St Michaels College - Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 106 text:

Eominion jlfinals-eominuezi looked like the same old play all the time, but it wasnt, for the simple reason that none could say but the players themselves who was to take the ball. Often the head of the wedge would carry the pigskin for a straight plunge. Then the player at the rear of the formation would be handed the ball and he would break away for a run around the end. It was endless variety, with speed and alertness very essential qualities in the success- ful conclusion of the plays. So bewildering was the attack at times that even the spectators did not know where the ball had gone until the play was completed. Well trained teams have been seen in action, but none like St. Michael's for a long time. As one Toronto enthusiast said: Mft reminds me of the old Tiger teams when Art. Moore, Isbister, Simpson, Tope and the others were at their bestf, And it sure did. GOT ALL LOOSE BALLS. The Irishmen got all the loose balls, had all the breaks, because they were the better bunch and were head and shoul- ders above the losers. The Tigers tried hard, never quit fight- ing. and did tear off one or two good plays, but they were so badly outclassed that the best they could do was a defensive fight. The Hamilton back division showed up well, but the wings were far from equal to their task. Of the lot Mawk Mackenzie, the diminutive one, who has some reputation as a hockey player, was the best. Mackenzie is only the size of a minute. but he got away for several good runs, and was re- peatedly in the limelight. He was given a stiff gruelling by his opponents. not because play was rough. but rather because he was hardly big enough to stand up under heavy tackles. He was game to the core. though. and made a big hit. The To- ronto crowd. who had often rooted for him in the hockey arena, were strong for him again yesterday, and he got a good hand several times. Graham played a good game for Hamil- ton until hurt, while Rowlands, a big strapping chap, booted well and with any kind of wing line in front of him would have been very formidable. The best player on the field was Canfield, a little half back, who did most of the running for the Trishmen. This youngster is also a midget. like Mackenzie. but he had speed to burn and was most elusive. He was most difficult to grass and was used to good effect in many of the combination plays. Tackling on both sides was good, with the Tigers showing up well in this respect. The game was handled by Billy Foulds and Sine Mclivenue, and they gave perfect satisfaction. There was little rough play and only a couple of players were penalized. GOT A TRY ON A FUMBLE. St. Michaels scored their first touchdown on a fumbled ball by Rowlands, who lost the pigskin when tackled near his own line. The rest of their points were hard earned. The Tigers got their one lone point on a rouge. The score at half-time was II to I. The teams lined up as follows: St. Michael's-Flying wing, Lellisg halves. Canheld. Cork- ery. Broderickg quarter, Beck: scrimmage. Killen. Hickey, Maloneg insides. Nealon, Harrisg middles, Kelly, Browng out- sides. Ryan. Feeney. Hamilton Tigers H.-Flying wing, Moffatt, halves, Mac- kenzie, Rowlands. Graham: quarter, Bridges, scrimmage, Tope, Sheridan. Garrett, insides, Clark. Hclfwang middles. Shaw, Majorg outsides, Bartley. Palmer. Referee-Billy Foulds. L'mpire- Sine Mclfvenue. of Montreal. H031

Page 105 text:

