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| Saints and Swans at Rideau Raceway in a downpour |
With coach Shane Blight back at the helm Quebec took the opportunity to go head to head with partner club Ottawa this weekend in an exhibition game as the Swans scheduled opponent the High Park Demons had forfeited the match. Cancelling the final round of the ECAFL the Saints knew a hit-out against a division 1 club would be the perfect preparation heading into the OAFL Division 2 finals series.
Arriving at Rideau Raceway amid a relentless thunderstorm the game was delayed due to concerns over lightning. The light show in the sky would pass but the rain had no intention of letting up, so the teams went to battle on what can only be described as Lake Rideau Raceway, the heavy rain constant from start to end.
With a handful of Demons players in the line-up and a group of brave Montreal Angels filling out the squad the Saints surprised everyone controlling possesion early in the first quarter. Lacking key forwards the Saints had no avenue to goal. The Swans on the few occasions they went forward were able to expose the Saints lack of defence, forging a 23 point lead at the first change. Blight and Assistant coach Declan Coyne swung the changes in the second to try and spark the team into action. Carl Ferreri, Ben Vawser and Chris Lagace all stepped up and the Saints were once again dominating the play. This time however they were finally getting shots on goal - inaccuracy the new challenge for the Saints. With the ball spending most of the match skidding along the ground from one pool of water to the next the Saints managed a handful of behinds before Luke Anderson plucked the ball out of a pack and snapped truly for goal. Another goal to Anderson before the quarter was out would see Quebec narrow the margin kicking 2.5 to 1.0 for the term and drawing to within 12 points of the Swans.
The third term turned into a physical contest as the Swans tried to intimidate the Saints with late hits and high tackles. The possesion remained even but the Swans were kicking goals and the Saints behinds. Aimee Legault among the best players on the field was in absolute scintillating touch in the impossible conditions. The Swans 26 point three quarter lead was a match winning one but it didn't stop the unruly play from some of their players in the final term. The Swans need to stamp their superiority over their division 2 counterparts culminated in one of their players kicking a Saints player while he lay on the ground for no apparent reason. The player in question was sent off and later suspended by the club but the damage was done. The Saints would end the match with more scoring shots but horrible inaccuracy had cost them any chance of victory. Despite the 37 point loss the Saints were the only team able to walk off the field with their heads held high.
Ottawa Swans 4.2 5.2 8.2 9.5 (59)
Quebec Saints 0.3 2.8 2.12 2.14 (26)
Goalkickers - Saints: Luke Anderson 2
