Brt 04 win

Just two more days before the championship season breaks open. Another new man made his appearance with the Athletics, in practice, on Wednesday night and created a good impression. He is Roe, of the senior Vancouver, B. C. team. He pleased the critics Wednesday night and tonight is expected to show up better after he becomes loosened up. He has already practiced some this season, and may be in fair condition for Saturday's match with Brantford.

Parke is playing a new position this season from last year, being moved out from inside home to the field. He is doing well in the new place and was responsible for a big amount of good work on Tuesday.

VICTORS PELTED WITH STONES - A ROYAL RECEPTION AND PARADE ON THEIR RETURN HOME – GAINED THE LEAD ON MINTO CUP CHASERS AND PLAYED A RAG GAME – FIRST DEFEAT FOR BRANTFORD AT HOME

The long wished for, scarcely expected, much coveted goal has been gained. The greatly yearned for object has been achieved, an insatiable desire appeased, and the lacrosse zenith of St. Catharines has almost been reached. St. Kitts has defeated the much touted Brantford team on heir own grounds right behind the dike in a championship match—the only occasion on which this act has been performed by any team since Brantford entered senior C. L. A. company. The Telephones received a close shave at the first match St. Kitts played there last year, but the locals profited by that experience and to-day hold the distinct honor of having scalped the Minto Cup chasers on their own prancing grounds.

It was as surprise to many all over the country, but more particularly to Brantford people. The St. Catharines management had quietly laid plans and made deductions which prompted them to look forward with some degree of hopefulness to the result of the game and the players walked on the field with unusual confidence, which they maintained until the last whistle when their most beautiful dreams were realized.

The team was accompanied by about 400 supporters on a ten coach double-headed train, who gave vent to their feelings in loyal style. They made themselves well known in the Telephone City and shook hands with themselves during the entire return trip until the arrival at the Western depot, when an unprecedented reception was tendered the team and a big impromptu parade was held.

To be candid, there was very little certain expectancy in the minds of the excursion crowd. A defeat would not have been disappointing, yet they wished to see how it would happen. The Brantford crowd, however, would have considered it idiotic that there was the remotest possibility of a win by the Athletics. Hence the bitterness of the pill Brantford was forced to swallow.

Brantford believed the St. Kitts team weaker than last year. Their own red and black uniformed dozen they believed to be invincible. Their last year’s team was found unable to lift the Minto Cup, and it had been strengthened for the 1904 trial for the aforesaid lifting process. Johnny Powers, the star home man of the Ottawa Capitals, with a reputation longer than Brantford’s senior C. L. A. life, was imported by way of adding strength and speed. And then Fred Degan, who was booked by St. Catharines to play here, was also captured, as well as Roy Brown of Paris, who was picked upon as the best available cover point in the country. And the great Hesse was replaced by the Capitals’ goal tender “Bouse” Hutton. This was their Minto Cup team to date and having been tried out successfully against the Chippewas in an exhibition game Tuesday, was considered in Brantford to be qualified for the “best in the world” class. After they have recovered from the rude jolt to their feelings they must confess that there are others.

The Athletics train was half an hour late in reaching the grounds. The match was started very shortly after the arrival of the team at the grounds at 4:06. Owing to a further delay caused by the intervening freight cars, the excursionists did not reach the grounds until after Brantford had scored the first goal and the elated Telephone City crowd flushed with pride, were cheering enthusiastically. It was anything but a cheerful reception for the visitors, but they were not disappointed. They were nicely settled in their positions to view the game when the light and dark blue scored their first goal and the Garden City voices were loud in cheering various plays during the progress of the match. The great struggle to break the tie came and it was again St. Catharines. Then the third successive goal, this threw the visitors into ecstasies of delight, while the thousands of Brantford people became dismally quiet.

Then voices could be heard: “St. Catharines was 3 to 1 on us last year and we beat them out in the last quarter.” This thought temporarily dispelled the gloom attendant upon the shock of three scores in succession and the eager Telephone City eyes gazed hopefully at the desperate work of their champions, who tried for all in their power to duplicate last year’s performance.

But St. Kitts was not to be caught that way. They proceeded to play a defence game. It was of rag order. It drove terror and grief to the hearts of the Brantford people. But it was the source of the greatest satisfaction to the delighted Saints. “What we have we’ll hold” was the motto that was passed around. It was followed implicitly and successfully. Brantford secured another goal, but it was quite a fluke. But this was the limit of the flukes or anything else that might have increased the score.

