The Toronto Argonauts lost their first two games of the season, only to storm back and win eight straight, including their first Grey Cup win in 12 years....The Winnipeg St.John's were a no show at the annual meeting of the Manitoba Rugby Football Union. It was later learned that the St.John's had suspended operations for one season while they got their finances in order....The MRFU made attempts to get another organization to take over the operations of the St.John's for the 1933 season. Although there was interest in taking over the team on a permanent basis, there was no interest in being custodian of the team for just one season....In August, the players of the St.John's were dispersed between the Winnipegs and the Garrison. The Garrison was an Army team and only servicemen were eligible to play on the team. The Garrison claimed the only player who qualified (Alf Woods) and the remainder of the players ended up in the camp of the Winnipegs....With an abundance of players available the Winnipegs operated two teams in 1933. The best players ended up on the Winnipegs who were wearing brand new blue jerseys (they weren't blue & gold until 1934). The remaining players wore the old green jerseys and they played under the name Shamrocks...The Winnipeg St.John's failed to re-form in 1934....The British Columbia Rugby Football Union did not have regular season play, but did play 8 games in 3 multi-game series to determine a western semi finalist, and later another final for the league championship.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 7
Ottawa 14, HAMILTON 13 (7000) - Ottawa won for the first time in Big Four play since October 6, 1928 when they defeated Montreal 10-8, and won in Hamilton for the first time since October 9, 1926 (8-6). On the Tiger 15, Abe Eliowitz, in the final seconds, kicked clear of the deadline for the Ottawa win.
OTTAWA - 7 0 6 1 - 14
HAMILTON - 0 2 5 6 - 13
1st - OTT - Andy Tommy, 26-yard pass from Lorne Johnson (Johnson convert) OTT 6-0 1st - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick touch-in-goal OTT 7-0 2nd - HAM - Single, Bernie Thornton kick to deadline OTT 7-1 2nd - HAM - Single, Frank Turville kick to Johnon for rouge OTT 7-2 3rd - HAM - Turville, 30-yard field goal OTT 7-5 3rd - OTT - Single, Eliowitz kick to George Jeffers for rouge OTT 8-5 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to Wilf Patterson for rouge OTT 8-6 3rd - OTT - Tom Graham, 20-yard pass from Johnson OTT 13-6 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to Johnson for rouge OTT 13-7 4th - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline OTT 13-8 4th - HAM - Ken Boadway, 15-yard pass from Turville TIED 13-13 4th - OTT - Single, Eliowitz kick to deadline OTT 14-13
Montreal 18, TORONTO 14 (12000) - Montreal rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third quarter to win thanks to the arm of Carl Perina.
MONTREAL - 0 6 12 0 - 18
TORONTO - 6 8 0 0 - 14
1st - TOR - Jack Taylor, 50-yard run (Mike Chepesuik convert) TOR 6-0 2nd - MON - Sam Halbert recovered fumble in end zone (Huck Welch convert) TIED 6-6 2nd - TOR - Chepesuik field goal TOR 9-6 2nd - TOR - Taylor, 30-yard run TOR 14-6 3rd - MON - Ken Grant, 40-yard pass from Carl Perina (Welch convert) TOR 14-12 4th - MON - Pete Jotkus run (Welch convert) MON 18-14
Montreal 1 0 0 18 14 2 Toronto 0 1 0 14 18 0
Ottawa 1 0 0 14 13 2 Hamilton 0 1 0 13 14 0
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14
OTTAWA 15, Toronto 8 (7000) - Andrew Tommy broke off a 115-yard touchdown run, his second major of the game, in the second quarter to spark Ottawa to its second straight win.
TORONTO - 2 0 6 0 - 8
OTTAWA - 7 7 0 1 - 15
1st - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick to deadline OTT 1-0 1st - OTT - Andrew Tommy, 52-yard pass from Lorne Johnson (Johnson convert) OTT 7-0 1st - TOR - Single, Clark Bell kick to Johnson for rouge OTT 7-1 1st - TOR - Single, Bell kick to Johnson for rouge OTT 7-2 2nd - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick to deadline OTT 8-2 2nd - OTT - Tommy, 115-yard fumble return (Eliowitz convert) OTT 14-2 3rd - TOR - Ted Morris, 2-yard run (Whitey Miller convert) OTT 14-8 4th - OTT - Single, Eliowitz kick to Jack Taylor for rouge OTT 15-8
MONTREAL 11, Hamilton 7 (8000) - Carl Perina completed three straight passes in the second quarter that opened the way for the game's only touchdown, which he himself scored, as Montreal remained atop the Big Four with Ottawa.
