2003 Challenge Cup - Jubilee Trophy Championships
Now that the Nationals are over, I would like to share with you what I observed at the National 2003 Challenge Cup and Jubilee Trophy competition in Quebec City. At these games I had the experience and pleasure of doing the colour commentary with Russ Murphy, who is Manager of CHCM 740 radio station and brought the games live from Quebec City.
Mount Pearl
Game One: NL (Mount Pearl) vs. B.C. (Surrey United)
During this game, the British Columbia squad pretty well
dominated Mount Pearl. During their first 10 minutes of play Mount Pearl
appeared as if they would compete. For the remaining 30 minutes of the
first half, British Columbia scored three goals, building up a comfortable
3-0 lead. For the entire second half, British Columbia put on a soccer
clinic, demonstrating to the spectators and to their opponents how soccer
can be played using speed, ball control, superb passing and shooting skills.
When the final whistle blew, British Columbia had defeated Mount Pearl
by a 4-0 score and according to the number of goal posts, crossbars and
missed opportunities, I'm sure the score could have been more. It was during
this game that Mount Pearl was taught a very valuable lesson in National
soccer. I'm convinced Mount Pearl must have realized from this game that
the top teams in Canada Challenge Cup are no pushovers.
Mount Pearl's player of the game was Jon Kelly
Game Two: NL (Mount Pearl) vs. N.B. (St. John)
No doubt this was a game that Mount Pearl were capable
of winning. I had watched British Columbia defeat New Brunswick on day
two by a 6 -1 margin and I certainly felt that Mount Pearl were a better
team than New Brunswick. I also realized that even a tie would have put
Mount Pearl in a position to compete for a 5th - 8th place seed. During
the first half of this game, Mount Pearl appeared to be the superior team,
opening up with a few great saves from Gerald Connolly and a goal from
Alec Turpin at the 25-minute mark. But it appeared that Mount Pearl, for
some reason, lost focus during the last five minutes of the first period
and, a complete mental lapse at the 45 minute mark resulted in New Brunswick
scoring. This half ended at 1-1 tie. The turning point of this game came
very early in the second half as New Brunswick scored for a 2-1 lead. Again
Mount Pearl died in the second half. It appeared that mental fatigue had
gotten the better of them. Maybe you could chalk it up to a lack of experience
or else it could have been the pressure of playing at the Nationals. Actually
the remainder of the second half, New Brunswick took it to Mount Pearl,
finishing up with a 3-1 victory. Mount Pearl's player of the game
was Alec Turpin
Game Three & Four: NL (Mount Pearl) vs. Ontario
(Kanata)
What a way to finish a National tournament, having to
play the same team twice for a 9th or 10th place seed! Because of their
two loses, Mount Pearl had to play against Ontario twice. Ontario had earlier
defeated the number one seed Manitoba in their division but had their points
taken away because of an ineligible player. Now Ontario was in a position
to be seeded 10th,and as I stated earlier, this seeding is a joke.
In Mount Pearl's first game against Ontario, Mount Pearl
were totally outplayed during the first half and consequently they fell
behind by a score of 4-1. But in the second half, Mount Pearl started to
show improvement and certainly played on par with Ontario. In the second
half, both teams scored a goal each, for a
5-2 loss. The player of the game was again Jon Kelly.
In Mount Pearl's final game, and their second game against
Ontario in this tournament, they showed heart. After falling behind by
scores of 2-0 and 3-1, Mount Pearl didn't quit. They dug down showing improvement
as Karl Reddy, Andrew Moyst and Shawn Manning scored, giving Mount Pearl
a well fought and come-from-behind 3-3 draw.
Mount Pearl's player of the game was Andrew Moyst.
Experienced Gained - Oh yes!
Jubilee Competition
Dunphy's Details: Former St. Lawrence Laurentians
star performer, Mike Howlett, playing with Alberta, picked up his
second gold medal at the National 2003 Challenge Cup Championship. Mike
had also been a key player with the Alberta's gold medal team when he won
his first gold medal in Chilliwack, B.C. in 1999.
My "Coach's Corner 2003 Award" goes to Mount Pearl's
goalkeeper Gerald Connolly. The first recipient of this award was the Laurentians
Pat Byrne, awarded in 2002.
Gord Dunphy is a former 1990's Challenge Cup all - star
coach of the St. Lawrence Laurentians and National Bronze Medallist.
He can be reached by e-mail at gorddunphy@email.com or
www.coaches-corner.net