Match: Québec Saints v Central Blues Reserves
Status: Reserves (Rec Footy)
Location/Time: 3pm, Rideau Raceway, Ottawa
Final Scores
Quebec Saints 1.2 4.4 6.5 8.8 (56)
Central Blues Res. 1.1 1.3 2.4 4.5 (29)
Goals: Saints: A.Williams 4, V.Pottier 1, Fred Frost 1, Luis 1, D.Barker1.
Best Players: (CAN) R.Rouxell, J.Lavoie, V.Pottier, A.Rochette
(AUS) D.Barker, S.Cloney, S.Health, A.Williams
The Quebec Saints on debut fought hard for 4 quarters to take an unlikely win against the Central Blues Res.
Nerves were high in the Saints camp with no less than 7 debutants to Aussie Rules football in the side, it was anyone’s guess as to how this team of rookies would perform in their first game. The answers came and they came quickly, The Saints midfield including rookie ruckman Ronan Rouxell and classy veterans Fred Frost and Sam Health immediately got in the thick of things controlling the centre clearances and giving the Saints plenty of chances up forward, however the first quarter was to be a battle of the backlines, both Saints and Blues backman giving nothing away and it wasn’t until midway through the first term Saints Captain Vincent Pottier scooped up a loose ball in the forward pocket and slotted through the first major of the game. The Blues would reply shortly after with one of their own but as the siren sounded for qtr time the Saints had ended a scrappy first quarter with an unlikely 1 point lead kicking into a slight 2 goal wind.
.
With the breeze at their backs the Saints exploded into the 2nd quarter, Australian Daniel Barker remarkably playing his first game of Aussie Rules was gathering possesions at will through the midfield, Jeff Lavoie’s dashes down the wing driving the Saints forward time after time and in a low scoring affair the Saints had managed to add another few majors and pull away to a handy lead. The Blues showing obvious signs of fatigue after many players were required to pull on the boots a second time for the day were struggling to hold on, Dan Lock a lone hand at Centre Half Forward marking everything that came his way but tricky conditions and poor kicking hampered the Blues cause.
.
The Premiership Quarter. The Blues had the wind in the third and Saints coach Williams knew all too well that the Blues had too much class in their line-up to roll over and give up, they would come back and come back strong, Coach Williams called on Canadian first gamer for a task that could ultimately decide the game, Rochette was switched from the forward line into defense as a loose man, a big ask for the debutant but one he played to perfection, As the Blues fired out of the blocks in the third with inside 50 after inside 50 it was Rochette creating havoc for the Blues forwards allowing now forward space to lead into and with the silky skills of his fellow backmen the Saints managed to emerge from the 3rd quarter further in front on the score board and seemingly on the verge of a huge upset victory.If the smiles were starting to break on the Saints players faces they were quickly wiped off as Coach Williams gave his charges a huge rev up at 3 qtr time, the job wasn’t finished and he knew that the threat was ever present from a Blues squad that could strike on the scoreboard swiftly with ease.
.
The Blues took control of the 4th quarter almost from the first bounce, although the Saints midfield had dominated all day the Blues struck back initiating their attacks from half back through Zimmerman, Cain and Pstance sparking their revival in the final term, surging forward looking for Lock and Chapman at Half forward, the dividends paid off quickly and the Blues had a major on the score board and a sniff of a come from behind victory was in the air. Next goal was key and for the Saints who had run a tired Blues outfit into the ground dreams of a first win became reality as the steadying goal sailed through and with the time left on the clock the result was all but in the bag. In the end it was a well planned out victory against a side that simply didn’t have the legs after a hard fought victory against the Swans not 2 hours prior.
