History of the A's
Athletics Play Brants At the Fairgrounds
DOMINION
DAY
SPORTS
AND GAMES
ON THE
AGRICULTURAL GROUNDS
The
St. Catharines Journal
July
2, 1881
The
Agricultural Grounds presented a gay appearance yesterday, the games of
the Caledonian Society and Lacrosse Club being the attraction. From the
number of people on the grounds, we should judge that the interest in
athletic sports is not on the wane in this city. At 1:30 o’clock, the
XIX Batt. Band marched the Athletic and visiting Brantford Lacrosse Clubs
on the grounds, when the games commenced. The athletic games were
contested principally by local amateurs. The vaulting of Mr. E. W.
Edwards, of Toronto, were very creditable to that gent; the 100 and 200
yard races were very interesting on account of Fralick of the Athletics
and Forde of the Brants being competitors. The following is a list of the
games with names of winners:
Putting light stone - 1st: L. Leitch, 32 feet 8 inches, 2nd: D. Leith
100 yards race - 1st: A. Fralick, 2nd: C. Collins
200 yards race - 1st: E. Forde, 2nd A. Falick
One third of a mile race - 1st: Geo. Kales, 2nd: J. Kramer
Vaulting with pole - 1st: E. W. Edwards, 9 feet 3 inches, 2nd: H. Rogers, 7 feet 3 inches
Running high jump - 1st: E. W. Edwards, 5 ft 3 in, 2nd: W. Thompson, 4 ft 9 in
Throwing lacrosse ball (distance) - 1st: H. Rogers, 2nd: W. R. James
Throwing lacrosse ball (accurate) - 1st: H. Rogers, 2nd: J. Doyle
Lacrosse Dodging - 1st: W. R. James, 2nd: H. Rogers
Velocipede race (children) - 1st: P. Helliwell, 2nd: T. Whitten, jr.
The
Lacrosse Match
There
was great excitement manifested by the large crowd when the two lacrosse
teams appeared on the field. The Athletics looked very good in their new
uniform of light and dark blue, the Brantford team wearing grey pants and
cardinal and blue shirts. The match was for a challenge cup consequently
the Brants brought a strong team along to defend their flags. The two
teams took their positions and play began at 2:00, J. Macgregor and D.
Sager facing the ball. The ball went to the Athletics’ flags, but was
immediately returned to the other end of the field, when some hot work was
done in front of the Brants’ flags. One of the Brants secured the ball
and sent it to the centre field, when Sager got it and sent a pretty shot
“high on goal.” The ball, to all appearances, went high over the
flags, but the umpire (a Brantford gent) declared “game,” to the great
dissatisfaction of the spectators. There being no appeal from his
decision, he was replaced as umpire by Mr. R. Watt of Brantford, who
filled the position with great fairness. Time of game, four minutes.
The
ball being again faced, the home team again worked the ball down in
dangerous proximity to the Brants flags. This was a splendid game, the
checking of both teams being good, the Athletics showing some improved
playing; the ball was equally as much near the Brants as Athletics flags.
One of the Athletic defence men secured the ball but unfortunately it fell
just in front of the flags, when it was easily tipped through by one of
the Brants. Time, 35 minutes.
After
a rest, the third game was started and was as hotly contested as the two
former ones. The game was, however, won by the Brantford boys. Time, 12
minutes, the match being theirs in three straight games. Though the
Athletics were unsuccessful, the general verdict was that their playing
was a decided improvement over that with the Paris Club on the 24th
of May. We advise our boys to practice more of the “drop shots” on
flags and do less unnecessary running. The following are the names of the
respective teams:
Athletics
– C. A. Tilden, K. J. Johnston, A. Falkner, J. Adie, A. Collins, A.
Fralick, J. Macgregor, A. Macgregor, H. O’Loughlin, J. Chaplin, H.
Rogers, W. R. James, Field Captain J. S. Carlisle.
Brants of Brantford – H. Oldham, E. Forde, C. Henderson, B. Fax, J. H. McGlashan, S. Garnham, T. Green, J. Fax, D. Sager, Holdan, J. Green, Field Captain R. M. Orchard.
Referee – R. Bennett
Umpires
– Messrs. Geo. A. Begy and R. Watt.
Notes
The
presentation of prizes took place at the Welland House last evening, the
parlors being filled with the Brants, Athletics and our citizens. In the
absence of the president of the A. L. C. the vice-president, C. Tilden,
occupied the chair. When the gold badge was presented to R. M. Orchard,
Captain of the Brants, for winning the lacrosse match, he received quite
an ovation.
The
“Pirates” assisted at the vocal exercises last evening.
J.
and B. Fax of the Brants are very successful vocalists.
The
playing of D. Sager, Holdan and J. Green of the Brants was very good, as
also was the playing of the majority of the Athletics.
The
19th Batt. Band serenaded the Brantford boys at the Welland
House last evening.
The
Athletics leave here for Lockport, N. Y. on Monday morning, to play the
Echoes of Hamilton. The members will meet at H. G. Hunt’s office on St.
Paul Street at 6:15 on Monday morning.
The joint committees of the Caledonian and lacrosse clubs will meet this evening at the office of J. B. McIntyre.