By THE CANADIAN PRESS
It was the first interlocking game in the National Lacrosse Association, so coach Morley Kells of Toronto Maple Leafs was ready with a novel excuse why his team lost.
New Westminster Salmonbellies downed the Maple Leafs 13-7 before 1,858 fans in Coquitlam, B.C., but Kells blamed the defeat partially on the difference between officiating in the Eastern and Western divisions.
The Maple Leafs picked up 35 minutes in penalties compared with 17 for the Salmonbellies. Kells said his players had difficulty adjusting to the type of game called by Western officials.
“I suspect the Western teams will have as much trouble when they play in the East,” he added.
In an Eastern Division game, Peterborough Lakers downed the first-place Detroit Olymics 12-6 before 3,000 fans in Detroit. Portland Adanacs defeated Vancouver 12-9 in a Western Division game at Portland.
TIED FOR FIRST
The victory for New Westminster moved it into a first-place tie with Vancouver, two points ahead of the idle Vancouver Shamrocks. The loss dropped Toronto six points back of second-place Peterborough.
Playing coach Cliff Sepka and Larry Henry scored three goals each for new Westminster. Ken Oddy scored two goals and single tallies went to Wayne Shuttleworth, Paul Parnell, Ken Winzoski, Paul Shmyr and Ian Bull.
Ron MacNeil scored three goals for Toronto. Other Maple Leaf scorers where Jack Madgett, Graham [sic] Gair, George Kapasky and Bill Morrison.
Scoring three goals for Portland was John Allen. Mike Gates and Ivan Stewart added two each while single goals came from Gord Jakubee, Bill Bradley, Kerry Gallagher, Bill Chomiak and Tom McVie.
Peter Black counted three goals and Bill Rawson two for Vancouver. Other goals were scored by Tony Ciolfitto [sic], Bill Robertson, Ross McDonald and Bob Babcock.
(Nanaimo Daily News, July 3, 1968)