HAMILTON - 4 0 3 0 - 7
MONTREAL - 1 6 3 1 - 11
1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick touch-in-goal MON 1-0 1st - HAM - Single, Frank Turville, 12-yard field goal HAM 3-1 1st - HAM - Single, Turville kick touch-in-goal HAM 4-1 2nd - MON - Carl Perina, 1-yard run (Welch convert) MON 7-4 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline MON 7-5 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline MON 7-6 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline TIED 7-7 3rd - MON - Welch, 3-yard field goal MON 10-7 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline MON 11-7
Montreal 2 0 0 29 21 4 Toronto 0 2 0 22 33 0
Ottawa 2 0 0 29 21 4 Hamilton 0 2 0 20 25 0
SATURDAY OCTOBER 21
Toronto 21, HAMILTON 2 () - Toronto won for the first time in Hamilton since 1926 and virtually eliminated the Tigers from the Big Four title race. Two touchdowns in the first half put the game out of reach early.
TORONTO - 6 5 1 9 - 21
HAMILTON - 1 1 0 0 - 2
1st - TOR - Tommy Burns, 5-yard run (Mike Chepesuik convert) TOR 6-0 1st - HAM - Single, Jack Taylor rouged on kick TOR 6-1 2nd - HAM - Single, Jim Smiley kick to Taylor for rouge TOR 6-2 2nd - TOR - Taylor, 30-yard pass from Andy Mulland TOR 11-2 3rd - TOR - Single, Chepesuik kick to Smiley for rouge TOR 12-2 4th - TOR - Taylor run (Chepesuik convert) TOR 18-2 4th - TOR - Chepesuik, 20-yard field goal TOR 21-2
OTTAWA 9, Montreal 1 (11000) - Ottawa had its biggest win in years before a sellout crowd. Andy Tommy, Lorne Johnson, Dave Sprague and Abe Eliowitz weaved and kicked their team to the smart victory.
MONTREAL - 1 0 0 0 - 1
OTTAWA - 0 2 4 3 - 9
1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to Lorne Johnson for rouge MON 1-0 2nd - OTT - Single, Andy Tommy kick to deadline TIED 1-1 2nd - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick to deadline OTT 2-1 3rd - OTT - Johnson kick to deadline OTT 3-1 3rd - OTT - Eliowitz field goal OTT 6-1 4th - OTT - Eliowitz, 12-yard field goal OTT 9-1
Ottawa 3 0 0 38 22 6 Toronto 1 2 0 43 35 2
Montreal 2 1 0 30 30 4 Hamilton 0 3 0 22 46 0
SATURDAY OCTOBER 28
TORONTO 11, Hamilton 5 (9000) - Crippled with injuries, the Tigers led until late in the third quarter. A Mike Chepesuik placement put Toronto into the lead, and left them one game back in the championship race.
TORONTO - 0 2 4 5 - 11
HAMILTON - 5 0 0 0 - 5
1st - HAM - Seymour Wilson, 35-yard fumble return HAM 5-0 2nd - TOR - Single, Tommy Burns kick touch-in-goal HAM 5-1 2nd - TOR - Single, Armour Munro kick to deadline HAM 5-2 3rd - TOR - Single, Burns kick touch-in-goal HAM 5-3 3rd - TOR - Mike Chepesuik field goal TOR 6-5 4th - TOR - Bas McNichol, 30-yard fumble return TOR 11-5
MONTREAL 18, Ottawa 12 (10000) - Montreal, unbeaten at home since 1930, handed Ottawa its first loss of the season thanks to Rider fumbles. Twice Lorne Johnson dropped the ball, leading to Montreal majors. The result was a two-way tie for the Big Four lead.
OTTAWA - 6 0 6 0 - 12
MONTREAL - 1 4 6 7 - 18
1st - OTT - Tom Graham, 4-yard pass from Lorne Johnson (Abe Eliowitz convert) OTT 6-0 1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to Johnson for rouge OTT 6-1 2nd - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline OTT 6-2 2nd - MON - Welch, 25-yard field goal OTT 6-5 3rd - MON - Henry Gabarino, 50-yard fumble return (Welch convert) MON 11-6 3rd - OTT - Arnie Morrison recovered Welch fumble in end zone (Eliowitz convert) OTT 12-11 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline TIED 12-12 4th - MON - Carl Perina, 2-yard run (Welch convert) MON 18-12
Ottawa 3 1 0 50 40 6 Toronto 2 2 0 54 40 4
Montreal 3 1 0 48 42 6 Hamilton 0 4 0 27 57 0
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4
TORONTO 21, Ottawa 4 (16000) - The Argos struck early with a safety and a touchdown and rolled to the easy win over the reeling Riders. The win put Toronto in position to tie for first going into the final week.
