1867 to 1884 - CHALLENGE LACROSSE
It was a very different game back in the 19th Century. It was field
lacrosse, the sticks were wooden and players wore baseball caps but
nothing for protection. Matches were not timed. Instead the first
team to win three games(score three goals) won the contest. When timed
lacrosse was introduced it lasted for 4 twenty minute quarters. The
goals initially consisted of two poles. Eventually a cross bar and net
were added. There were four different playing positions: home,
midfield, defence and goaltender. The home players were responsible
for most of the scoring, like a soccer striker. Midfielders had to be
the most versatile, especially the centreman. He took the draws and
quarterbacked the offence. Defencemen obviously played defence -
without the advantage of today's long stick. The goaltender was very
different from the modern game. He wore no protective padding and
normally held his stick at shoulder height. When facing a clear shot
he would move out of his crease to cut down the shooting angle or
charge the shooter in the hope of blocking the shot or creating a
turnover. One other key difference: there were no rules governing
player movement. This allowed defencemen, even goalkeepers to
constantly rush up field. It also meant that a team clinging to a lead
could pack all their runners into the defensive end.
Native canadians had always played the game. For canadians of european
descent, it started in Montreal in the 1860s. In 1866 the National
Lacrosse Association, later National Lacrosse Union(N.L.U.) was formed
and a pennant provided for competition. N.L.U. records later listed
the Montreal Lacrosse Club as its first champion, on October 27th 1866.
Interesting, because the Montreal papers neglect to mention a game
being played that Saturday, nor any Saturday immediately before or
after that date. Other records list Ottawa defeating Montreal 3 games
to 2 in the first inter-city game. Very curious. Welcome to the
imperfect science of Lacrosse History. One thing is certain, the
following summer Montreal met Caughnawaga on Dominion Day for the
championship. During this era the pennant holder was like a boxing
champ and remained champion until being beaten by a challenger.
Montreal's reign as king was shortlived. The indians came from 2 games
down to defeat them 3-2.
Caughnawaga's crown passed on to St.Regis before the end of the year.
St.Regis then went undefeated through 1868. The following season
started disasterously. They faced Montreal on Victoria Day, in front
of 3,000 fans at the Montreal L.C. Grounds. With the score knotted at
2-2 and over 90 minutes played, the two clubs battled for an additional
27 minutes of sudden death lacrosse. Finally St.Regis scored. Much of
the crowd shouted, "game!" and rushed onto the field. However Montreal
disputed the game. The indian umpire agreed with them, insisting that
the ball had not passed between the poles. The contest should have
continued, however the St.Regis players, still convinced that they had
won, refused to return to the field. They packed up their equipment
and went home. Montreal were awarded the championship by default.
A lacrosse controversy. What a surprise! Montreal later withstood
challenges from Toronto and the Crescent Lacrosse Club, before ethnic
tension brought their existence to an end. Two new squads, Shamrocks
and Caledonians, played for the title in 1870. The irish prevailed 3-1
in 59 minutes. The final two goals were scored by O'Rourke. After
winning the clean contest Shamrocks continued their success in the post
match races. Moffat won the 1/4 mile over Vosburgh. In the 1/2 mile
for married men Anderson triumphed when his opponent quit at the third
corner.
Shamrocks held the pennant for close to 5 years. They were displaced
by the Toronto Lacrosse Club, who, in turn, lost to the Ontarios,
another Queen City club. Toronto regained the championship in a
rematch then met Shamrocks on July 29th, 1875. The titleholders took
an early 2 games lead but the montrealers managed to level the contest
after close to 1 hour of play. A tight war of attrition followed as
neither side gave an inch. Shamrocks came close to winning as a 40
yard shot sailed over the goal. They claimed the game but it was not
given. The 82 minute marathon was ended by a smart Toronto rush.
Suckling scored the winner to a deafening roar of approval.
Notable in the Toronto lineup was a player named Arthurs. He starred
in their next match with a goal and assist. Their victims were
Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, nicknamed the Winged Wheels
because of their team emblem. The champs humbled them 3 straight in 74
minutes.
June 9th, 1877 was the next scheduled Toronto-Shamrock championship
match. It never took place. The irish planned to start Burke, an
ex-convict, thus Toronto refused to play them. Instead they arranged
for White Eagle's Caughnawaga team to replace the montrealers. The
vistors lost the first game in 22 minutes, then routed the champs three
straight. Yet the Pennant was not to be theirs. The N.L.U. ruled that
Toronto had defaulted the title by refusing to play Shamrocks.
Therefore the Caughnawaga win was officially an exhibition game.
It was 54 weeks before the Shamrock-Toronto rivalry was renewed. The
match was held in Toronto, in front of 4,000 wet spectators. After
four games the score was 2-2. In the deciding game the black and green
shirted irishmen pressed for a winner. Both Lynch and Farmer - the
smallest player on the field - had excellent opportunities but failed.
The hosts then threatened as Arthurs beat the Shamrock goalie but
defender Hoobin saved the game. The winning strike came shortly after.
Hyland was leading a Montreal threat when he was tripped by J.Innes.
The Toronto player grabbed the loose ball, ran the length of the field
and scored. Hyland complained to Referee Varcoe that he had called,
"foul". Whenever a foul was claimed a time out was suppose to be
called so the official could make a decision. In this case the referee
ruled that Hyland had not called foul so there was no time out. The
Shamrocks still argued that they had called "time!' plus Innes' winning
goal had not gone in. Mr.Varcoe accepted neither claim. Surrounded by
a wildly excited Toronto mob he had no intention of reversing his
decision. Thus the challengers won the contest 3-2.
