1867 to 1884 - CHALLENGE LACROSSE
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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 short-lived. 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 disastrously. 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 was 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 visitors 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 pennant-holders 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 4:42 pm 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.