Unfortunately the results for the Eagles haven’t matched the spectacular weather but there are still promising signs for the reigning BC Footy premiers.

In their first hit-out the Eagles took on a strong Vancovuer Cougars side looking to make amends on a disappointing finals series last year.  The Eagles, down on numbers and missing a few key players to injury went in underdogs and fielded several first game players.  That is first game of football ever – not first game for the Eagles!

Coach Frodo embraced technology and was the first coach in BC Footy history to set his team up on the club’s new footy whiteboard iPad app.  New technology always takes some adjustment and Frodo’s frustration started to show at quarter time when he could no longer smash his fist into the whiteboard to emphasize his points.  Despite this frustration the Eagles contested well early to be within a couple of goals at half time.  First gamer Karl Ringrose picked up the pace quickly and big Dimmy, in his first game for the club provided much needed size and agression around the contests.  Notably for the Eagles, Canadian stars Quinn, Gino and Jimmy worked tirelessly to provide options everywhere and left many spectators finding it difficult to tell the seasoned Aussies form the young Canadians.

In the second half the Eagles were again competitive , but for a short 10 minute lapse where they allowed the Cougars to get on top  of the centre clearences.  Injury to coach and stallwart Adam Kelley did not help their cause as he’d provided some great run out of the backline.  Grant Sceney was terrific on the ball all day but lacked much need support – especially in the third quarter.

While the final score flattered the Cougars, the Eagles can take away some great progress from their emerging youngsters.  Jake (Sorry but I don’t remember your actual name) toiled hard and Brendan Pascoe got better as the game went on – he’ll be better for the run.  Kiwi had his best game for the club and with a number of players set to return form injury the season is showing some promise for the Eagles.  Also special commendation should go the Bayhawks players who helped out on the day.

Final score: Cougars 12.7.79 def. Eagles 4.5.29
Best: Sceney, Kiwi, Jimmy O, Jared, Quinn, Clay

Round 2 saw the Eagles face cross town rivals and 2011 Grand Final opponent the West Coast Saints.  The Saints, coming off a big win in round one were keen to keep momentum going .  Coach Frodo had cast technology aside and instead went for the tried and tested “stand everyone on the ground in their position” approach.  (Note to self – purchase new whiteboard this week).  Again injuries and a bout of cochella-itis that ripped through the line up (For most teams this week) had the Eagles shorter on numbers than they wanted to be.

Young Canadians were asked to stand tall and carry this new-look Eagles outfit and they didn’t disappoint.  Jimmy Oertel, on the ball all day was superb and put in a performance suggesting why he was named best Canadian in the 2011 season. Quinn Hobbs continued his good form again putting in one of his best performances ever and Kiwi continued his improvement again putting in his best game for the club.  Sunshine presented all day providing an option up forward and Jared was excellent in the back line again.
The standout performance for the Eagles though was the return of big Dave Kuss up back.  Kussy thwarted several attacks and took 17 marks deep in defense to give the Eagles rebound.

It was great to see Jimmy Gibb back in the side too.  The league has 7 games this weekend with Calgary and Seattle in town, and I reckon we’re a good chance of getting Jimmy to play in all of them.  That man’s like the Energizer bunny –  he just keeps going and going.

Despite a slow start the game was an excellent contest all day and  had the Eagles made more of their opportunities in front of goal the score could have been a lot closer.  The league goes to Tournament mode this weekend with Calgary and Seattle in town before taking a week off.  Several stars are set to return for the Eagles for round three and they should be a good chance of making the finals.

Final Score WC Saints  10-5-65 def Burnaby Eagles  5-11-41
Best: Kuss, Quinn, Jimmy O, Jimmy G, Dimmy, Gino, Sunshine 

Please contact Lex Perry on +1 604 506 5852 or at mailto:findlex@gmail.com for more information.

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Adam “Lulu” Simpson and Matt “Man Crush” McDowall were voted respective best and fairest winners of their clubs on Saturday night.

