The future looks bright for footy in Quebec as Saints push Eagles outfit for 3 qtrs

The Quebec Saints opened their OAFL Division 2 campaign with a gallant loss to the Eagles Division 1 side in Ottawa. The Eagles unable to field a division 2 side playing their senior team.

The Saints showed up in Ottawa with high hopes of a good showing, 17 players representing the club in it's official introduction into the OAFL. The news wasn't good as the boys arrived at the ground. The Eagles did not have a division 2 side but agreed to play their division 1 side against the Saints in the spirit of giving the French-Canadian team it's first ever match.

The game started as a lop sided affair. Domination out of the middle and complete control of the play may have been expected by some, but they never expected it to be the Saints leading the way. Matthew Wood completely dominated the ruck duals and Cam Stark and Ronan Shaughnessy were giving their Eagles counterparts a lesson in Aussie Rules. With plenty of shots at goal the Saints failed to capitalize, missing easy shots. Half way through the first quarter the Eagles had failed to get the ball into their attacking half. Lacy and Williams strong up forward for the Saints. The Eagles aren't one of the best teams in the country for nothing, and on their first link up play the moved the ball from backline to forward line like a well drilled unit scoring the first goal of the game and taking the lead from the wasteful Saints.

The Saints surged forward again, and it was left to rookie David Zelniker to scoop up a loose ball 20 metres out, sidestep an oppponent and snap the Saints first of the game. Both sides traded further goals but at the break it was the Saints who had pulled in front 2.4 to 2.0.

The Eagles came out in the second quarter much more determined to put away the young Saints side who had given them the slip in the first. A see-sawing quarter that was tough and close saw the Eagles start to work their way on top of the Saints. The Saints simply refused to give in, fantastic efforts by 'Baz' and PJ aswell as excellent support from Declan Coyne and the Saints were hot on the heels of the Toronto team. The Eagles a mere 2 points in front at the main change.

With the game a little too close for comfort, the Eagles big names including many Canadian National squad players started making their way onto the ground. Still the Saints refused to lie down. Tactics got dirty as gun on-baller Shaughnessy took an elbow to the face and midfielder Anderson was elbowed in the neck, the Eagles flexing their muscle and showing their frustration that they simply could not pull away. Using their pace to their advantage the Eagles managed to score a few running goals but a late goal to star Saint forward Mick Lacy kept the Saints within 13 points at the last change and within the grasp of a huge upset.

With the Eagles side now fully 'loaded' for the last quarter Coach Williams could see the writing on the wall. He used the last quarter to give some of his more inexperienced players some valuable big game experience and rested a few of his stars. The Eagles took complete control of the game slamming on 6 last quarter goals and running away with a 50 point victory.

Toronto Eagles 2.0 4.1 6.2 12.3 (75)
Quebec Saints 2.4 3.5 3.7 3.7 (25)

Goals: Zelniker, Stark, Lacy
Best: Shaughnessy, Coyne, Wood, Zelniker, Stark