2003 Season - Canadian Invitiational

Tragedy and Triumph – The story of the 2003 Canadian Invitational

It was on yet another beautiful summer’s day in Vancouver that the first ever Canadian Invitational kicked off at UBC’s Thunderbird stadium. As always, the mood leading up to the day was at fever pitch. Naturally, the tournament would not have been complete without Cougar’s arch rivals – the Seattle Grizzlies in attendance. Going into the weekend, the Grizzlies were 2 and 2 with the Cougars in 2003. The major coup of the day was no doubt, getting the reigning US National champions – the Denver Bulldogs to make the big trek up to Vancouver to take on the best Canada has to offer.

If anyone doubted the professionalism of the touring Bulldogs, it would have been quickly squashed as the team arrived a good 2 hours before their first game was due to kick off, and they were quickly dressed and performing drills on field.

However, as always, the tournament could not have been complete without some sort of background drama, and there was certainly some of that. As fans and players alike arrived to see a beautiful field marked out, it quickly became apparent that something was missing…the goal posts. Unfortunately Cougars Handyman/Pep Pee le Col had a shocker on the way to the game. After taking a fairly easy corner on the back roads of Langley, Col watched his rear view mirror in pain as one by one, all 8 posts rolled out of the back tray and down into one of Langley’s finest ditches.

Despite repeated panicked calls from Cougar’s hierarchy at the Thunderdome, Pep Pee still managed to lob it all back in the tray, tie it all down (twice as hard), and get to the game with a good 10 minutes to spare before the start of the first game.

With the goal posts up, the Pies cooked, the beers cooling upstairs in the club room, and the players and umpires dressed and ready, everything was in place for a spectacular day.

Game 1 – Seattle Grizzlies vs. Denver Bulldogs

Before the first bounce, Brad Gill managed to secure the services of friend Melissa to entertain the players and crowd with rousing additions of the Australian, US and Canadian national anthems. Mel went all out and impressed greatly when she effortlessly belted out the little known second verse of Advance Australia Fair.

But it was the football that was to be the highlight of the day..and so it was game on. Despite coming with only 14 players and having to borrow a couple of Cougars, it was not long before it was evident why the Bulldogs were the US Champs. From the start, they dominated the centerline bounces and sent the ball repeatedly into the forward line. Not even Seattle’s star centreman Chevy could make much on an impact (which may have had something to do with his Buck’s party the night before), as the Bulldogs ran rampant. At half time they had skipped away to a massive 7.4.46 points to Seattle’s 2.0.12.

The Grizzlies fought back in the second half and never gave up. However, in the end the day, the Dogs were simply too good, winning 9.10.64 to the Grizzlies 5.1.31.

Game 2 – Vancouver Cougars vs. Denver Bulldogs (the Epic)

After a brief interlude for the longest kicking competition (not won by a Cougar, so let’s forget about it), it was time of the Invitational’s most highly anticipated match – the Cougars vs. the Bulldogs. The Bulldog’s were obviously keen to maintained their season long unbeaten streak, while the Cougars wanted to prove that they were the real North American champs.

From the opening bounce, the Bulldogs realized they were in for a fight. The Cougars, fielding arguably their strongest centreline ever of Fists, Shine, Peep Pee Hilton, Mugsy, FLM (Former Ladies Man) Angel and Happy were not letting the Denver boys have their way in the middle.

Fists was chomping at the bit to play having missed the Calgary trip, and it showed in his play as he began to rack up possession’s all over the ground. Like they did with Seattle, the Dogs still managed to thrust the ball into attack on a number of occasions, but they hadn’t taken account of the Cougars backline brilliance. SuperCoach Grills brought himself into CHB to tackle the dangerous No.18 for The Bulldogs. The result was that he severely reduced his marking power and allowed the other Cougar backman to gather a ton of touches. As always, the Guru and his old mate Coops swept up the flanks, whilst Fancy Pants Hoad settled in nicely again to the Full Back spot. Young Canadians Locks Paquin, Morgs, Bannan, Horychun, and Cam got into the mix and sent the ball back to the forward line time and again.

When it got up there, Bucket Hands Johnny was on fire. He set the Cougars scoreboard alight with two quick grabs and goals in the early going. Unfortunately he spanked his second goal so long and hard he tweaked his knee and missed the rest of the day’s play. Stratford popped in a late goal and at half time, it was antagonizing close –

HT – Cougars 3.0.18 to Bulldogs 2.4.16.

The second half was easily one of the greatest 25 minutes in North American football history. The Cougars hit the front almost immediately with a trademark freakish Stratford snap for goal which sent the crowd and Cougar players into a frenzy. From then on, it was two teams going as hard as they could for the footy, and trading goal for goal.