The lads revealed as the winners in front of what was eventually a record crowd of over 200 at Moose’s Downunder. Other awards announced on the night:

Burnaby Eagles

Best and Fairest –  Adam Simpson
Runner Up B&F  - Chris Pirwarski
Best Cnadaian – Justen “Jimmy” Oertel
Leading Goalkicker – Adam Simpson
Best Finals Player – Lex Perry
Coach’s Award – David Smart
Best Clubman/Players Award – Lex Perry

Bayhawks

Best and Fairest –  Matt McDowall
Runner Up B&F  - Matt Payne
Best Cnadaian – Justin “Murph” Connie
Leading Goalkicker – Regen Daniel
Best Finals Player – Josh Barnes
Coach’s Award – Graham James
Best Clubman/Players’ Award – Graham James

Life Members Inducted

Congratulations to the two life members inducted into the club  Matthew Bell and Corina Aquino.  Matthew Bell has been a stalwart of BC Footy and the Burnaby Eagles including coaching the Eagles to a near perfect season in 2009.  Corina, Managing Director and CEO of Moose’s Downunder, has been a long standing supporter of the club.  We thanks both Corina and Matthew for their contributions to the Eagles and Bayhawks and we wish Matt the very best in his return home to Australia.

MCs Sheep Doggg$s and JV perform “Blue and Yellow” at the event

All positions are vacated and this is your chance to vote in the committee to take the club into 2012.

The meeting will not run past 2:30.

Carpools from downtown are available – Contact Lex Perry – 604 506 5852 to organise.

Further details and RSVP here:  https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=227340333992409

On another spectacular summer day, the Eagles were on the back foot early with the Cougars bringing their finals intensity.  Several players were missing from the Eagles’ line up in round nine, and it seemed it took a quarter for those folks to find their mojo.  The exception was big Chris “Sos” Piwarski, who had not played since injuring his head in round 7.  Sos was instrumental up forward in the first quarter essentially keeping his side in the contest.   Eagles down by 7 at the quarter.

After a (now almost customary) quarter time spray form coach Frodo, the Eagles came out in the second quarter much harder at the footy.  Perry moved into the centre and Lulu Simpson started to play up the field a little bringing older, bigger bodies closer to the contests.   Kirky and the centres started to gather clearances while Spencer and Jimmy O started to finish the work drilling the ball forward bringing big Sos and Lulu into the game.   The highlight was a streaking run down the wing by Spence resulting in a goal to fellow Canadian Jimmy Oertel.  I’m sure if the Canadian selectors were on hand they may have been wondering how those two boys didn’t make it to the international cup.  Eagles by 17 at the half.

The third, premiership quarter was a close contest with the midfield again standing up for the Eagles.  While the Cougars were more competitive across the ground the Eagles were miserly in defence with Jarad seldom losing a contest, Dave Kuss grabbing everything like it was a 3AM kebab, and coach Frodo clearing the ball out of the back half.  Highlight of the quarter was when Joal Kirk running off the half backline realised he’d had one too many stubbies and could no longer reach down to tap the ball onto the ground.  Fortunately he kicked in time and escaped penalty.  Eagles extending their lead to 40.

To their credit the Cougars competed fiercely to the end banging on a few late goals in the last quarter.  Realistically though the deficit by that time was far to great and the only men concerned were coach Frodo and Lulu (who thought we were only a goal up).  The highlight of the last quarter was no doubt the sweeping handball from Lulu to Kirky who then drew a defender to give Jimmy Oertel his third goal for the game.  I guess the speckie that set tat play up wasn’t bad either. Eagle home by 46 and into the grand final  (That’s the big dance for those unfamiliar with Aussie football terminology).

Results
Eagles 14 -7 -91
Cougars 6 – 9 45

Best: Kelly, Simpson, Perry, Piwarski, Kuss,  Ferguson, Oertel, Nebel, Conning  (Really Craig??  that’s like half the team!!)
Goals:  Piwarski 5, Simpson 3, Oertel3, Perry, Kuss, Vanderpol

In the other game a gallant Bayhawks went down to the West Coast Saints by 4 points in a low scoring affair

Saints 6 – 7 43
Bayhawks  5 – 9 39

Best:  Broomfield, Findlayson, McDowall, Dowe, Bettles, Barnes, James
Goals:  Findlayson 2, Daniel 2, McDowall 1

Footy in Vancouver - Eoin Tyrrell was fantastic in defence locking up several contests

Footy in Vancouver - the Eagles celebrate a goal

Footy in Vancouver - Where's the ball?

In glorious conditions both sides were forced to play short and while the result didn’t impact the final standings there was plenty of pride at stake for both teams; The Eagles keen to to finish the home and away season undefeated and the Bayhawks keen to post a win.

