1908 Dominion Championship Explained

1908 Dominion Championship
Date:November 28, 1908
Stadium:Rosedale Field
City:Rosedale, Toronto
Visitor Name:Hamilton Tigers
Home Name:Toronto Varsity
Visitor Coach:George Ballard
Home Coach:Harry Griffith
Visitor Record:5–1
Home Record:5–1
Visitor1:6
Visitor2:13
Visitor3:0
Visitor4:2
Home1:4
Home2:5
Home3:2
Home4:6
Referee:W.B. Hendry
Attendance:8,050[1]
Previous:1907 Championship
Next:1st Grey Cup

The 1908 Dominion Championship was a Canadian football game that was played on November 28, 1908, at the Rosedale Field in Toronto, Ontario, that determined the Senior Rugby Football champion of Canada for the 1908 season. The Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) champion Hamilton Tigers defeated the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union (CIRFU) champion Toronto Varsity 21–17 to claim their second Dominion Championship.[2] This was the last Dominion Championship played before the establishment of the Grey Cup trophy for the 1909 Dominion Championship game.[3]

Game recap

The Tigers were playing without star player Ben Simpson who was injured by a kick to the chest in the IRFU Playoff against the Ottawa Rough Riders two weeks earlier.[4] [5] Despite his absence, the Tigers started strong and led by a score of 19 to 4 in the second quarter.[5] However, Varsity scored a converted try to end the half, had a strong showing in the second half, and trimmed the lead to two, scoring 13 straight points.[5] The comeback attempt fell short as Hamilton had two rouges to end the game and the final score was 21–17.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Record gate receipts . Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971) . torontopubliclibrary.ca . November 30, 1908 . 11.
  2. Web site: CFL Guide and Record Book, 2017 Edition . October 27, 2018.
  3. Web site: 1st Grey Cup honoured at Rosedale Field. May 29, 2012. October 27, 2018.
  4. News: The Tigers are champions again. . The Globe (1844-1936) . torontopubliclibrary.ca . November 30, 1908 . 1.
  5. News: Tigers superior though Varsity finished strong . Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971) . torontopubliclibrary.ca . November 30, 1908 . 10.