BOMBERS CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

Cam Stark and Shane Blight with the premiership cup

After a season that was dominated by the Laval Bombers the last round of the year had left many questions over which team would prevail as the 2009 ECAFL Champions. Big questions hung over Pat Considine's possible late withdrawal from the Saints squad and as the game kicked off it was apparent the bleu et blanc would be without their spearhead forward.


The early going was scrappy. Neither midfield could take control and it was left to some good positioning by Fref Frost up forward who marked and converted truly opening the scoring for the Saints. The Bombers pushed forward themselves but were finding it hard to captialize, inaccuracy once again costing the Laval team. The Saints won a clearance from the centre, PJ Devine getting of a hurried kicked that slew off the side of his boot and floated fortuitously into the arms of Fred Frost. Frost registered his second and all the breaks were going the Saints way as they skipped out to a two goal lead. The Bombers regrouped and hit back hard. Ben Vawser linking up well with Cam Stark to get the Bombers first major. The battle in the middle between ruckman Lacy and Carbonnel was turning into a titanic struggle both players in flying form unable to assert any authority over the other. Cam Stark put in his bid for mark of the year next with a brialliant speccy over PJ Devine from a Bombers kick in. Stark flying high taking the grab overhead only to loose grip then snatch it back as he was on the downward part of his leap, juggling the ball all the way finally claiming the mark with both feet back on terre firma. With no team able to get any flow in the forward line the Bombers began launching their attacks from half-back. This forced the Saints to be accountable in defence and gave the on-ballers Stark and Vawser more freedom to deliver the ball into Blight up forward. Blight rewarding the midfield's hard work by scoring a goal. Mick Lacy's chance to reply moments later narrowly missing for one behind. Blight would add two more for the quarter as the Bombers wrestled back the lead with four unanswered goals leading 4.2 (26) to 2.2 (14) at the break.

The Bombers continued their resurgence in the second. Stark began to run riot in the centre and although Lacy was a shining light for the Saints his teammates were losing the one on one battles around the ground. A five goal to zero second term handed the Bombers a commanding 47 point lead at the main change. The Saints were down and out and Bombers ruckman Renaud Carbonnel would help deliver the knockout blow in the third quarter. Three goals and some inspirational contested marks led the charge as the Bombers kicked eight goals to zero ending any hopes of a Saints revival. The Bombers holding a mammoth 97 point lead heading into the last change 17.11 (113) to the Saints 2.4 (16).

With the game well and truly over the spirit in the Saints camp had dropped off completely. The Bombers with their tails up had no intention of letting up ripping the Saints to shreds in the final quarter. James-Robert Theis added four goals, Shane Blight three, Cam Stark two and one to Ben Vawser as the Laval Bombers ended their 2009 campaign with a ten goals to two behinds final quarter, crushing the helpless Saints on their way to a record winning margin of 156 points.

Laval Bombers 4.2 9.8 17.11 27.12 (174)
Montreal Saints 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.6 (16)
 
Goalkickers - Bombers: S.Blight 8, C.Stark 7, J-R Theis 5, R.Carbonnel 4, B.Vawser 3. Saints: F.Frost 2.

Best on Ground: Fleur de lys medallist - Renaud Carbonnel (Bombers/France), Southern Cross medallist - Ben Vawser (Bombers/Australia)

Umpires: A.Williams, M.Wood, G.Bretiere