1924 Juvs

Back Row - C. Stuart, J. S. Elliott (Sec.-Treas. & Mgr.), C. O' Malley (2nd Vice-Pres), J. O' Malley, A. Mckenzie.

Middle Row - W. J. Westwood (1st Vice-Pres & Asst. Mgr.), A. Stockwell, D. Diggins, M. J. Cahill, A. McPherson, A. Parkins, J. McShane, T. Wiley, J. D. Wright (Pres. O. A. L. A.).

Front Row - R. Trapnell, C. Murray, G. Laughlin, E. Preston, M. Peart, E. Barnett, H. Woodgate.

Absent - J. Calderone, W. Warburton, C. Merner, J. Hennegan, F. Wiley.

original photo by Whyte Studio/St. Catharines Standard

photo courtesy of Nickerson Appliances, St. Catharines

St. Catharines is once more under the mailed fist of the O. A. L. A. The Juvenile lacrosse team has been ordered to play a sudden-death game in Hamilton on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m., Standard Time, with Weston. This is the final game for the championship. The St. Catharines management insisted on home-and-home games with Weston so as to use the gate receipts to help wipe out a deficit of $135. This sudden-death arrangement will ad $50 to the expenses but that is a matter of no importance to Weston or the O. A. L. A. Weston wanted the game in Hamilton and said that they could not get any people out to see their home games. Is it any wonder when you consider the tactics employed by their midget team in playing 4 over age men in Fergus? Then this same Weston juvenile team was accused of playing one over age in Orangeville. Of course there is no proof that they did.

Our boys are in good condition and those who saw the game last Saturday against Chatham will realize that Weston will need to be a wonder team to take home the bacon. Merner will be with the team in Hamilton and with Diggins, Peart and the others will keep Weston’s goal-tender busy dodging shots.

The local management would like to hear from some real lacrosse supporters who would be willing to take their cars to Hamilton for this game or who would like to assist in wiping out the deficit by a donation. Call Alderman Westwood or J. S. Elliott. Every player is requested to turn out for practice tonight and Thursday night. The team will be selected from those who turn out.

The juvenile lacrosse team held its final workout last evening in preparation for the important game in Hamilton tomorrow. The boys are determined to play a fast, hard-checking game without indulging in any rough stuff. They know that one man on the bench is a big handicap when they meet Weston so the slogan is “stay on the field.” Early in the season the locals defeated Weston 3 – 0 and should repeat the dose tomorrow if given a square deal.

The following lacrosse fans have volunteered to give their cars to convey boys to Hamilton;- W. W. Parks of Queen St., C. Liptrott of Wolseley Ave., W. H. White of Lake St., and F. J. Simmons, the St. Paul St. baker. A. H. Trapnell of Queen St. is also expected to take his car. The management takes this opportunity to thank these gentlemen for their generosity. It is especially acceptable at this time because the team is under a heavy financial obligation.

The following are making the trip: M. Peart, W. Warburton, R. Trapnell, E. Barnett, D. Diggins, A. Stockwell, M. Cahill, J. Hennegan, J. O’Malley, G. Laughlin, M. Parkins, C. Merner, F. Wiley, T. Wiley, E. Preston, C. Murray, Alderman Westwood and J. S. Elliott.

Scott Field, Hamilton, the scene of may exciting baseball contests, witnessed on Saturday a contest more thrilling and bitterly-contested than any other ever staged there. Weston and St. Catharines met to decide the juvenile lacrosse championship of Ontario. The struggle started shortly after 4 o’clock and continued until 7:30 with both teams showing signs of exhaustion, but no signs of admitting defeat. The first period was fairly clean and extremely fast with St. Catharines showing slightly better form than their opponents. Peart scored the only goal of the period and from then until the end of the game he was a marked man in more ways than one.

Weston seemed to have the edge in the second period and their hopes rose when Christie tallied their first goal. This period was full of heavy checking, much of which escaped the eyes of the none-too-vigilant referees. Warburton put St. Catharines in the lead early in the third period but Weston ran in two goals before the period ended. During this period a free-for-all occurred in which players and spectators resorted to cave-man tactics. A Weston player started the riot and you can guess who finished it. Weston started strongly in the fourth period and scored one in short order, making their total 4 and St. Catharines’ 2.

