FRESHMEN AT 'RUGGER'

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 7

FRESHMEN AT 'RUGGER'

NEW ZEALAND STUDENTS

PROMINENCE AT HOME.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, 23rd October

J. O. J. Malfroy (Trinity Hall) and G. Williams (Jesus) were two New Zealand Rugby players whose names had been sent in by their colleges to take part in the first Fresher Rugger match at Cambridge. The former played with the Whites; the latter was one of the reserves. In the result the Colours beat the Whites by 3 tries to 1 goal and 1 try.

Relative to the paly, "The Times" says: "The only half-back who is likely to be considered at all seriously turned out to be J. O. J. Malfroy, a New Zealander, who replaced F. M. L. Tegner in the stand-oft position at half-time. Malfroy can effect the break through and takes a lot of holding. The try secured by C. C. Agnew, one of the White forwards, was the direct result of Malfroy's best effort."

Mr. Frank Mitchell, in the "Morning Post," comments upon the great honour it is to be chosen for the Freshmen's match, for it means that the man must be an outstanding player of a great school iv England or in the Dominions. On this occasion 43 young players were chosen out of a large number of names sent in by the colleges. The conditions were good, with the turf soft, and little wind. The University captain has in front of him the task of finding a full-back, a centre-three-quarter, and five forwards, and it can safely be said that some help was given him by the football in this trial. Naturally, with the players being for the moat part strangers to one another, the game was -more scratchy, particularly forward, than, was seen in the seniors' match, where the men knew more of one another's play tFian the Freshmen could be expected to

do. "After half-time, Malfroy, a New Zealander, who iv appearance seems to be rather older than the average undergraduate, showed that he has a good knowledge of the game. He is wiry and tough. Malfroy, who had no* played in the first half, started the best piece of play that was seen during the day, the ball going through marly hands for Agufiw to score under the posts, a goal being kicked by Allen." ' Dealing with the Fresher Rugby final at Oxford, Mr. Mitchell remarks: "The Freshmen's match is always of interest, not only to Oxford but to the football world at large, for, though sixty young men stepped out to-day for their trial, vacancies are few in the University team. But college captains want recruits, and so do many clubs who cater for University players during the Reason. What the Rhodes scholarship scheme produces each year is closely watched." For the match, twelve players from overseas were chosen—a high ■ percentage. There were two- from Australia, three from New .Zealand (J. M. Barak, C. R Low, W. T. Harris), six from South Africa, and one from the University of Columbia. Barak played for Whites, and Low and Harris for Colours. The former won, scoring 22 points to 10. 85, Fleet street.