History - Miscellaneous

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 traveled home Sunday afternoon and
were greeted by many fans, in spite of the rain and the train being one hour late. The players
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 demoralized 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.