Sharpshooter Diggins was then sent up to the firing-line and his efforts met with success. The first shot found net after a speedy trip from outside the defense. In three minutes more he tied the score on another long, fast shot. Enthusiasm and dismay reigned supreme in the respective camps, St. Catharines rejoicing and Weston sorrowing.

To break the tie the teams played five minutes each way, but without scoring. Another five minutes both ways followed and still there was no break in the deadlock. Still another five minutes each way was ordered without either citadel surrendering. Those final thirty minutes provided fast lacrosse, but the going was strenuous. Time after time the whole team would go in only to have the other team return with full force. The teams fired with mutual respect for each other’s ability.

Whitmore and Dopp were the referees and to the Hamilton spectators their decisions seemed to favour Weston. St. Catharines boys served more time on the bench and played a much cleaner game than their opponents, a fact that requires some explanation. The Weston team averaged fifteen pounds per man more than the locals and used their weight at every opportunity.

They are hoping for home-and-home games to settle the argument and are entitled to them. It will be remembered that Raspin Scott of Orangeville, the vice-president of the O. A. L. A., ordered the sudden-death game in Hamilton. This was what Weston wished. Now see if St. Catharines will get what they desire.

The City of Hamilton took 15 per cent of the gate receipts, the O. A. L. A. took another 15 per cent, the referees took a goodly slice, and St. Catharines received $2.20 as their share of the gate receipts. If Raspin Scott thinks that is the way to boost lacrosse, he had better not aspire to the presidency of the O. A. L. A. next year.

The boys are indebted to Mr. White, Mr. Miller, Mr. Liptroot, Mr. Parks and Mr. Simmons for their transportation to Hamilton. They are also thankful because Mr. Simmons donated $10 to the club.

Mr. England left his store and coached the boys until he had to return on account of lateness due to overtime. J. S. Elliott coached in the last and overtime periods.

Alderman Westwood, who usually tells you how they used to play in Brantford, says that he cannot now repeat the old yarn. The juveniles take first place now and Brantford is to be auctioned off in the near future.

With MacPherson and Murray in the line-up for the next game, the locals should romp home a winner. Let’s go St. Kitts!

Raspin Scott of Orangeville, Vice-President of the O. A. L. A., has ordered the local juvenile lacrosse team to again meet Weston in a sudden death game on Scott Field in Hamilton on Thursday Sept. 18 at 2:30. The last game went thirty minutes overtime and ended in a 4 – 4 tie. This game must be finished regardless of the amount of over time that may be necessary.

Needless to repeat, the club is in serious financial difficulties and these games in Hamilton only make matters worse. Our share of last Saturday’s gate was $2.20. It is to be hoped that the boys who work in the shops and factories will receive permission from their employers to go with the team and help bring the championship to St. Catharines. Thanks to A. E. Coombs, Carl Merner will be over from Toronto for the game. Clarence Murray was out to practice last night and will be on the defence on Thursday. A. MacPherson should help the home field out should he arrive back in the city in time for the game.

One serious difficulty confronts the management, the matter of transportation to Hamilton. Last Saturday several local men very kindly offered the use of their cars and solved this difficulty. May we again appeal to the citizens to volunteer to send their cars on Thursday. They would have to leave St. Catharines no later than 12:30. Phone Alderman Westwood or J. S. Elliott if you can help to take the boys to Hamilton.

Practice will be held tonight and tomorrow night from 5 o’clock until dark. Wednesday’s work out will not be very strenuous but every player is expected out to both practices. Raspin Scott has promised two competent officials for the game. Weston fans are going to Hamilton in full force. How about it local fans?

The juvenile lacrosse team had a splendid practice last evening in preparation for their game tomorrow in Hamilton. All the boys are in fine shape and feel no bad effects from the rough contest last Saturday. It is unlikely that Murray will be able to play as his finger is still giving him trouble. McPherson is not yet home from Peterboro so in all probability the local team will line-up as they did in the previous game.

Only two citizens so far have offered to convey the boys to Hamilton. Rumor says that quite a number intend to go. The boys will need to leave shortly after 12 o’clock as the game commences sharp at 2:30. Will those who intend going and have room in their cars for one or more players kindly call J. S. Elliott at 2253W? Players will meet at Tim and Mac’s tomorrow not later than 12:15.

St. Catharines juveniles were beaten in Hamilton yesterday afternoon by the Weston team in the final game of the O. A. L. A. juvenile series by a score of 6 – 0.