OTTAWA - 0 0 4 0 - 4
TORONTO - 9 6 6 0 - 21
1st - TOR - Abe Eliowitz tackled in end zone TOR 2-0 1st - TOR - Single, Ab Box kick to Wilf Patterson for rouge TOR 3-0 1st - TOR - Ted Morris, 48-yard run (Mike Chepesuik convert) TOR 9-0 2nd - TOR - Tommy Burns, 35-yard field goal TOR 12-0 2nd - TOR - Burns, 25-yard field goal TOR 15-0 3rd - OTT - Eliowitz, 30-yard field goal TOR 15-3 3rd - TOR - Burns recovered blocked kick in end zone (Burns convert) TOR 21-3 3rd - OTT - Single, Jack Taylor rouged in end zone TOR 21-4
Montreal 9, HAMILTON 2 (4500) - Huck Welch scored every point for Montreal with his kicking, as the Winged Wheelers put themselves in position to win the Big Four. Hamilton faced its worst finish since the league was formed in 1907.
MONTREAL - 2 1 4 2 - 9
HAMILTON - 0 1 0 1 - 2
1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to Seymour Wilson for rouge MON 1-0 1st - MON - Single, Welch kick touch-in-goal MON 2-0 2nd - HAM - Single, Frank Turville kick to deadline MON 2-1 2nd - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline MON 3-1 3rd - MON - Welch kick touch-in-goal MON 4-1 3rd - MON - Welch field goal MON 7-1 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline MON 8-1 4th - HAM - Single, Jim Smiley kick to Welch for rouge MON 8-2 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick tough-in-goal MON 9-2
Montreal 4 1 0 57 44 8 Ottawa 3 2 0 54 61 6
Toronto 3 2 0 75 44 6 Hamilton 0 5 0 29 66 0
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11
Toronto 11, MONTREAL 10 (5000) - Montreal fumbled its way into a playoff in a game played before a small crowd on a wind swept, frozen field. The tie, Montreal's first home loss since 1930, forced a two-game, home-and-home series.
TORONTO - 10 0 1 0 - 11
MONTREAL - 0 1 7 2 - 10
1st - TOR - Ted Morris, 5-yard run TOR 5-0 1st - TOR - Tommy Burns, 9-yard run TOR 10-0 2nd - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to Ab Box for rouge TOR 10-1 3rd - MON - Carl Perina, 4-yard run TOR 10-6 3rd - MON - Safety touch, Box tackled by Welch and Kennie Grant in end zone TOR 10-8 3rd - TOR - Single, Box kick touch-in-goal TOR 11-8 4th - MON - Welch kick to deadline TOR 11-9 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick touch-in-goal TOR 11-10
Hamilton 14, OTTAWA 7 (5000) - After Seymour Wilson broke of a long run for a touchdown, Hamilton never allowed Ottawa to settle down to business. Frank Turville kicked all the remaining points, two from field goals.
HAMILTON - 10 1 0 3 - 14
OTTAWA - 0 6 1 0 - 7
1st - HAM - Seymour Wilson, 55-yard run (Frank Turville convert) HAM 6-0 1st - HAM - Single, Turville kick touch-in-goal HAM 7-0 1st - HAM - Turville, 25-yard field goal HAM 10-0 2nd - OTT - Andy Tommy, 20-yard pass from Abe Eliowitz (Eliowitz convert) HAM 10-6 2nd - HAM - Single, Turville kick touch-in-goal HAM 11-6 3rd - OTT - Single, Turville kick to Eliowitz for rouge HAM 11-7 4th - HAM - Turville, 20-yard field goal HAM 14-7
Montreal 4 1 0 57 44 8 Ottawa 3 2 0 54 61 6
Toronto 3 2 0 75 44 6 Hamilton 0 5 0 29 66 0
IRFU (BIG FOUR) FINAL
SAT NOV 18 - Toronto 5, Montreal 4 (3000 at Hamilton) - A small crowd, made up mostly of Argo fans, watched a closely fought game in the cold. Toronto used a third quarter rally to take the lead in the series.