Peep Pee Hilton was having the game of his life for the Cougars in the centre and lapped up the tireless ruck work of Fists and Tommy O. Angel Utting tried to live up to his pre-match promise of taking two speckies. He certainly got up there with the Angels, but due to a severe lack of Oxygen at such a great height, he was unable to pull either attempt down.

Shiner and Freeman were starting to fire through the centre and both drifted down to score a goal, only to have the Bulldogs answer back with a quick one of their own. Colin Special K was starting to have his best game of the year through the forward line, and was unlucky not to snag his first in Cougars colours.

Grills and Mugsy were proving inspiration and repelled Bulldog attack time and time again. With 2 minutes to go, the Dogs snapped a quick goal to take a 3 point lead. The crowd was now at fever pitch as the seconds ticked away. With 30 seconds to go, the Cougars were deep in the forward line – could a miracle be achieved ??

Alas it was not meant to be. As the siren blared, the Dogs had won. Whilst devastating to all Cougar players, it was obvious from the jubilation on the face of the Bulldogs that they knew they had been taken to the hilt by a quality Cougars side.

They’ll be another time….

FT - Cougars 6.1.37 to the Dogs 6.4.40.



Bests (from) – Peep Pee, Fists, SuperCoach, Mugsy, Happy, Special K, Guru, Cam.
Goals – Buckets 2, Goal sneak 2, Happy 1, Shiner 1

Despite the devastation of losing such a close game to the US Champs, the Cougars quickly refocused themselves for their next opponents – The Seattle Grizzlies.

As always, with a game b/w these two teams, it started with a flurry. Seattle quickly proved that they were not just in Vancouver to make up the numbers and were determined not to go home two time losers.

Once again, Fists was dominate in the ruck and seemed to win the hitouts with ease. Completely un-sited in the Denver game, the Glamourboy was in the mix in the opening minute marking truly in the goal square and banging one home. Goalsneak Stratford quickly followed this up with yet another miracle snap, and the Cougars were on their way. However, the Grizzlies would not be outdone and bombed the ball long to Big Andrew Donlan who stuck his arse out time and time again to make room for some nice grabs and goals. A few changes to the team saw Campo, Derek, Palms, Mark and the Wiz get into the fray and help move the ball through the centerline. Eventually the Glamour Boy got his hands on it again and snapped his own miracle snap to draw the Cougars back to level.

HT - Cougars 3.2.20 to Seattle 3.2.20

After half time, the Cougars went into overdrive. It seemed that every Cougar was getting their hand on plenty of the ball. Peep Pee Hilton was on fire again whilst Terrier Horychun virtually shut the dangerous Chevlen out of the game all together allowing the Cougars centerline to run rampant. Freeman kicked another nice goal off the wing. Whilst COBS and the Gills were tearing up the forward pockets. The Glamour boy was finding space galore in the forward line bagging another 2 for himself after two magnificent passes from Rob and Fists. To the shock of his teammates, he passed the ball twice after marking within his range, to feed Peep Pee for a nice goal in front and then have a hand in possibly the most inspiration goal of the game. After a nice mark, he spotted Gills making a beautiful lead to the pocket, he turned in time to take a very handy mark, then proceeded to stick it up the nearest Seattle players by turning and banging it through for a major and a well deserved first goal as a Cougar.

Final score –Cougars 8.6.54 to Seattle 5.4.34.

Goal scorers – “Glamour Boy” Vargo (4), Gills (1), Happy (1), “Goalsneak” Jase (1), “Peep Pee” Hilton (1)
Best (from) – Fists, Terrier, Gills, Peep Pee, Coops, Glamour Boy, Cam.

Aftermatch –

It was a jubilant mood as all teams headed into the clubrooms for a couple of hours of post match bevies. Easily the funniest/most tragic moment was watching Chops antagonistically getting Fiona to hand back he winning raffle ticket for a slab of VB after it was drawn out…then to watch as Tommy O won it…then to watch Tommy drink a warm VB in front of him…then to have to watch as Tommy gave all the beers away to everyone who volunteered during the day.

A classic Cougars moment.

Thanks

As always, it takes a lot of people to put together such a magnificent tournament

Thanks to –
• Chops McGrath, Coops and Slim for carting almost everything to the ground;
• Col “Peep Pee” Hilton for surviving what was almost a tragedy with the goalposts jumping out of his truck and into a Langley ditch;
• Blocky for his ground organization;
• Annalise and Dr.Khan for their Umpiring;
• Slim for his tireless running;
• All the Cougar players who volunteered to play for the opposition at various times during the day.
• All the girls for their support and their Pie/Raffle selling