Round Threee Report Porvided by Justin “JC” Connie
It was another great day of BC Footy for the league and the Delta Bayhawks. Coming into round three with a 1 and 1 record, the Bayhawks looked to keep their winning ways going. The only thing standing in their way was the first place and number one rivals, the West Coast Saints who were looking to take a commanding lead in the BC standings. It was not the ice cold rain this time but the intense heat that would play a factor in the game, which team would have enough energy in the tank to win.
After coming off the emotional win in round two against the Vancouver Cougars, the Hawks looked to come out and play with that same emotion. From the first bounce to the last the Hawks came firing out with strong rucking from the middle and brilliant footy skills by the Bayhawks forwards, the Hawks shocked the BC Footy league scoring 5 goals in the first quarter to 0 by the Saints. Even with a commanding lead the Hawks knew it was far from over, with three more quarters left to play the Saints were determined to tie it up and take the lead.
With the start of the second quarter the Hawks came out with the same intensity from the first , knowing to not let the Saint get any chance of momentum. With strong playing from the back line to the forward line the Saints had answer for the Bayhawks. Only till the last 5 minutes of the second quarter did the Saints show life kicking 2 goals in that period, giving them momentum in the second half. Even though the Hawks were leading, they still needed to stay focused and alert because no lead is safe when facing the Saints.
At the start of the third quarter it was the West Coast Saints who came out firing putting the Hawks on the back of their heels. With most of the play in the Hawks back end it was the great playing from Hawks back line that kept the lead in tacked. Every time the ball inched closer to the Bayhawks goal line, the Hawks would work twice as hard to get it back out. With the Saints winning the third quarter it set the fourth quarter up for a grand finish.
The rivalry of these two teams showed in the final quarter, the Saints throwing everything they had at the Hawks. It was a intense hard fought quarter leaving both teams battered and bruised. With tons of hard hitting the Hawks went into lockdown mode, bring the ball to the ground trying to run out the clock. The Saint on the other had took the ball to the air making spot on kicks, marching the ball down into goal kicking range and putting up 6 points every time. The Saints seemed to be on the come back until the final minutes of the game when the Hawks kicked a goal to seal the deal, giving them a 63 to 41 win over the Saints.
The Bayhawks have now set themselves up for a crack at first place in the league but have to get by the Burnaby Eagles in round 4 to have a chance.
Players of the game for the Bayhawks: Rory Herd, Graham Kidd, Eddie Edis, Ben “B.J.” Wilson