From the outset the Byahawks hit the ground running with a dominant midfield display reminiscent of their premiership winning form of 2010.  The midfield combinations of Sheep, Sceney, McDowall, Broomfield and Jonno dominated the centre clearances to post 3 goals 8 for the quarter.  Jonno played like a man possessed.  At one point he had so much time and space he was able to fertilize the field – possibly as a result of his gut wrenching running (but more likely something less wholesome).  At first they opted to pop the ball lace out onto Coach Regen’s chest, but after 5 behinds they wisely decided to just go over the top of him.  Bayhawks by 24 at quarter time.

The Eagles regrouped however. After losing Lulu Simson early to a suspected hunger related illness (the Girlfriend is away) the remaining Eagles, mostly Canadian, dug deep to copete harder in the second quarter.  Isberg and Oertel tightened up on their opponents and started to generate more drive out of the centre, whilst Dave Kuss and Jared rebounded out of the backline. Unfortunately for the Eagles though the Bayhawks finished the quarter strongly and started to convert their opportunities. 37 points in it at the half.

The Eagles moved Quinny up forward at half time and pushed Jarred into the ruck with immediate results.  The side instantly looked more balanced and it seemed they might have found a way to get back into it.  Quinn played his best game for the club wrapping his massive dukes around the pill on several occasions to set up a couple second half goals. Not content he carried his handy work into Buffalo Bills that night continuing to wrap his hands around whatever he could.  However the Bayhawks midfield proved too strong. They had the bigger stronger bodies and more desire on the day and essentially closed this one out by three quarter time – up by 47.

While the scoreboard may have looked harsh on the Eagles, this was a great opportunity for team’s 9 Canadian/Internationals to step up and play key roles before the finals against top quality opposition.  They’ll welcome back several players for the big clash with the Cougars as finals footy in BC kicks off!

In the other game the Cougars stormed home coming from 20 points down in the final quarter to overcome the Saints by seven points and take the Whistler Cup – which, now sits in pieces on the floor of whistler night spot Buffalo Bills

Results

Bayhawks  17 – 15 – 117 def
Eagles   6 – 12 – 48
Best Eagles: Oertel, Kuss, Quinn, Smart, Milne, Gibb.  Bayhawks: Johnno, Sheep, McDowall, Broomfield, Sceney ,
Goals Eagles: Oertel 2, Quinn 2, Isberg 1, Milne 1.  Bayhawks: Regen 4.9, Sheep 2 or 3, Some new guy 3, Sceney 1 and plenty of others.

Cougars  12 – 6 – 78 def
Saints   11 – 5 – 71

Eagles Canadian star Gino Branchiati returned from Thailand

In the first game a refreshed Bayhawks lead at all changes only to be overrun by the Saints by 4 points in the final quarter.  The highlight of the day was unquestionably Marlena Ginoccio ‘s tackle and goal assist in the third quarter.  We believe Marlena  is the first female to play senior football in BC footy and was among the best players for the Bayhawks.  Marlena will turn her attention to her Australian tour with the Canadian national  women’s team competing for the International Cup this August.

The Bayhawks also welcomed back 2010 premiership star Shaun “Sheepy” Finlayson as they build for the 2011 finals series.

Final score
WC Saints 76 Def Bayhawks 72
Best:  Marlena, McDowall, Finlayson, Connie (Murph), Justin, Broomfield

In the second game for the day Burnaby was off to a flyer to lead by 19 points a quarter time –  straight kicking could have had them even further ahead.   But the Cougars fought back hard to be only a point down at three quarter time and even surge ahead in the last quarter.  Coach Frodo delivered a stinging attack on his player at three quarter time, urging them to dig deep. .

And it seemed that the his  man crush “Lulu” Simpson listened.   Lulu did what we’va all heard Lulu can do, went into his phone-booth, popped on his superman outfit and came out a different player.  Beaten for most of the day,  Lulu took four hangers and goaled three times in the last quarter (he kicked six for the day) to eventually carry the Eagles to a six point, come from behind win.

Finals are shaping up to be an exciting affair.

Score:
Eagles 12.7.79
Cougars 11.7.73
Eagles Goals :  Simpson 6, McAdam, Milne 2, Isberg 1, Perry 1,
Best:  Simpson, McAdam, Kirk, Smart, R. McDonald, Oertel, Isberg, Gibb

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