Langley Stadium was the setting for what was shaping up to be a huge clash between the West Coast Saints and the North Delta Bayhawks, in a game that would see one of the two sides record their first win for the 2011 home and away season.
In what was supposed to be a beautiful Vancouver spring day, a tropical-like torrential downpour an hour before the game suggested that the weather gods had different ideas. However the rain stopped during the warm up period, leaving clear but slightly breezy conditions, and a soggy field that would test both sides wet weather footy skills.
Even with a few notable absences from the line up, on paper the West Coasters were fielding their best side so far for the season, however the challenge was put out to the players that this needed to be proven on the field. The team was looking good in warm ups, and leading into the first bounce down, there was a positive energy buzzing around the Saints camp.
The first quarter began with both sides working hard to stamp their authority on the game, and the Bayhawks were the first to draw blood, getting an early goal on the board after a couple of missed opportunities from the Saints. With the boys from North Delta showing that they’d turned up to play a hard game of footy, and the ground beginning to dry out a bit, the West Coast mid field of Vardz, Lewis and Doyle turned up the intensity and moved the ball forward, delivering it with precision to forward spearhead Mad Dog who registered the Saints first goal of the game. The backline of Boozer, Cory, Lou and Sean Hayes continued the hard work, and under the command of Veteran Sam Bonney and led by Clayton Holmes, they nullified the Bayhawks attack, allowing the Saints to go into the first break down by a solitary point.
The second quarter began much like the first, a hard fought arm wrestle just waiting for one team to break the game open. Again the Bayhawks got a bit of a jump on the Saints, continuing to push forward and getting a few goals on the board. But again, the Saints were up to the challenge, with the backline combining well to work the ball up to the forward line through the likes of Hopkins, Pegg and Conlan. With Denmark boy Trev dominating at centre half forward bringing down everything that came near him, and the support crew of Spearoskavich, Chris, Tee and new comer Jas working well together keeping the forward line functioning as it should, the Saints were able to sneak a few more goals through off the boots of Hayes, Fleming and returning Saint Craig Hopkins, to go into the half time break with a one goal lead.
With the game still looking like it could go either way, the Saints made a couple of strategic changes to the line up with the hope of breaking the game wide open. The changes paid off, with Mad Dog staging a repeat of his on ball efforts from the previous round, Scotty Fleming cleaning up in the forward 50, and Trev continuing to dominate but now at centre half back. An unfortunate severe finger dislocation to gun onballer Benny Vardasz saw him whisked off to the emergency room by team paramedic Jamieson, ending his day, but by that stage the the mid field of Nat Doyle, Karlos and Hoppy, and the great defensive work by Clay, Bono and Boozer had the Saints well and truely on top in the 3rd quarter. The highlight of the day came when rising star Adam Spearoskavich put a 60 metre (maybe) bomb through the big sticks, to record his first career goal which would be celebrated well into the night!
The never say die attitude of the Bayhawks showed at the beginning of the last quarter, with some early surges forward. However it was clear that the Saints just had a little more firepower and a little more gas left in the tank, and were able to carry over their hard work of the third term, to continue to pile on the goals. Precision delivery from half forwards Pegg and Hayes saw Mad Dog able to add to his goal tally, and relentless hard work from defensive on baller Bono ensured the ball rarely left the Saints forward 50. At the final siren, the scoreboard didn’t quite reflect the toughness of the game, with West Coast Saints running out comfortable winners and taking the 4 points home.
Final Score – West Coast Saints 12.12.84 def North Delta Bayhawks 4.4.28
Goals
Saints – C.Joy (7), S.Fleming (2), S.Hayes, C.Hopkins, A.Spear
Best
Saints – C.Holmes, S.Fleming, N.Doyle, K.Lewis, G.Bradley, T.Lonie, S.Hayes
Thanks the Bayhawks for a great game of footy, to Grillsey and Crazy for umpiring, Macca Grills doing a great job running the boundary all day, and for the Burnaby Football Club and Mooses for putting on a great show after the games.
Next game will be a huge one against the Vancovuer Cougars on May 14th, with a chance for the Saints to take second place on the ladder. Go the Saints!