After playing to a 4 – 4 tie last Saturday, these teams were all set for a mighty battle and a large crowd accompanied the locals on their trip to the Ambitious City. And judging from reports, the spectators fought just as much as the players. Some of the lookers on today are nursing the odd black eye and flat nose.

St. Catharines has sent in a protest on two players to the O. A. L. A. executive, one who played in the game last Saturday and another who took part in both final games, and it appears they have the dope on them. Henry W. Johnson is one of the protested players and Bert Barrell is the other. No birth certificate was handed into the O. A. L. A. on the latter man, but it is said that his mother told a St. Kitts’ representative that he was in his early twenties.

The O. A. L. A. executive has never hesitated about throwing a St. Kitts team out of the race; we’ll now see if we can get a little of our own back.

The game yesterday was not as one sided as the score would indicate. Although St. Kitts played without the services of Carl Merner, they gave Weston a great argument. Weston got two of their goals in the first quarter, Maynard and Christie doing the scoring. Barron got Weston’s third goal in the second period and in the third neither team was able to score.

The great weight of the Weston team began to have a telling effect on the much lighter St. Catharines players in the last quarter and Weston used their weight to good advantage. They had about twenty pounds to the man on the locals.

An exciting anti-climax to a hard-fought game was as incident that might well have developed into a civil war. A big Weston man stepped into the St. Kitts dressing room, called a player a “yellow cur” and invited him outside. The St. Kitts player “went outside” and found the greater part of the Weston team waiting for him.

The local team was well supported, however, and in the ensuing melee the newspaper decision was given to St. Catharines, the latter having an advantage of about two to one in the number of gladiators.

Weston		St. Catharines
Chard	goal	Preston
Coulter	point	Trapnell
Terrell	cover	Stockwell
W. Johnston	1st defense	Fred Wiley
Christie	2nd defense	Cahill
Stokes	centre	Peart
Spencer	2nd home	Parkins
Ella	1st home	Laughlin
Maynard	inside	Warburton
Barron	outside	Diggins
Bull	sub	Tom Wiley
Gandy	sub	Barnett
-	sub	Hennegan

The O. A. L. A. executive last night at their session decided that St. Catharines had not sustained their protest against the Weston juveniles in the matter of playing over-age players, but the juvenile champions will not be awarded until further investigation has been made by the O. A. L. A. The investigation means the sending to England for a birth certificate for the protested player, Barrel.

The counter protest entered by the Weston juveniles against St. Catharines was withdrawn.

This decision will be received with satisfaction by all who prefer a square deal, and not technicalities, should be the guiding principle in reaching a decision whenever such cases are up for consideration.

St. Catharines Juveniles are the champions of Ontario for the season of 1924. St. Catharines played Weston in the finals for this championship and held the latter to a tie in Hamilton in the first game. St. Kitts protested this game, charging that a couple of Weston players were over age. One of the boys in question, Bertie Joseph Barrel, was born in England, and the locals sent to the Old Country for his birth certificate. When the certificate arrived here it was found that Barrel was two years over age, having been born in 1904, making him 20 years of age, while the limit for juvenile lacrosse is 18 years.

The birth certificates for a couple of the other Westonites have not arrived as yet, but they are not necessary.

At the protest meeting of the O. A. L. A. executive held shortly after the St. Catharines protest was entered, it was decided that if the Weston players were alright, Weston would be declared champions, while if they were not eligible under the age limit, St. Kitts Juveniles would be the champs.

Barrel is over age, so, although the O. A. L. A. executive has not yet held a meeting, there is nothing to it but a title for St. Catharines.

The O. A. L. A. executive met at the Prince George Hotel last night and decided that the St. Catharines protest against Weston for playing over age players had been fully sustained.

The juvenile championship goes to St. Kitts, upon condition that they give satisfactory evidence that player “Joe” Calderone is the same Calderone as the one whose birth certificate is in the hands of the O. A. L. A. secretary W. Harcourt.

Weston’s juvenile lacrosse team made every effort to get something on the St. Catharines boys, and this after making a counter protest which they withdrew on the 24^th of September.

All their talk of over-age and non-resident players has ended in nothing after six weeks of investigation on their part.

And now the O. A. L. A. executive, in their wisdom, have decreed that if Calderone, who has not been protested and who did not play in either of the games against Weston, is the same person as his birth certificate says he is, then our boys will get the medals and cup, as soon as the additional evidence is received by the O. A. L. A.