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| The Pointe Claire Power with the 2010 ECAFL Premiership Cup |
As the team’s lined up for the playing of the national anthem there were two big questions on everyone’s lips, how the Power would cope with the loss of Oxley and Trumble and would the Bombers legs hold out for a second consecutive match. When Bomber ruckman Dave Wilson expertly palmed the ball to Cam Stark to start proceedings and forward Daniel Barker was clutching a mark in front of goal seconds later, tensions in the Power camp were on high alert. Barker narrowly missed the set shot and another he snapped over his shoulder moments later but it was evident the Bomber machine had picked up where they had left off in the semi-final. The Power kicking against the wind refused to be intimidated. After withstanding the first few minutes of a Bomber onslaught the Power worked the ball forward, Nico Pouessel rewarded with a free kick after laying a perfect tackle. The Frenchman lined up from twenty-five metres out on a slight angle, the resulting goal opening Pointe Claire’s account against the flow of play. It would take until nearly the halfway mark of the quarter for Laval to finally get a major on the scoreboard; a Cam Stark goal snapped out of a pack deep in the Bomber’s forward line. Daniel Barker added his first a few minutes later and the Bombers were once again on the march. Despite being dominated in possession the plucky Power was showing far more resourcefulness with the ball, Lagace drawing the Power back to within two points with the team’s second major. The Bombers bombardment of the big sticks was proving unrewarding, two more behinds extended their narrow lead slightly before Nico Pouessel registered his second goal late in the quarter, once again taking the lead for the Power. On the back of inspired efforts from Beaman and Lagace the Power had emerged from the Bomber dominated quarter with their noses in front.
Using the breeze to their advantage the Power hit the ground running in the second term, early goals to Beaman and Pouessel extended their lead to fifteen points. Just when it seemed the Power had the edge, Darrin Haverhoek lifted as he dragged the Bombers back into the contest. Two quick goals in succession to Haverhoek and Barker closed the game up again as the momentum swung back to Laval. A leg injury to Haverhoek raised concerns in the Bomber camp, both teams missing crucial shots up front to gain an advantage. A late goal to each team continued the see-saw affair as the Power clung to their four point lead at the main break.
Stark and Haverhoek led the charge for the Bombers as they started the new half with renewed vigor. Laval once again controlled the play but was still unable to put their accuracy demons to bed as they registered three consecutive behinds. The Power watching their lead diminish to a solitary point seized the chance to steal the momentum, Tim Nixon at half-back spearing a pass to Brétière on the wing who in turned lofted a pass to Pouessel unguarded in the forward line. Pouessel who was having a day out in front of goal added another to his tally. Brétière made it two on the trot for the Power as he kicked a brilliant running goal and Pointe Claire had skipped ahead and looked threatening. The Bombers rallied with a goal to Haverhoek but it didn’t stem the tide as the Power continued to pepper shots on goal. Three behinds in succession for Pointe Claire were all they could yield before a second Haverhoek goal for the quarter brought the gap back to within three points. The Bombers surged forward again looking to snatch back the lead but misses to Anderson and Stark could only close the margin to a single behind by three quarter time.
The entire season now hinged on the result of one quarter. Both teams had failed to capitalize on their periods of dominance in the match and with a one point margin staring both teams in the face the solution was plain and simple, win the quarter and you will (probably) win the premiership. The Power started well, buoyed by the knowledge they had been the best finishing team all year. They were winning the battles around the ground, Nico Pouessel superb all over the field. The Power forged a handy buffer adding three goals to the Bombers two in the early stages of the term, the Pointe Claire team gathering steam as the Bombers desperately clung to their coattails. The quarter wore on and as the time ticked away so did any chance the Bombers had of reeling in the ten point deficit. Entering the final few minutes the Power sent a long ball into their forward line, the ball skidding toward what seemed to be a certain behind. A pack of players gave chase, Margo Legault arriving first, soccering the ball through for a goal a mere metre before the goal line, ultimately putting the match beyond reach of the Laval team. If the three goal deficit still left lingering doubts in anyone’s mind they were quickly erased as man of the moment Nico Pouessel added the finishing touch kicking the last two goals of the match, the Power outlasting the Bombers by 28 points to claim the 2010 premiership.
Pointe Claire Power 3.0 6.4 8.7 14.12 (96)
Laval Bombers 2.4 5.6 7.12 9.14 (68)
Power: Pouessel 7, Lagace 3, Turcotte 1, M.Legault 1, G.Bretiere 1, C.Beaman 1.
Bombers: Barker 4, Haverhoek 3, Stark 2.
