1924 - DEPARTURE OF THE DOUBLE BLUES
Senior began the year with 11 clubs but finished with only 7. Allowing
Ottawa into the league, given the travel distance, was not a wise
decision. They played only three games. Mimico also lasted for only
three. Niagara Falls was a bit better as they endured eight losses
before giving up. The major casaulty was St.Catharines. The A's quit
after having a win against Hamilton taken away. Percy Oille had been
ruled ineligible. Curiously Oille was in his fourth full season
wearing the double blue. On a technicality St.Catharines was gone and
would not return until 1928.
The playoffs were expanded to allow the top two teams in each division
to qualify. In Group One, Brampton and Weston went virtually
unchallenged. Orangeville was suppose to be their main threat, however
Dufferins fell off badly. 5 wins against 9 losses as Foster Wilson and
Clyde Gordon were their only bright lights. Irish-Canadians, a Toronto
club, also managed five wins on the strength of Max McGregor's
leadership. The top two clubs were stronger than ever. Excelsiors
added three more juniors: Stew Beatty, Claude Jennings and Jack Worthy.
They also picked up defender Ted Reeve. He had taken a sports writing
position at the Brampton Conservator. Weston improved their side by
adding Conny Golden from Orangeville.
Toronto Maitlands and Hamilton were the best in Group Two. They had an
easy run once St.Catharines had dropped out. Athletics defeated
Maitlands 3-2 and Hamilton twice, by scores of 6-4 and 5-4. The short
lived 5-4 win came in overtime. St.Simon's was the only other
challenger in the division. Their 5-6 record was not nearly good
enough. Maitlands split their four regular season meetings with
Tigers. They lost the initial games by scores of 9-4 and 4-1, before
winning twice, 12-3 and 7-4. Maitlands starting goaltender Bill
MacArthur missed the opening contest. Home advantage was key in the
Group Final. Maitlands won 7-3 at Scarborough Beach and they needed
that four goal cushion heading to the Steel City. The second match was
played in a heavy rain. The home side played well but MacArthur
continually broke their hearts. Hamilton did strike in the second
quarter when Dave Thomas beat four defenders to score. Verral Diedrick
soon tied it as he fooled Bob Rohmer with a long shot. By the second
half, the Bengals were desperate to please their largest crowd of the
season. They threw everything at Maitlands' goal but only managed one
more score. Hank Gowdy put them up 2-1, however Diedrick's second made
the final result 2-2.
That same afternoon a battle was raging in Weston. Brampton entered
the war minus veteran defender Percy 'Ski' Warre, out for the year with
a badly sprained wrist. Goaltender John Campbell was also absent,
replaced by Bert Burry. Their woes mounted when Norm Zimmer went down
on the slippery field injuring his shoulder. It wasn't an easy game
for the Suburbanites either. Bill Coulter sprained his ankle early.
Unlike Zimmer, he eventually returned. It was a contest with plenty of
minor penalties and lots of 10 men lacrosse. Excelsiors led 2-0 early
but surrendered three unanswerd goals before halftime. They jumped
back in front 4-3 in the third quarter. Once again the defending
champs replied. They counted a trio in the last twenty minutes to win
6-5. Bob Stephenson and Toots White both scored twice. George Sproule
fired a pair for the losers.
The next Saturday, a record crowd turned out in Brampton. The stands
were full and spectators surrounded the field, right up to the boundary
lines. Every time the ball left play their was a delay in retrieving
it. It was another hard checking affair, with no deliberate fouls.
Sproule scored the only goal of the first quarter, from Pete Machell,
tying the series. The Suburbanites devastated the home side in the
second. They scored three times in seven minutes. First, Stephenson
from a scrimmage. Second, Gordon Coulter after Brampton had failed to
clear the ball. Finally, Stephenson again. He scored from in close
but it was disallowed because of a crease violation. Big Bob simply
won the ensuing draw and potted one which counted. Though they were
shocked, Brampton did not give up. Both Stew Beatty and Sproule
tallied in the fourth frame with low, fast shots. Sproule's grass
cutter blew through Fred Rowntree's legs. Tied 3-3, Excelsiors only
trailed by one in the series. Five minutes of pressure followed.
Eventually Toad Farr relieved by sending a long pass to Earl Stevenson.
Burry came out to check him but the Weston sniper rolled the ball into
the open net. 4-3 was the final score.
That was basically for the championship. Maitlands had a game crew but
the titleholders played perfect lacrosse at Scarborough Beach. Conny
Golden, Ty Silk and Stephenson knocked the heart out of the Toronto
side with early goals. Weston won easily 11-5. Bill MacArthur's
inspired play prevented a worse beating. A week later, the dominance
continued. It was only 2-0 after 40 minutes, however the Suburbanites
scored 4 third quarter goals to put it away. George Laceby brought
Maitlands further disgrace when he was ordered off the field for rough
play.