Hundreds of Telephone City spectators left the match dejected and 15 minutes before the match was over. It was reported on the streets of Brantford that their team had lost and the rumor was unofficially wired to St. Catharines. There were many dangerous times for the Athletics in the last few minutes, but the end was reached before any further damage occurred.

Brantford		St. Kitts
Hutton	Goal	Brown
Dowling	Point	Elliott
Brown	Cover Point	Don Cameron
Kelly	1st Defence	Richardson
Finlayson	2nd Defence	Harris
Neeley	3rd Defence	Downey
Taylor	Centre	J. Cameron
Doyle	3rd Home	Cornett
Dade	2nd Home	Parke
Cain	1st Home	Lowe
Degan	Outside Home	Kalls
Powers	Inside Home	Hagan
McLeatt	Field Captain	J. M. Cameron

Time Keepers - H. O’ Loughlin, St. Catharines, Wm. Crawford, Brantford, James Ladell, Brantford, for the referee.

Brantford started in to win the game at the beginning. The ball flew to Cain at the face-off. He directed an immediate attack on St. Kitts flags. The whole Brantford field commenced to skirmish about like so many ants. As they darted about they passed the ball, endeavoring to draw out the defence. Dade, Cain and Doyle worked like lightning about the flags until Cain shot, Brown stopping beautifully and Harris relieving. Back it soon came and here the St. Kitts defence showed its strength. Cameron and Elliott spoiled many fine plays. Downey and J. Cameron carried the ball up the field and Hagan drove a hummer at the Brantford nets. It struck Hutton on the legs and bounded out. Lowe and Kelly were given a term on the fence and were soon followed by Parke and Finlayson. Hagan gave Hutton another hot one to stop and Brantford commenced another rush amid wild cheers. Taylor shot wide and Degan fielded the ball. It was passed about our nets until Doyle drove one fairly in, after Brown had stopped a few. Time 9 ½ minutes.

The face-off went to Brantford. Doyle started another rush, but it was nipped early by Richardson and soon Hutton had another from Hagan to stop. Then the play became hot on our nets. The light and dark blue defence did great business. Downey and Joe Cameron ran up the field. Joe carried the ball well into Brantford territory while the Telephone defence tied up Lowe, Kalls and Hagan; Cornett was also covered. Joe continued down the field straight for he nets. Parke approached the goal-tender from the side, Joe shot. Hutton was busy watching Parke, who was making for “Bouse” like a buffalo. The Brantford goal-tender missed Cameron’s ball, it landed in the net and Parke, unable to stop from the impetus he had gained, crashed into Hutton and there was a fall. The goal had been scored before the collision, and Parke went to the fence. Time 5 minutes.

St. Catharines won the face-off and Brantford was on the defensive for a while. Cain was given a five minute term on the fence. The quarter ended with the play in St. Kitts territory. Score: Brantford 1, St. Kitts 1.

St. Kitts opened the second quarter with a rush. Lowe made a pretty shot, but Hutton was in the way. The play continued without any advantage to either side, although the Athletics had possession of the ball the greater part of the quarter. A strange feature of this quarter was that three Brantford men were off at one time and St. Kitts could not score. Later two St. Catharines men were off and neither could Brantford increase their score. Nit until within 7 minutes of the end of the quarter was another goal made and this was for St. Catharines, scored by Hagan on a pass from Lowe. Time of actual play 14 ½ minutes. When this shot was made, St. Catharines was playing 11 men against twelve, Parke being on the fence for tripping.

Superhuman efforts were made by the Brantford home to tie the score, but the quarter ended with the record: St. Kitts 2, Brantford 1. Both teams were playing to the limit of their speed and strength as this quarter ended. The tension was great.

The fast pace had been telling upon both teams. The intermission rest freshened up both twelves and the third quarter opened fast. The face-off went St. Kitts’ way, but was soon lost and a terrible assault on our defence commenced. Powers, Cain, Dade and Doyle all had shots which Brown took care, while Don Cameron and Elliott broke up many lightning plays in their infancy. Captain Cameron called for a rush when Ed Harris got control of the ball. The field carried it up passing prettily. The light and dark blue home men were covered. Cornett threw to Hagan who ran to a new position; Lowe got in place in front of the flags, received a pass from Hagan and shot St. Kitts third goal. Time 11 minutes, and the echo of 400 St. Catharines voices was heard up he valley of the Grand river. Parke also had a seat on the grass when this goal was scored. Brantford worked harder than ever, diving into the stone-wall defence with desperate determination to score at any cost. After one minute’s play, Powers made a pretty shot. Brown had it fairly, but his foot slipped and he lost his balance and the sphere bounced into the nets off his stick, which counted as Brantford’s second goal.

