The Sechelt Indian Band hosted one of this year's men's tournaments at Ted Dixon Memorial Park last weekend.
Ted Dixon is a great venue for soccer as you can sit on the bleachers in the middle and, with a twist of your head, watch two games at the same time on the two fields. 'Welsh' Mark Williams noted how the crowded sideline community turnout for local teams reminded him of the hometown support forsquads back in Europe. In seasons past, the final two teams sometimes would wind up back at Trent Dixon's house on the waterfront following the Ted Dixon tournament, to recount the final match play-by-play, pint-by-pint.
For the fifth year in a row, Pender Harbour again uncannily landed a berth in the beer cup final. Ryan Boyd, Robin Millar and Rod Kammerle all hit the net for the Bananas, as did Earl Antilla with his first goal ever. After driving the backroads, the Bananas managed to track down midfielder Steve Foutes and got a good tournament out of him. The Selects squad of veteran players had a good showing last weekend as Peter Brampton hit the net twice. Blaine Schleibinger played Roberto Luongo to eighth place Selects as he put in yet another solid season. Defender Eric Benz used his cagey veteran's instincts to out-position speedy wingers, and in their match with Sechelt Chiefs, Selects got a cracker from chiropractor Ron Pashkewych.
Sechelt Wolves looked like the Wolves team of old as Corey August and Rick Timothyhammered balls out of their end up to Eddie Paul and Adrian Dixon, who danced around the midfield to then pass upfield to Ryan Paul and Junior Dixon on the forward line. Trent Dixon got his groove back on the wing as he walked in to put one over the crossbar. The Wolves have been in 10 out of the last 11 finals, and will have to advance through fellow Band team Chiefs this weekend for a spot in the last match.
The Gibsons Pigs' tournament ended early when one opposing player took it upon himself to harangue the team as they relaxed after a match. Last year's tournament champs figured they could find a better way to spend a Sunday with their families and withdrew from their remaining match. The games they played were close, however, as Brian McAllister and Dave Nanson powered through the midfield. Scott 'Skygold' Weekes' extra foot of height kept opposing forwards from running onto lobbed through-balls with his adept headers. Eoin Ross and Darryl Germain came close to putting ball to mesh inside the six-yard line. Ross's touch was a wee bit off though, due to his Razorbacks hockey victory and late nights with his newborn, in that order.
Chiefs continued their unbeaten streak through the weekend.
Dexter Craigan returned to the backline next to veteran Rick August, and along with midfielders Curtis Craigan, magical Mattie Joe, strikers Kevin August and Scott Johnson and rabid winger Mark Williams, brought pitch long depth to the team. Three wins this weekend put Chiefs through at the top of their group.
In B group action, Halfmoon Bay was the big winner, also with three victories, and three shutouts from keeper George Cuthbertson. Keith 'Big Red' Donkersloot kept pesky forwards out of his back end, while Adam Vand Kleet and Pete Williams wheeled around the midfield. Mike 'Mr. America' Cowie put his bright yellow new boots to good use as he sniped a 20-yarder, and Dave Marsh also got in front of the net to put himself in position to pull the trigger.
League champs Coast Progressive United (CPU) also went through and got good mileage from wingers Simon Hocking, who scored twice, and Alexander Lamb. Eoin Walker also nailed a tight angled shot inside the keeper.
I would have to say the most impressive performances of the weekend, though, came from Gibsons United. What do you get when you subtract Sean Whalen and Neville Judd from United's lineup? You get Ray Hovden outmanoeuvring players two decades his junior, Bruno Huber hitting 25-yarders, Gary Benner on the backline one timing incoming balls straight back to midfield, the Marshall brothers throwing around their six-foot frames in midfield, Rich Getzkow and Dave Daglish flying up and down the wings like boxcars on rails and Sean 'Man in Tights' Rees making big save after big save. United's empty substitute bench and grey hair were belied by their hammering hearts and pre-game servings of Ibuprofen.
The semifinals are set for 10 a.m. on Sunday with CPU versus Halfmoon Bay and Chiefs versus Wolves. At noon it's the beer cup semifinals followed by the third place playoff between the semifinal losers at 2 p.m., the beer cup final at 3 and the championship final at 4:30. All games are at Ted Dixon.
