Seattle Squeeker in St. Louis

Saturday, March 25, 2006

 
Old Pugeot Sound Beach notched their first Super League win of the 2006 season with a thrilling 28-27 victory over the St. Louis Bombers. St. Louis put in a solid first half, leading 15-0 at the break while playing into the wind. But Seattle fullback Evan Haigh had a personal haul of 23 points in the second half to lead his side to an exciting comeback victory at the beautiful Sportport facility in St. Louis.

St. Louis flyhalf Rene Monette opened the scoring with a 40 meter penalty kick five minutes into the match. OPSB, playing with the wind at their backs, played in the Bomber's end for a majority of the half. Stiff Bomber defense, a few handling errors, and two missed penalty kicks kept Seattle off the scoreboard in the half.

The Bombers attacked from midfield and wing Chris Welch was rewarded with a try in the corner from lock Hayden Mexted's assist to put St. Louis up 8-0. Replacement flanker Zach Giljum finished off a nice series of phases for a try and Monette's conversion brought the halftime score to 15-0 St. Louis.

OPSB came out of the halftime break and looked like a different side. Fullback Evan Haigh finished off some nice work started by his forwards and then converted his own try to draw the score to 15-7 Bombers. OPSB's lock Brian Schoener emerged from a pile of humanity with the ball from a lineout drive for a try, converted by Haigh: 15-14 St. Louis. Haigh would score again from a chip and chase as momentum had shifted heavily toward OPSB. The converted try put Seattle up for the first time 21-15.

St. Louis would finally get on the board in the half when hooker Pat Hess scored in the corner from lock Phil Reed's assist to draw the Bombers within one point, 21-20. St. Louis had managed to turn momentum back in their favor. Fullback Conail Boyd next sliced through the heart of the Seattle defense for a center-post try. Monette's conversion would put St. Louis up 27-21 with ten minutes to play.

Seattle made on last foray into the Bomber end, and there was Mr. Haigh again- following up a midfield break to score between the posts. His try gave him a hat-trick on the day, and his conversion gave Seattle a 28-27 lead with seven minutes to play.

St. Louis pounded the ball at Seattle relentlessly, and were rewarded three times with penalties- each one just outside of kicking range. The Bombers opted for the lineouts in the corner on each occassion, and were denied each time by a determined Seattle forward pack. Referee Kevin McCaslin's whistle went for full time and the see-saw affair ended with OPSB victorious 28-27.

OPSB gained five competition points with the win and four tries. St. Louis earned two bonus points by scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points. Both side play at home in Week 3. OPSB hosts Kansas City and St. Louis hosts San Francisco in a 7pm match.