Parse error on installation

I have installed WordPress for the first time after discovering it this afternoon and got to the point where I installed the wp-config.php file — and that worked.

I was able to configure some aspects — but when I went to the “write” tab to make my first post I got this error:

Parse error: parse error, unexpected $ in /home/tryrugby/public_html/wp-admin/post.php on line 68

any idea how to resolve this? I am a neophyte when it comes to this stuff – so the more descriptive the better for me