Saturday, August 29, 2009

Saints put up galant fight in Ottawa slog

In appalling conditions today the Saints challenged the Swans for three and a half quarters before eventually falling by 33 points. In a 'friendly' match-up between associate Div1 and Div2 clubs the Saints welcomed 6 High Park Demons and 4 Montreal Angels into their team, the Saints first ever hit out against their partner club.
With constant rain making playing conditions extremely tough the Swans started the better of the two clubs, adapting to the conditions well and although the Saints had more of the ball the Swans were impressive in the execution in the wet kicking 5.2 to the Saints 0.3, the Saints unlucky to have a goal denied by a dubious umpiring decision.
After some direction from coach Shane Blight and assistant Declan Coyne the Saints came out on fire in the second, completely dominating possesion. Carl Ferreri, Chris Lagace and Aimee Legault all running rings around their opponents. Unfortunately for the Saints they couldn't capitalize on the scoreboard kicking 2.5 to the Swans 1.0 to trail by 18 at the half. Tempers rose as the Saints refused to give in, the match marred by some ugly incidents as both teams threw everything into the contest. Some Swans greatful that there will be no video review on one particular incident. Again woeful kicking in front of goal wasted the Saints fantastic work, at three quarter time the Saints 2.12 trailed the accurate Swans 8.2.
With two tired teams playing in the most difficult of conditions the Saints did their best to work themselves back into the game but a goal midway through the last sealed the match for the Swans. The Saints although having more possesion and inside 50's wasted their opportunities and finally went down
Ottawa Swans 9.5 (59) defeated
Quebec Saints 2.14 (26)