Date 4th October 2008Match: Québec Saints v Laval Bombers
Status: ECAFL League Match
Location/Time: 1pm, Parc Cartier, Laval.
Final Scores
Quebec Saints 2.3 6.5 8.5 11.12 (78)
Laval Bombers 3.2 5.3 10.9 12.14 (86)
Quebec Saints 2.3 6.5 8.5 11.12 (78)
Laval Bombers 3.2 5.3 10.9 12.14 (86)
Goals: Saints: J.Lavoie 5, A.Gilmour 2, J.Macumber 1, J.Hegerty 1, V.Pottier 1L.Bertrand 1.Bombers: D.Barker 4, S.Health 2, A.Williams 2, C.Stark 1, L.Anderson 1John 1. Sebastien 1.
Aussie Rules Football found its feet in Montreal last Saturday as the inaugural match of the Eastern Canada Australian Football League ( ECAFL ) kicked off in style.The Montreal based Quebec Saints took on the newly formed Laval Bombers in blustery conditions in what looked on paper to be a close match up.From the first bounce the Bomber midfield led by Cam Stark and Sam Health got on top and looked to capitalize on the 3 to 4 goal breeze they had at their backs. Despite the constant barrage into the Bomber forward line brilliant play by Saints backmen Fred Frost and Jaye Macumber restricted the opportunities for the opposing forwards and the Saints managed to go into quarter time a mere 5 points down.
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In the second term the Saints used the wind well, Saint Debutant Luc Bertrand kicking his first of the afternoon with classy midfielder Jeff Lavoie adding two of his own and Quebec looked in complete control, Bomber Daniel Barker kicked a miraculous goal hard up against the boundary line just before the half time break and when the siren blew the Saints had fought back to hold an 8 point lead.
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The Premiership quarter, kicking to the scoring end the Bombers hit the second half running – completely outplaying the Saints all over the ground, The momentum had truly swung they way of the Red and Black, Daniel Barker adding 3 more goals to his tally. A goal late in the quarter to the Saints captain kept them in the game but the damage had already been done, Laval kicking 5.6 to the Saints 2.0, the Bombers would be heading into the last quarter with a 16 point lead.
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The Saints with their backs to the wall threw some position changes around for the last quarter and after an early missed shot by the Bombers, regained composure and started to build some momentum of their own, Quebec won the ball at ground level and used their half back line to set up attack but inaccuracy in front of goal was costing them dearly, Jeff Lavoie added two more goals for the quarter giving him 5 for the afternoon and with 5 minutes left in the game the Bombers led by the smallest of margins 1 point – The next score was crucial and it would be the Bombers who moved the ball quickly up forward to Anthony Williams who had been held well all quarter by Vincent Pottier, Williams taking a difficult contested mark 35 metres out, putting through the goal and closing the door on the Saints who had added 3.7 in the last quarter to go down by a final margin of 8 points.All in all it was a fantastic day cheered on by a modest crowd braving the 10 degree weather, The final result not as important as the fact Aussie Rules had arrived in Quebec.
