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Round
3
WILDCATS BATTLE HARD BUT FALL TO MORE EXPERIENCED HAWKS
After starting the season (2-0) with wins over Guelph and the Central Blues, the Hamilton
Wildcats headed into their Round #3 tilt vs. an extremely experienced Broadview Hawks side
in what would be their toughest test of the 2007 season so far. The visiting Wildcats were
hoping to send a message to the home field Hawks, as well as to the rest of the league, that
their promising start to the new season was no fluke and that the boys from Steeltown were a
force to be reckoned with this year. As the first quarter got underway, even though it had
been 2 weeks since their last game, Hamilton seemed to pick-up where they left off versus the
Blues; hitting hard and clearing the centre of the ground with ease. The hardnosed style of
footy in the guts from veteran Brett “Hilly” Hill, Nick “2-goals” DiRago, replacement ruck
Jeff Fish (filling-in for the absent Paul Lawson) and Mike “out for blood” Nolan looked to be
the staple of the Wildcats attack right from the opening bounce. The quick passages of play
up the wings and long accurate kicks from halfback flank Justin “Who Needs a Hammy”
Johns, wingers Reuben Sculthorp & Josh “The Prodigal Son” Beaupre helped the Hamilton
forwards lead into open space and put their club out front at the end of the first frame 2.2.14
to 1.4.10; with both goals coming from the big left foot of Daniel “4 behinds” Crouch. As the
‘Cats looked to increase their lead in the second quarter, the Hawks offense came alive as they
began to shower the Hamilton backline with an offensive barrage of their own. Despite
punching hard from behind and extremely tight defensive coverage, the experience and sure
hands of the Broadview forwards won many of the contests through out the second quarter,
thus propelling the Hawks into the lead heading into the half. Broadview held the visitors
from the scoreboard in the 2nd frame, but Hamilton looked to bounce back heading into the
“Premiership Quarter” with hopes of regaining the lead. Though the Wildcats started strong
in the 3rd, Broadview seemed to be gaining stream with every second that passed, shutting
down the Hamilton offense and clearing their defensive zone time and time again. As time
ticked away in the third, Hamilton battled hard leaving no Hawk played un-hit and making
sure that Broadview earned every single point they posted on the scoreboard. Despite their
valiant efforts both on offense and defense in the final frame, the Hawks were too much for
Hamilton to handle on the day, eventually handing the ‘Cats their 1st loss on the year 9.16.70
to 3.6.24
. The (2-1) Wildcats will now head north to Guelph (@ Margaret Greene Park) to
face the (0-2) Gargoyles for the second time this season on Saturday, June 2nd starting at 2pm.
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