1909 was officially the beginning of professional football in Canada. It was the inaugural year for the Grey Cup, the championship game of professional football in Canada. Canadian Football consisted of three separate leagues: the IRFU (Interprovincial Rugby Football Union), the ORFU (Ontario Rugby Football Union), and the CIRFU (Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union). During the regular season, the teams in each league would play each other, but not the teams from the other two leagues. On the field, Hamilton (5-1) and Ottawa (5-1) would qualify for the post-season in the IRFU, while Toronto AAC (3-1) and Toronto Parkdale (3-1) would qualify in the ORFU. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues (6-0) would qualify from the CIRFU, completing the post-season participants. In the first round of the playoffs, the Ottawa Rough Riders would take care of the Hamilton Tigers 14-8 in the IRFU, while Toronto Parkdale would win a defensive battle with Toronto AAC 9-3, in the ORFU. In the East Semi-Final, it was the Toronto Varsity Blues rolling over the Ottawa Rough Riders 31-7, setting up the match-ups for the 1st Annual Grey Cup Championship. Lord Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada, donated a trophy to be awarded for the Dominion Football Championship of Canada. Only teams registered with the Canadian Rugby Union were eligible to compete for the trophy. The championship game was played in Toronto at Rosedale Field on December 4 between the University of Toronto and the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club with the University of Toronto winning 26–6 before 3,807 fans. The first game for the new trophy featured the University of Toronto against the Parkdale Canoe Club, although more people were interested in the semi-final between Varsity and Ottawa a week earlier. Despite a seating capacity of 3,400 an estimated 12,000 watched Varsity defeat Ottawa 31-7 at Rosedale Field. Many believed Parkdale wasn't in the same league as Varsity but they were proven wrong, at least in the opening half. The students would never be behind in this game, but held just a slim 6-5 lead at halftime. Hugh Gall opened the scoring for Varsity with a 65-yard rouge, followed by the first try in Grey Cup history (a precursor to a touchdown). Gall would later give one back to Parkdale in the second quarter, as he mishandled a lateral pass deep in the Varsity zone. Tom Meigham broke through the line and grabbed the ball, crossing the goal line for a try. Parkdale was given an ovation at halftime for its surprising play, but any hopes for an upset were dashed in the third quarter. Varsity outscored Parkdale 9-1, highlighted by Murray Thompson's major. The collegians went on to add six more rouges in the final quarter before Smirle Lawson evaded four or five tackles 50 yards to the end zone on the final play of the game. George Barber was praised for his efforts in keeping Lawson, one of Varsity's better players, in check for most of the contest. Varsity players, who finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record, had to wait until the following March to officially celebrate with the new $48 trophy, as Grey's staff forgot to have it made before the game. They would get to celebrate with the mug for a few more years to come. Hugh Gall kicked a record eight singles in the game for the University of Toronto.