2004 Season - Cougars v Fraser Valley Eagles

Eagles win a thriller

It was a beautiful sunny Spring day in Vancouver that saw the inaugural Vancouver Cougars vrs. Fraser Valley Eagles game kick off. Going into the game both Coaches – RookieCoach Freeman (for the Cougars) and Handyman Hilton (for the Eagles), felt confident that they could coach their respective side to a first up win.

The Handyman thought he had the pre-match scoop of the year by bringing along ringer “Silver Tips” Mark, a former AFL player who despite his 40+ years had certainly something to offer Canadian Football. However, as Saturday morning rolled around, the RookieCoach was even stunned himself as he was able to trump the Handyman with a ring-in of his own. None other than Andrew “Fists” Thornton took himself out of his self imposed retirement to arrive in a blaze of glory to don the Cougars colours once more. The Handyman was visibly shocked, but determined to focus his troops on the game ahead.

The boys took the field, and from the first bounce, the pace was fierce. This may have been technically an intra-club game, but with votes and pride on the line, no one was willing to take it easy. Glamour Boy Vargo assumed his new role in the ruck for the Cougars and quickly began to take control of the rucking contests, however it was the Eagles centerline of “Dij” Edgar, “Beckham” Marshall, and Handyman that took control. Their movement into the forward line was constant, and Goalsneak Stratford was relishing the room on the forward line and began to rack up posies and goals at will.

At the other end, RookieCoach Freeman was providing some lightning pace across the Cougars forwardline, and with some beautiful picture perfect delivery from Fists, managed to reply by snagging a couple of quick goals himself.

Q1 – Cougars 3.1.19 to Eagles 5.3.28.

As the temperature rose, so did the intensity of the Cougars who were desperate to get back into the game. Cashie moved into the backline and his physical bulk proved an immediate handful for the Goal Sneak. Vargo and Fists began to rule the centre with Fists picking up possessions around the ground with ease.

Beckham and Dij continued to dominate around the ground for the Eagles, and Pete Taylor was beginning to find some space to gather plenty of stats himself. New boom recruit Andrew was starting to rule the Cougars forwardline and sent a couple of nice bombs through the uprights. At half time, there was nothing in it…

Q2. Cougars 6.5.41 to Eagles 7.4.46

The Cougars were feeling buoyed as they headed out for the second half, and confident that the Eagles were showing signs of fatigue going into the break. That thought was reiterated when the Eagles came out requesting shorter quarters for the second half, a request flatly denied by the RookieCoach. It was quickly determined that the Eagles had an average age of 34 with only Robbie “Beckham” Marshall at 29, below the thirty mark. Their cry’s fell on deaf ears, but did little to stop the closeness of the game. As some players tired from the heat, others did the reverse. Special K and Gills were rising to the occasion for their respective sides and proved that both have improved their skills a long way from the two years ago when they first joined the club.

Having injured himself early in the game, Adam took over the Umpiring duties from COBS, and continued to keep the whistle away and let the flow of this enthralling game continue. The 4th quarter was as close to the third. With 10 seconds remaining, the Cougars had pulled within 5 points. The Cougars quickly drew up a game plan that involved the Glamour Boy grabbing the ball from the ruck and bombing it down to Fists/Happy in the forwardline. The Eagles got wind of it and quickly flooded their backline. As the ball came down, Vargo missed the grab but got it to Cashie who sent it down to the forwardline, as the seconds ebbed away, Happy and Special K were one on one…would he take the grab, would he take the grab…..no. A beautiful punch/mauling (depending on which side you played for) from Special K prevented the mark, and the game was over. A fitting result for the Eagles who never relinquished the lead all day despite the scores being so close.

Q4. Cougars 13.10.88 to Eagles 14.9.93.

Bests from –
Eagles – Becks, Pete Taylor, Edgar, Handyman
Cougars – Fists, Andrew, Glamour Boy, Happy

Major Goal kickers
Eagles - Goalsneak – 4, Becks 3.
Cougars – Glamour Boy 4, Happy 4, Andrew 3.