St. Kitts here started a defence game and played that tantalizing “rag” system. Referee Allan appeared to have his eyes on every turn Parke made and had him on he fence on five or six different occasions. The last time he gave George an extra three minutes for catching the ball in his hand after being penalized. Roy Brown of Brantford, Finlayson, Cain, Elliott and Don Cameron decorated the fence also in this quarter which ended wit the score: St. Kitts 3, Brantford 2.

The last quarter was a peculiar demonstration of the game. St. Kitts defence game was continued, only even more so. Latterly the entire team was on the defence side of the centre and every Brantford man except the goal-tender. While on the defence end, Hagan saved a goal for the team.

There was nothing particular to note in this quarter except the remarks of disgust made by the Brantford spectators and their bewailing calls to their players to rush in. This they tried time and time again. Both team and individual rushes were tried, and though Brantford narrowly escaped scoring several times, St. Kitts were able to retain the 3 – 2 score unbroken and did not attempt to increase it.

In this quarter Lowe wrenched his leg and was forced to retire. Roy Brown went off the Brantford side to even matters.

Of the Athletics, every man played a great game, considering the earliness of the season and the lack of practice, which will be overcome later.

Brown in goal is probably having more bouquets thrown at him than any other player on the team. It was a trial for him in that responsible position and he was proven to be invaluable. His work was almost perfect and was magnificent from a spectator’s point of view.

Brown was greatly assisted by Elliott, Donald Cameron and Richardson, who kept the speedy and uncertain Brantford home at a safe distance. These are a great trio; Richardson played without scarcely any practice and was a winner. He will improve with practice and add strength to the already powerful defence.

Elliott, at point, did no grand stand work at that point, but he was playing all the time and his work was of the order that counted. He has a great successor in Donald Cameron at cover. Donald performed in magnificent style. He and Elliott worked as component parts of one machine.

Ed. Harris should be a self-pleased youth. It was his first senior game away from home, this memorable one, and he did a goodly share of the work. He appeared to improve as the match progressed.

Downey was a colt. He played with all his old time vigor and speed, and was as lively as the younger players. Tod in all his experience never played a better game.

Joe Cameron played well at centre. His tact in taking the chance he did in trying to score puts him in a different class. He was a valuable man and was working every minute.

Cornett on the home was just as useful Saturday as on the defence. He covered a lot of ground, was always in the heavy work and was in earnest.

Lowe and Kalls made a brilliant pair on the home. They were closely watched but nevertheless managed to break loose long enough to perform some beautiful work. They gave Brantford people a demonstration of pretty stick handling that must have been admitted by all.

Parke was a handy man in the field, but unfortunately spent a lot of time in serving penalties. His bursts of speed were eye openers and he played with great avidity.

Hagan, the last on the list, was by no means the least. Though not in good form he played his position well and sent in several tricky shots which kept Hutton guessing. His place is on the team of his native city. He is bound to still improve with practice.

As the St. Catharines players left the grounds a shameful exhibition highly discreditable to Brantford was made by a gang of youths and many of them not so young. Charley Lowe was struck in the face by a piece of a picket. Teddy Cornett narrowly escaped a stone which sailed through the bus and knocked off a Brantford lady’s hat.

Such a farewell was not dreamed of but as any serious injury was escaped, no person cared, but quite a relief was felt when the men were aboard the train. This is the first time in many years since a St. Catharines team was stoned after winning a victory. It was quite unexpected in Brantford. Other teams must beware of trying to win in the Telephone City, unless they are prepared to run the gauntlet.

The Standard’s bulletin services kept those at home informed of the game in various stages. The tidings of the result spread rapidly. Upon the arrival of the train, the players were met by a band of 35 under the leadership of Mr. Peel, which was hurriedly assembled. Torch bearers were in line. The players were lifted aboard busses and vans with the officials, and a big mass of people marched ahead with blazing torches and fireworks to the strains of Auld Lang Syne and other airs from the depot as far as the Tim & Mac cigar store, where the parade dispersed. St. Catharines showed her appreciation of the great victory. It will go down as the greatest day in St. Catharines in the history of lacrosse.

Brantford will play the return game here next Saturday, when they try to turn the tables.

Corey Hesse, Brantford’s late goal-tender, was a spectator. His congratulations were extended to the St. Kitts players after the match.

A young Highland piper in full costume paraded the field between quarters. The St. Kitts field captain and two local players of the same name are said to have taken new heart when the pipes played “The March of the Cameron Men.”

“That will do if the boys don’t win another match all year, we beat Brantford in Brantford.” – The popular chorus after the game.