MONTREAL - 1 1 0 2 - 4
TORONTO - 0 0 4 1 - 5
1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to Ab Box for rouge MON 1-0 2nd - MON - Single, Welch to Box for rouge MON 2-0 3rd - TOR - Tommy Burns field goal TOR 3-2 3rd - TOR - Single, Burns kick to deadline TOR 4-2 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick touch-in-goal TOR 4-3 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to Box for rouge TIED 4-4 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick to Welch for rouge TOR 5-4
SAT NOV 25 - Toronto 15, MONTREAL 5 (2000) - Toronto won its first Big Four title since 1922 and the days of Lionel Conacher, thanks to winning six consecutive games to end the season.
TORONTO - 6 1 6 2 - 15
MONTREAL - 3 1 1 0 - 5
1st - MON - Huck Welch field goal MON 3-0 1st - TOR - Tommy Burns, 15-yard run (Mike Chepesuik convert) TOR 6-3 2nd - MON - Single, Burns kick to Gordie Perry for rouge TOR 6-4 2nd - TOR - Single, Welch kick to Ab Box for rouge TOR 7-4 3rd - TOR - Ted Moore, 41-yard pass from Box (Chepesuik convert) TOR 13-4 3rd - MON - Single, Welch kick to Box for rouge TOR 13-5 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick to Welch for rouge TOR 14-5 4th - TOR - Single, Box kicks to deadline TOR 15-5
Jeff Perry, the grandson of Norm Perry, displays the game ball used in the 1933 Grey Cup game on the field where Sarnia fans witnessed their Imperials fall to the Toronto Argonauts 4-3. (Source: 13th Man Sports)
1933 GREY CUP PLAYOFFS
SAT NOV 11 - WINNIPEGS 15, Calgary Altomahs 1 (Western final)
SAT NOV 18 - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO VARSITY BLUES 10, Queen's Golden Gaels 3 (CIRFU final)
SAT DEC 2 - Toronto Argonauts 13, WINNIPEGS 0 (Semifinal)
NOTE: University of Toronto forfeited the other semifinal to Sarnia
1933 GREY CUP GAME (Saturday December 9 at Sarnia - ATT: 2,751)
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 4, SARNIA IMPERIALS 3 - The Grey Cup returned to its all-Eastern roots in 1933 after the Canadian Rugby Union decided to change its playoff format. The winner from Western Canada had been given a bye to the championship since 1921. This year it was decided that the winner from the West would face the Toronto Argonauts in a semi-final, while the Sarnia Imperials were given an automatic invite to the final. The Winnipegs ended the Regina Roughriders’ reign out West, and faced Toronto in the semi. Although the Pegs gave the Argos a scare, Toronto prevailed 13-0 to advance to the final. Despite the advent of the forward pass, 1933 was the first time no touchdowns were scored in a Grey Cup. Toronto outlasted Sarnia in a defensive struggle, and although most people felt the Imperials proved themselves to be a better team, it was the Argonauts who were awarded the trophy. The only Grey Cup ever staged in Sarnia was played on a frozen, snow-covered field. The Imperials dominated the first half, leading 1-0 at halftime. Sarnia added another point in the third quarter. But the complexion of the game soon changed, as Tuffy Griffiths blocked Bummer Stirling’s kick on the Sarnia 40-yard line, giving the Argos the ball. Jack Taylor took a lateral pass from Andy Mullen and ran 20 yards around the end. Teddy Morris then gained seven yards. With the ball straight in front of the goal posts, Tommy Burns lifted the ball between the uprights for a Toronto field goal. Sarnia tied the score in the fourth quarter on a rouge, but Toronto answered back with a single of their own, which was helped set up by a Sarnia fumble. It turned out to be the winning point as the Argos held on to the win, but not before the Imperials threatened in the final minute. Rocky Parsaca threw a pass to Norman Perry, who ran across the field and down the sideline. Toronto’s Ab Box dove at Perry at the Toronto 45-yard line, but he kept going until he was finally stopped five yards from the goal line. But the ball was brought back to the Toronto 45 as referee Jo-Jo Stirrett ruled that Perry stepped out of bounds. Box saved the Argonauts throughout the game. His long punts regained lost yards for Toronto, and on many occasions he proved to be the last line of defence, making huge tackles to prevent potential scoring plays for the Imperials.
TORONTO - 0 0 3 1 - 4
SARNIA - 0 1 1 1 - 3
2nd - SAR - Single, Gordon Patterson kick to Jack Taylor (tackled by Johnny Manore) for rouge SAR 1-0 3rd - SAR - Alex Hayes kicked to Ab
Box who ran into touch-in-goal SAR 2-0 3rd - TOR - Tommy Burns, 8-yard field goal TOR 3-2 4th - SAR - Single, Bummer Stirling kick to Ab Box (tackled by Gil Putnam) for rouge TIED 3-3 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick to deadline TOR 4-3
