History of the A's

A's Jump To Lead In Three Team League

LACROSSE SEASON OPENS ON HOLIDAY

YOUNG TORONTOS DECIDE TO RETURN IN SENIOR SERIES WITH RIVERDALES AND ST. CATHARINES

RIVERDALES HERE JULY 2ND

The St. Catharines Standard 

Saturday June 23, 1917

The schedule for the senior series of the O. A. L. A. has at last been formulated for the coming season. The Young Torontos who up to the present had decided to disband their team will still be found in the league. This decision was arrived at this week, and the league will therefore consist of the Young Torontos, Riverdales and the Athletics of St. Catharines. The trouble in Toronto was occasioned by the fact that there were no grounds available for the Young Torontos to practice or play their game upon. This has been straightened out and they will likely use Scarboro Beach grounds.

The schedule for the season follows:

As will be noted from the above schedule the first game of the locals will be here Dominion Day with the Riverdales. The locals are all urged to turn out to practice on Monday night and every night next week. We have the material for a first class team this year, but the boys will have to turn out to practice and get into condition.

All the local players who played in Brooklyn as well as those who could not make the trip should turn out Monday evening and organize a team that will bring back the Globe Shield to its proper resting place - St. Catharines.

ATHLETICS  TAKE  FIRST  PLACE  IN  THE  SENIOR  O. L. A.  STANDINGS 

DEFEATED  CHAMPION  YOUNG  TORONTOS  ON  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON  BY  6 – 1 

A  BRILLIANT  GAME 

The St. Catharines Standard 

Monday July 23, 1917 

St. Catharines lacrosse fans in large numbers were treated to a senior championship match of the old “ring-tailed snorter” variety on Saturday when the Athletics in surprising form after a week’s good practice shook off the hoodoo which has gotten them into two tie games thus far this season with the Riverdales and defeated the Champion Young Torontos on the decisive score of six goals to one. 

The excessive heat proved very tiring to both teams, but nevertheless, there was a display of ginger that kept the minds of the spectators off the heat. 

The visitors played determined from start to finish and maintained the argument up to the final whistle. 

At halftime the score stood 2 to 1 and anyone’s game until the final stage. Scott captured the only goal of the visitors; it was of the fluky kind that is annoying to the opposing team and inspires confidence to the team benefited. The Young Torontos carried the attack vigorously on the local citadel, but although there were many close calls, defense succeeded in shutting them out for the balance of the game while the field outplayed the visitors. 

In the third period, May, Richards, Millar, Switzer, Pople and MacGlashan worked a series of combination plays that completely dazzled the visitors defense and notched two more goals while in the last quarter Pople’s spectacular performance added the tallies that made the score an even half dozen. 

The teams and players were as follows: 

Athletics:  Immel, Roy Richards and Switzer substituted for Marriott, Richards and Flynn in the last half.

Young Torontos:  Sockett substituted for Cope.

Referee – “Billy” Fitzgerald. 

Standings of The Clubs

CHECKS AND CROSS-CHECKS 

Bill McArthur may have the reputation of being the best amateur goalkeeper in Canada, but Johnny Cunningham’s performance on Saturday places him at the top of the heap. He picked them out in great shape, and he also helped the defense considerably by his fielding behind the net. 

“Nick” Purdy played the best game of his career; his man barely touched the ball during the game. 

Norman May has developed into one of the best defense men turned out in this city in a long time. He was on the ball all the time and carried the rubber down to the home field time after time. 

Overholt had the hardest man playing the game in Canada today to look after in the person of Wendell Holmes. He is expected to score the majority of goals for the Young Torontos. He was tied up in knots by “Chatter” and was not allowed one single shot on goal. 

Talking about home players, this boy Gordie Pople is about the best that has been seen around these parts in a long time. He plays the same style as Kalls, goes right up to the man with the ball and then gradually works himself around the man. He scored two of the most sensational goals seen on the old corner lot in a good many years. The last one was scored with three Toronto men checking him from every angle. 

And talking about home fielders, “Red” Millar is surely a wonder. He uses his head all the time, and rarely goes into a scrimmage that he does not come out with the rubber. He is an excellent stick-handler and has plenty of speed. 

Corby Richards played the first half of the game and showed his old time form. He along with Harry Flynn and Marriott, were forced to retire at half-time period owing to the exceedingly hot day. They all three showed up to form and were the means of wearing the Young Torontos down so that when Joe Immel, Roy Richards and “Ducky” Switzer took the field with their speed they simply swamped the Young Torontos. 

“Ducky” Switzer had barely been on the field when he took a pass from Millar, circled the field, passed three defense men and scored. He played a wonderful game for a small man. 

Harry MacGlashan was a tower of strength on the home. He pulled his check all over the field and would then break away to accept the pass to either score of give it to his team-mates, Pople or Flynn. 

The St. Kitts defense composed of Cunningham, Purdy, May, Marriott, Immel, Wiley and Overholt played a perfect game and the Toronto home were easily taken care of. They all fielded well, took turns in carrying the ball down to the home and used the most mature judgement in their checking. 

Art Herr was a valuable asset to the defense field. With his weight and experience he rounds out one of the best defenses that have been seen around here in a long time. 

One must remember that this is the first time in three years that the Young Torontos have been beaten and they were a “sick” bunch after the game Saturday. They sang that old story “Just wait till you come to Toronto.” Well, these boys will go to Toronto and its an even break that they will defeat this aggregation right on their own ash heap. 

All the locals have to do now is to defeat the Young Torontos over there and win one of their tie games with the Riverdales and the Globe Shield will find it’s proper resting place; that is – right in the Garden City of Canada. 

Our next game will be with Young Torontos on Saturday, August 4^th. Arrangements are under way to have the Riverdales play here on the following Monday, which is Civic Holiday here. 

RETURN