What is the origin of the term "rubber match"?

Asked by kelly (1918) April 18th, 2007

Is this term only used to describe the third game when one game has been won by each side? Is it for the fifth game of a series or seventh game of series, or only just a three game series. what is the origin of the term "rubber"? It is also used in the card game of bridge and it has an entirely different meaning??