Rarely were championship matches played outside Montreal and Toronto.
August '78 saw one such occasion when Toronto travelled to Tecumseh
Park in London. With their big defence they shutout the home team, yet
London's defenders were just as difficult. The pennantholders were
ahead 2-0 when the contest had to be called so they could catch their
train. London had its one moment in the lacrosse spotlight, however
Toronto returned home with the pennant.
As usual it was standing room only for the crowd at the Jarvis Street
Grounds on a bright, cool September afternoon. Caughnawaga was the
opponent and this time the game would count. The Queen's Own Rifles
performed one hour before the contest. Don't worry they didn't shoot
anybody, they were a band. The visitors drew first blood when Tom
Monique scored at the 23 minute mark. Toronto answered 25 minutes
later. From behind the goal Innes passed to Suckling who then set up
Ewart. The next game lasted a dozen minutes. Sam Hughes made a
beautiful catch near the indian goal but shot wildly. Luckily the ball
deflected off a defender's chest and bounced through the poles. The
game was disputed but allowed to stand. Caughnawaga tied it 2-2 in
only 3 minutes. A careless Herbert Ross pass was intercepted by
Kamronwe. He worked the ball to Strong Arm who scored on a long shot.
In the final game the indians' conditioning prevailed over Toronto's
size. The home team's defenders continually knocked the Caughnawaga
attackers over, like ten pins, but the challengers kept coming. A
clever pass from behind the goal to Cross The River won the game.
Toronto's players cheered the winners and the new champs returned the
favour. The spectators cheered both teams lustily.
1878 concluded with two October showdowns between Caughnawaga and
Shamrocks. They first met at the Shamrock Grounds in front of a
disappointingly small crowd. The contest was a short one, only 35
minutes. Cairns struck first for the irish but Michel Lefevbre
answered for Caughnawaga. The third game was the only one of
significant duration, lasting about 20 minutes. It ended in spite of
goaltender Kay's big stop on Daillebout. The rebound was scrambled
through the poles. The indians concluded the match a short time later,
winning 3-1.
A fortnight later they met again. On this occasion the fans got their
money's worth as the initial game lasted 65 minutes! The play was
highly skilled, yet neither side could score. The game eventually went
to the challengers. After that the flood gates opened. Caughnawaga
responded like steam engines and tied the match in 75 seconds.
Shamrocks dominated after that. The third game was won on a high shot
which was disputed but allowed to count. It was now 4:42pm and the
evening shade was closing in. The irish play quickened while the
indians, sensing they were beaten, resorted to rough tactics.
Shamrocks kept their temper and won the last game in 11 minutes.
The irish held the title until 1880 when Toronto beat them. The
Ontario squad extended its championship run into 1881 and began the
season with a Victoria Day challenge from Montreal A.A.A.. The 10th
Royals Band played musical selections throughout the contest, possibly
to cheer the badly outclassed Winged Wheels. Toronto made short work
of them. Just past the 11 minute mark of the initial game Bonnell
cleared the defensive zone, passing to A.Martin. He charged the Triple
A's goal, then slipped the ball to McKee and it was 1-0. F.Martin won
the ensuing draw, kept possession for 2 minutes, then scored on a long
throw. The final game was also brief, only 5 1/2 minutes. Toronto's
third scoring play was: T.Martin to McKay behind the goal, in front to
McKee who finished it.
Toronto lost the pennant to Shamrocks later that summer. It took the
Queen City club two years to defeat the Montreal side and win the
championship back. On July 19th 1884 they defended their crown against
a much improved M.A.A.A. squad. Toronto took the opening game in 10
minutes. Hubbell won a loose ball and started a rush which went from
Gerry to Irving and finally to Smith. The next game was a long affair.
At one point the Toronto fans roared, thinking their boys had scored,
however it was a false alarm. The umpire had raised his arm to catch
his hat which had blown off his head. Later the visitors won the game
when Tom Paton checked the ball from Hubbell, then beat goalie Sam
Martin. The third game lasted 49 minutes. There was a bit of a delay
when Archie McNaughton fell awkwardly on his ankle. The Winged Wheels
scored their second when Paton again stole the ball from a Toronto
defender. This time he passed to Billy Aird for the goal. Smith
responded for the titleholders, tying it 2-2. The finale was over in
90 seconds. The home team won the draw and threw everybody into
attack. The Triple A's endured the heavy pressure, then Cleghorn
relieved to Gardner to Aird to McNaughton. Archie fired a shot from 40
yards out which fooled Martin. After the match Toronto captain
Hamilton presented the pennant to the winners in the Montreal dressing
room. The Winged Wheels returned to their hotel with the flag flying
from the top of their bus. They travelled home Sunday afternoon and
were greeted by many fans, in spite of the rain and the train being one
hour late. The players suffered through a handshaking ordeal to get
off the platform.
M.A.A.A.'s hold on the pennant was a short one. Two weeks later they
met Shamrocks in what would be the N.L.U.'s last challenge match. A
record crowd of 7,000 jammed into the M.A.A.A. Grounds, many of them
irishmen. The challengers wasted no time. Mike Cregan put them ahead
in 75 seconds. The Winged Wheels did get to handle the ball in the
second game, however their defence was too loose. Shamrocks scored in
16 minutes when Heelan checked goalkeeper G.Aird behind the goal,
dashed in front and fired it home. The demoralised champs had no
answer. They went down three straight 7 1/2 minutes later. Heelan's
second goal sealed their fate. Irish fans raced onto the field blowing
their tin horns.
