2005 Season - Cougars v Eagles May

Cougars Piped again

It was a beautiful early summer day in Vancouver that saw Round 2 of the Vancouver Cougars vs. Burnaby Eagles series kick off. Going into the game SuperCoach Grills was determined that the planets were aligned correctly for the Cougars to level the series. The Eagles had their own motivation and were determined to send Skipper Bobby Dazzler out on a high note before he embarked on his extensive travels.

From the first bounce, the pace was fierce. These two teams are quickly beginning to show that even separated, the Vancouver teams will be able to take on all comers this year. From the start, it was the Cougars who took it to the Eagles with the early goals. Mikey Setta was proving elusive up forward and slotted the first two home for the Cougars with a couple of nice opportunistic chances.

For the Eagles, Happy Freeman was providing some lightning pace across the Eagles centreline and proved that he could still get kicks without father/Umpire Kenny providing him with free kicks. Edgar and Bobby slowly warmed into the game and the Eagles started to control the engine room, leveling the scores. A last minute bomb on the siren by Grills saw the Cougars go into quarter time with a narrow lead.

Q1 – Cougars 3.2.20 to Eagles 2.0.12

From the opening bounce of the second quarter, the Eagles came out like a team possessed. Bobby Dazzler was everywhere across the centre, sending the ball deep into the forwardline. Handyman Hilton was whipping through the packs like a man half his age while Nathan Dinsdale and Goalsneak Stratford started to rack up possessions at will across the Eagles forwardline. The later still no doubt rue a sprayed kick when running into a wide open goal…

With all the play at their end, newby Aaron Wanders was wandering all over the backline for the Cougars, gathering numerous possessions and trying to send the Cougars back into attack, while Matty Neufeld, Coops and Daniel Lowes were hard at the footy as always.

Yet another goal on the siren by Grills saw the Cougars struggling to stay in it…

Half Time. Eagles 6.4.40 to Cougars 5.3.33

Both teams came out strong in the 3rd quarter and it looked like the Cougars were beginning to right the ship. Craig Walker went to Full Back onto flatmate Nathan Dinsdale and the two of them fought out a great battle for the rest of the game - the final result declared a draw. Cashie, Teddy and Lappin were fighting hard in the centre for the Cougars while Cam Mitchell was gathering a few possies as he worked to get himself back into match fitness. Richie Roberts was getting into the game and snagged a couple for the Cougars.

Morgs was playing some inspired footy for the Eagles in the backline, constantly lurking dangerously near the goal-line and stopping a number of good chances for the Cougars, while Shannon and Leigh were sticking to their Cougar opponents like glue and preventing any decent forward thrusts from succeeding. At the other end, Simon Nolan and Hilton continued to nail the goals while Bobby Dazzler sent a couple of long bombs through the sticks and Big John was solid in the ruck.

Q3. Eagles 9.6.60 to Cougars 8.6.54

The last quarter was set to be a thriller. From the start, the Cougars seemed to slowly be gaining the ascendancy into the wind and were peppering the goals time and time again. Wanders continued to be the driving force from the backline but the Cougars forwards could not convert a number of easy chances close to goal. An early goal from the Eagles looked to be the winner, but the Cougars kicked 2 goals and a number of points unanswered to shoot to a 5 point lead with only 5 minutes remaining. Surely this was it…

But no, a long bomb by B.O.G Bobby saw the Eagles regain control. Another late goal was the sealer, and devastation for the Cougars.

Final Score. Eagles 12.7.79 to Cougars 10.11.71.

Bests from –Eagles – Bobby, Morgs, Hilton, Nathan, Shannon, Edgar
Cougars – Wanders, Neufeld, Lappin, Setta, Roberts, Coops

Major Goal kickers
Eagles - Bobby 3, Nathan 3, Hilton 2, Nolan 2, Edgar 2
Cougars – Setta 2, Grills 2, Vargo 2, Richie 2, Coops 1, Bushell 1