the efense. Baker has made some
liminary games and both men will be
hard to oust after the magnificent lead
they now have established
In the five -eighths position there are
two men who look more certain of these
positions with the possible exception
of CampbelD than any of the other
men who have been tried out for the
places. Mini and Matthews are the two
smartest fives that the babies have
played in the preliminary games. BotE
men are very resourceful and open ur
the game well once the halves send
them the ball. On the defense both
men are good. particularly at stopping
rushes They are not afraid to gC
down on the ball. and on many oeca-
sions take too great chances at stop
ming dribbling rusheS. For the half
hack position Otis. who was hurt In
one of the preliminary games, seems to
be the strongest contender, notwith-