Dominion jfinals From Hamilton. Herald. AMILTON Tigers suffered another defeat yesterday at Toronto, when the Tiger intermediates, Interpro- vincial champions, went down before St. Michael's College, Intercollegiate Champions, in the Canadian final, by a score of 21-I. The score indicates the play. The Collegians were always best and by a wide marging in fact, they shaped up like one of the best little teams seen in action in some years. The Irishmen had a wonderful variety of trick plays, were drilled to the minute, had a well-balanced team, and were in perfect condition. As against this was an ordinary intermediate outfit, for the Tigers possessed little or no class, being practically a new team, playing their first season. There could have been but one result to the encounter, and the score aptly indicates the result. FOOTING XVAS BAD. The game was played at Varsity stadium before a fair-sized crowd of St, Michael supporters. The field was in wretched shape, being muddy and greasy, making the footing very un- certain. This resulted in some loose play, although more could have been witnessed and not wondered at. The going helped the Tigers, if anything, for it stopped many of the College plays which. on a dry field, would have proven very valuable and great ground-gainers. Often the ball-carrier, at the end of a clever combination play, would be away for a clear run, only to slip in the mud and make it possible for Tigers to recover and fall on the runner for an easy tackle. A dense fog covered the held in the first half. and at times it was difficult to see across the held. The two teams were about even up in weight, but the Tiger wings were so badly outplayed that at times they looked like corner-lot performers. The battle between the back divi- sions was more even, and it is just possible that play could have been eyened up a hit more than 'it was had the Tigers played a kicking game entirely. They foolishly persisted in their at- IO2 tempts to make ground by the use of line plunges and end runs, none of which ever got them anything. The Collegians had a grand lot of trick plays. They used all kinds of fake com- binations and passes which were very bewildering to the Tiger wings, who never knew where the ball was going or where the combination was going to end. Often the cry was heard, XYatch the other side! and just as often the Tiger wing line opened up, one-half going one way for the runner, the other half the other way. only to have a third player come through the centre with the ball and away until stopped by the half backs. Dozens of times the Irishmen pulled successful fake plays, and but for the dogged defence put up by the Tigers when backed up to their own goal, the score would have been much bigger. Several times the Collegians carried the ball to the Tiger line, only to fail in their efforts to buck it over or to lose it for interference, Strange to say, the few penalties inflicted on the winners for offside or interference were all called when the play was close to the Hamilton goal line. livi- dently over-eagerness was responsible, for when play was in midfield the students seldom made a mistake. SOME BRILLIANT FOOTBALL. The demonstration of fancy plays as given by the students was the best shown by any club the writer has seen this year. Senior teams would do well to take a leaf out of the book by which Father Carr, the St. Michael coach, evidently works. There was none of that old two bucks and a kick or a chance formation in which a couple of half backs and a wing play worked a criss-cross. It was a case of endless variety, with the unexpected always being pulled. Many of the formations were the same, seemingly, until the ball carrier hit the line and then a big difference was always shown. Repeatedly four or Eve of the College wings would form up in a bunch some ten feet behind their own line and on the signal charge for the line. It l

Page 107 text:

Seconb jfootball cam They're out there on the field all day, The critics call them scrubs, And though they work and sweat and bleed You'll find them classed as dubs. But sometimes when a favoured son Is ground into the earth 'Were apt to hear that Fitz, a sub, Has shown the world his worth. Sometimes he blocks a hurried punt, His kick may win the game, Another day a run or buck May carry him to fame. XVhate'er he does he proves the fact That driven to the test, A poor despised, down-trodden scrub Xlfill measure with the rest. HF, second football team of this year was certainly one worthy of note, although not being very successful while in the Mulock Cup Series, it was on account of an untimely start. llfhere the boys really showed their worth and displayed the tactics and good training of their coach, Mr. McTague, was out in their own back yard, on the College gridiron, where time and again they made the Do- minion champioiis look like a junior city team. On Nov. 7 Mr. McTague brought his team to Guelph to play the Q.A.C. aggregation. The day was very favourable for football and it was about 2.30 when we reached the agricul- tural gardens. The game was vigorously contested throughout, and although our boys were outweighed in all positions. their superb tackling, kicking and interference plays won for them. Individualizing the players, we have Kraus, who was a human snow plough, and scarcely ever bucked for less than ten yards. Healey and Latchford were always in the limelight and showed great ability for bucking, while Doyle, Lettellier, Murphy and McGuire were deadly tackles and could always bother the speedy half line on the intermediates in their end runs. Captain Harry Brown, the midget quarterback, never failed to use his head in a pinch, and also showed great ability as a tackler. On the half line, Fitz, as usual, was very sensational. He was never known to fumble and showed great form in return- ing punts. Gus Cleary was the fastest man on the team, not only in running out punts, but also in fistic engagements. On the whole many members of the team look good for inter- collegiate class next year. The line-up: Flying 'XVing, H. Smith: halves, G. Cleary, Y. Traynor, G. Fitzpatrick, quarter, H. Brown, scrimmage, bl. Murphy, il. Shanahan, H. Dwyerg inside wings, I. Healey, V. Kellyg middle wings, C. Kraus, F. Latchfordg outside wings, F. Doyle, L, Letttellier CG. Rotitaille. M. NcGuirej. -A. V T. l1O4l