Round 3 of the ECAFL delivered one clear message - football in Montreal matters. No longer is ECAFL Aussie Rules a 'friendly' game as the Bombers and Saints fought out one of the best and most hard hitting battles to date.ECAFL Round 3, June 7 2009
Bombers 3.3 6.4 11.6 14.6 (90)
Saints 4.1 5.4 9.5 12.8 (80)
Goals
Bombers- C.Stark 6, B.Vawser 4, J-R.Theis 2, M.Sigler 1, D.Zelniker 1.
Saints-A.Williams 8, P.Considine 3,G.Leiva 1.
Best
Bombers- Vawser, Stark, Theis, Zelniker
Saints- Buteau, Rochette, Williams, Considine
The Bombers welcomed new head coach Shane Blight to the helm. He was put in charge of a team that had managed 16 goals and 30 behinds in their first two matches, a horrific conversion rate of 35%. With the current standings at 1 win each both teams saw an opportunity to gain some breathing space on the ladder.
The Saints drew first blood, jumping to an early lead through a major from Pat Considine. The Bombers would bounce back quickly, Ben Vawser proving his 5 goal haul in round 2 was no fluke, slotting through two early on in proceedings. As much as the Bombers controlled the ball on the ground the Saints controlled it in the air. Considine and Williams were proving too strong overhead. Anthony Williams started to dominate up forward for the Saints kicking his first for the day followed soon after by two more as the Bombers struggled with a suitable matchup for the strong forward. Bomber Theis who was starting to gain some confidence in the ruck kicked his 4th goal for the year and at quarter time the Saints had battled their way to a 4 point lead.
Shane Blight in his first appearance as coach swung the changes for the second quarter, Lee Haines was moved onto Williams whilst gun midfielders Stark and Vawser were moved on ball. The quarter started at a fierce pace. Contest for the ball was tough and hard. The Bombers managed to capatilize on some Saints mistakes kicking two goals, earning themselves some small breathing space. It was to be short lived as Sebastien Buteau scooped the ball up off half back and chipped a pass into Alex Rochette across the centre. Running with the flight of the ball Alex took the difficult chest mark, immediately playing on and spearing a pass into Williams. He converted for his 4th of the day and evening the scores once again. The tempo lifted and tempers reached boiling point as the two sides scrapped for the loose ball. A late goal by Theis snuck the Bombers in front by 6 points at the half-time break.After some harsh penalties for abuse handed out by the umpire to the Saints Wi
lliams, both teams turned their attention to winning the ball. As tempers settled both teams hit their straps, 9 goals in total would be scored in the quarter. Cam Stark did his best to drag the Bombers to victory with 4 of his own but the Saints managed to keep pace with Williams 5th & 6th and Leiva and Considine adding singles of their own. The Bombers had been well served by Desgroseilliers, Sigler and Zelniker all day. Haines doing well against the formidable Williams up front. As the dust settled on three quarter time the Saints had failed to keep up in the shoot-out, slipping to a 13 point defecit.After a huge rev-up fr
om an angry coach Williams the Saints came out all guns blazing in the last. Pottier who had struggled with some ground balls earlier on in the match made some big defensive plays and was being well supported by Rochette, Butuea and Leiva across the centre. The Bombers dynamic duo of Stark and Vawser continued to battle the Saints twin towers of Williams and Considine. But as the quarter progressed it would be the supporting cast that stepped up. Bomber rookie Serbian 'Velco' showed he was more than up to the task, firing off a handball that led to a crucial goal. Switzer had been handy all day for the Saints up forward, but had beed deprived of opportunities as the Saints focused squarely on Anthony Williams up front.The game plan was a do or die decision. Tricky winds had hampered the spearheads efforts in front of the big sticks all day. It was to be no different in the last, Williams adding 2.3 as the Saints, who were in a prime position to pounce on the Bombers couldn't get the job done in front of goal. After some initial confusion over the end of the game, the siren been blown 30 seconds early - The final siren sounded, for the second time and signalled the Bombers victors by a mere 10 points. The Stark/Vawser combination had added 10 goals between them while Anthony Williams finished a busy day with 8 goals and 7 behinds.
Best Player - A.Williams (Saints)
Top Contributor - A.Rochette (Saints)
Rookie Nominee - S.Buteau (Saints)
