’49-’50 Men’s Rugby Team
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990
One of the finest clubs ever to represent Acadia University was the ’49 Rugby Axemen, a team that captured Nova Scotia and Maritime Intercollegiate titles and Maritime senior championship with its prestigious prize; the McCurdy Cup. Coached by the incomparable Major Fred Kelly, the club gained for the University its lone Maritime senior championship in Rugby.
The varsity Axemen opened their ’49 season with a 33-2 exhibition win over the Halifax Navy in a game played at Raymond Field as Neil “Scorchy” MacVicar gained 21 points and veterans Robert “Gint” MacKenzie, Johnny Bateman, Lloyd “Rocky” MacFarlane, Jerry Meynell, and that starry fullback John “Foo” MacPherson played their very best. Subsequently, the Axemen clobbered Dalhousie, 26-0, in a City League game as Johnny Clark, Lorne White, “Foo” MacPherson, and “Gint” MacKenzie each enjoyed a field day. In another regular season victory, Glace Bay’s Johnny MacAskill connected for eight converts.
In playoff action against St. F.X. the Axemen scored a 7 -5 victory in the initial contest as White and MacVicar shone offensively. With a concluding 9-2 win at Raymond Field, the Axemen gained the provincial intercollegiate title. Again, MacVicar, on three well-placed penalty kicks, was the hero. MacAskill scored the lone try for the winners, while captain “Rosy” MacMillan crossed the line for the losers.
The Axemen, after many attempts, finally won the Maritime Intercollegiate Rugby crown with a sudden-death 3-2 win over Mt. Allison, in a game played in Truro on November 12. The Mounties scored their lone points on a penalty kick by John Hill, while the Axemen recorded theirs on a Johnny MacAskill try. Sharing the plaudits with the lanky Cape Bretoner on that joyous occasion were “Rocky” MacFarlane, Bob MacDonald and “Foo” MacPherson. Among others appearing in the Acadia lineup that day were Ralph Turner, the “Galloping Ghost” Lorne White, “Gint” MacKenzie, Arthur Irving, Gaye Johnson, Dick Bull and Dan Charles MacKeigan.
As a climax to a wonderful season, the Axemen defeated Glace Bay’s No.11 Legionnaires in the McCurdy Cup play as Lorne White scored the lone try and “Scorchy” MacVicar connected for the convert.
It is a privilege to welcome for induction to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame, the members of Acadia’s 1949 Rugby team.
