1922 - WESTON SUBURBANITES
Nine teams started the O.L.A. season but Toronto Shamrocks only lasted
five games. Young Toronto's Bill MacArthur made it through only six.
A railroad accident ended his season prematurely.
The defending champs added Lionel Conacher to their lineup. He led
them in scoring, however Riversides finished second to St.Simon's in
Group Two. The Anglicans only loss came on September 3rd, after they
had clinched first place. Fat Gallagher scored three as Riversides
upended them 5-1. Also in the Group was St.Catharines and Toronto
Beaches. Both had losing records. The duo of sniper Vince O'Brien and
playmaker Ducky Switzer kept the Athletic offence humming. Art Pim was
Beaches hero and he topped the league with 21 goals in 7 games.
The fight for Group One honours was much tighter. An improved Brampton
squad, with junior Pete Machell, battled Weston hard. They left
Maitlands and Young Torontos well behind. The latter lost every game.
The Suburbanites, as the Toronto media called them, had built a team to
dominate the decade. The three Coulters, Kingdon brothers, Earl
Stevenson(over from Orangeville) Toad Farr, Nels Riley and Fred
Rowntree would lead the lacrosse renaissance of the twenties.
The four head to head meetings between the contenders would decide
first. Weston won on July 8th 5-2. The next week Brampton topped them
5-1. Thus they headed down the home stretch even. On August 19th,
Excelsiors were doubled 4-2. The following Saturday they rebounded to
rout Young Torontos 14-6. Meanwhile the Suburbanites defeated
Maitlands 5-1. In their final encounter, Machell scored a pair and
George Sproule a single goal for Excelsiors. Three was not enough as
Weston counted eight. Harry Coulter's hattrick broke Brampton's
spirit.
The final was a tough defensive series. Bill Coulter was given the
task of covering Max McGregor and he succeeded admirably. Weston won
at home 3-1 but had to fight for dear life to hang on at Scarborough
Beach. 5,000 watched a tight contest with the play mostly ragged.
Riley scored 5 minutes in to put Weston up three goals. Jack Cudmore
replied before quarter time, then Mouse Lount gave St.Simon's a 2-1
lead in the second. Just after the halftime break, Bill Scott made it
3-1, tying the series. Midway through the third quarter cover point
Toad Farr potted the series winner. The Suburbanites fell back on
their defence for the last 30 minutes to secure the title.
Orangeville were again Intermediate champs and once again after the
Clare Levack Trophy. The opening match in Weston drew only 2,000
spectators. It was a rainy Saturday and between the drizzle and fog
the fans had difficulty seeing much. The soaking wet field was a big
advantage for the husky Suburbanites, thus they controlled play. What
they could not control was the Dufferin counter attack. All four
Orangeville goals came on such lightening charges. Weston might have
lost the contest had they not scored two weak goals on long shots. The
final 20 minutes were played in semi darkness as the players groped
their way to a 4-4 tie.
All would be decided on Wednesday at Idylwyld Park. Over 5,000
witnessed the match, 500 having come on a special train from Weston.
Andy Hawkins put Orangeville ahead in the opening quarter. Kingdon
answered midway through the second frame. The third was a nightmare
for the Senior titleholders. Conny Golden scored after a pretty pass
from Hawkins. Clyde Gordon followed with a shot from 15 yards out.
Raspin Scott, then Roy Cruickshank extended the lead to 5-1. Ramshaw
brought the visitors one back after Bert Booth was caught out of his
crease. Nels Riley made it 5-3. With only 15 minutes remaining the
Westonmen would get no closer. Another triumph for Dufferins! Another
failure for Senior Lacrosse.
