Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute - Acta Nostra Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

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24- ACTA NOSTRA, 1926 what like an elusive cake of wet bath-soap, and the resulting fumbles somewhat marred the game. For three periods the play horned in on no-man's land, but in the closing act Guelph's condition outclassed that of Galt, and the green and white started on a pil- grimage up the field. However, the score s-till remained two all, and time was going fastg then with only two minutes to go Kenny Atcheson hoofed a nice long spiral to the deadline and thus the game was won by one point. The worst was over now. Kitchener was next on the schedule, and if they could be beaten all would be hotsy- totsy. It was. Guelph was never pressed and everybody had ia Chf:LllC8 to show his wares. Hostilities ended wi-th the rather one-sided score of 24-0. lVith this victory the G. C.-V. I. foot- ball team won their group and became Inter-Scholastic Champions, the return game wit.h Brantford being unneces- sary. The coveted Hamilton Cup was Won and now the boys were ready to try the XV. O. S. S. A. Championship. On Saturday, November Sth, Owen Sound. winners of the northern group, were to be tirst honored by 'their presence. After much searching the boys found the playing field, which had been carefully concealed under one of Owen Sounds choicest bogs. In this quagimire did the green and white be- come the brown. Many deeds of val- our were done that day. On one oc- casion Meddy was seen playfully playing gooey mud on an opponent's face, and the star middle wing, Aub Doyle on more than one occasion prov- ed himself a master of the facial clay. much to his sparring partner's distress. At the close of hostili-ties the score stood 22-O, the northern lads having failed to score. Though the green and white went on the field as the terrible twelve. they left it as the dirty dozen. After partaking of a more or less repast, the boys were ready to start for home. On the return journey much harmony prevailed as usual, while Scotty. Dan and numerous others discussed high finance. By the time Q.. Harriston was reached snores drowned the roariof the motor, and as the Guelph post-oflice clock tolled two o'clock the bus rolled up to St. George's Square. Thus ended the OW-en Sound expedition. On the following Monday, which was Thanksgiving Day, the Sounders paid a return visit. A goodly crowd turned out to see the boys do their tricks, but were not impressed as the score was rather one-sided. However, some good rugby was played by both sides. Two pretty field-'goals which were beautifully done by Bus McTague. featured the encounter, while Mike Valeriote tore away for several long gallops, which put the crowd on its toes. Touchdowns were chlalked to Idy, lVlike, Kenny and Aub. With the close of proceedings the final score was 27-2, Guelph having won the round by forty-nine points. The prelimlinaries were now over, the green and white having gone through them without defeat, were now ready to play the rugby moguls of Sarnia. The C. N. R. kindly consented to convey the team to the western town after the required fares were paid. Af- ter a very, very light lunch the men dressed for the game, this took longer than usual due to the bad epidemic of nerves that had attacked them after having gazed upon the weight of their opponents. The bus, which was of the honest-weight type, provided ra pleas- ant trip to the playing field, which lay in a region of oily smells. The field with its broad expanse of water and weed-covered islands, resembled Pus- linch Lake more than any other body of water the writer has yet seen. The line-up was as formerly, though Dan Pennylegion, on the sub bench. thought his injuries were sutiiciently healed to permit him to get into the fray again. The play shifted from one end of the Held to the other. Guelph lost the chance of scoring a point when deep in Sarnia's territory. Kenny got away for nice broken Held runs till the Sarnia wings marked him. Mike was away for a touchdown on two occasions when he was slowed up by the lake which he

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ACTA NOSTRA, 1926 25 was forced to swim. Mike was injured for the second time, and had to be carried from the field. Don Hewer took Mike's place, and for the remainder of the game showed what a good flying wing Mr. Hewer could be. Cap. Short Hull played his usual heady game as did his running mate. Linc Brohman. and Aub Doyle showed that in line- plunging Guelph had it all over Sarnia. The playing of Simp and Jeff, Gord and Meddy was also without repreach. But in spite of this team of stars the score with the closing whistle was 2-0 with Sarnia owning the better half, and the green and white receiving its Hrst defeat of the season. The boys left the field full of good cheer as they had not yet heard the bad news. This came in time to spoil their delayed meal-Mike had fractured a bone and was out of the game for the season. This was annoying to say the leastg no more would this speedy lad be seen prancing down the field with his pur- suers yards behind. On Sunday morn- ing the team set off again for home. Then, on November 21st, the game with Sarnia in Guelph took place, and what a bad affair it was! With none too much confidence, but with a deter- mination to do or die, the green and white took the field before the largest crowd of the season. Jeff went from outside to take Mike's place at flying wing. and Don Hewer went to outside. Sarnia was strengthened by Carter. star punter, and Munro, of tooted plunging ability. Guelph had unwisely changed their signals, and before long a very sorry mix-up developed. Guelph scored the first point by a kick to the dead line, but soon the tide changed. v Sarnia's line plunging was not to be feared nor was their backfield work. but in Carter, their punter, and their two outsiders. they had a combination which defied all opposition. Guelph would advance up into Sarnia territory only to lose the ball to Sarnia who would hoof it all the way back again. It was enough to break the hearts of any wing-line and the nerves of any backfield. Then things went from bad to worse: the Sarniaites had mark- ed Kenny and soon managed to lay him out of the game with a sprained should- er. After half time the boys went back to their old signalsg Kenny returned to the game but was greatly handicap- ped. Dan Pennylegion went back too, and for the first time since the open- ing game at Galt. his deadly tackles were again seen. Then near the close of the game Guelph was without the services of Meddy who was suffering an enforced rest, and in the resulting miX'up a costly fumble occurred, which permitted Sarnia to get within strik- ing distance of Guelph's goal lineg a touchdown resulted: all was lost. And so ended the most successful season the green and whites had had for many a year. It was hard, one must admit, to be so near the Ontario Championship, and then be beaten by hard luck, and a one man team, but such is rugby. There was much satis- faction, however, in beating their old rivals, Galt, and in going as far as they did, and it is hoped that before long another team carrying the same colors may acquit themselves as well in the finest biggest game that ever was. All right fellas, let's go! ! I Cha-hee cha-hawg- an SIM'-. I 1 2 I' I ini 2 ,XX with r , Wifeii in ' Q lil 5 f . X X a , - rf M y he . i l - 4...-.Q--f l S ni r. - 2' ' K Qi-wise marc milf Emir G Fllll Back