World Footy News

It has been a steady as she goes journey for the Portland Power Australian Football Club. They have slowly and patiently been building their club for a number of years now. Mostly with a small group getting together for training runs and kick to kick. Building to “Metro” intraclub games and supplying players to top up the Seattle club’s numbers for tournaments and the US Nationals as well as competing in games against Seattle and the Canadian teams to their north. As their closest neighbour club, Seattle has been like a big brother to the Portland club and has provided both competition and assistance in the development of the Power. Last Saturday the club took a big step with a home win against their “big brother” team Seattle. With both teams in the dark shorts it may have been a little confusing at times with some similarities in strips but the game was played in bright sunshine on lush ovals at Portland’s John Deere Field. Hopefully signs of a big 2008 for the Oregon club.

The following match report was supplied to us by Ben Cyphery and written by Martin Coventry of the Portland Power AFC. Some excellent action photos of the match (courtesy of Trillium Media Services) can be seen here.

In a test-run game on the field being used for the inaugural Portland Invitational Tournament (June 14-15 at John Deere Field), the Portland Power hosted their rivals the Seattle Grizzlies on Saturday, April 12th. The game was played in 16-a-side format with plenty of space to stretch the legs in the first full-squad game of 2008 for both clubs.

Portland was eager to improve on last year’s first game, when Seattle inflicted the biggest loss in club history, 133-22. Prior to the game, Seattle looked to have the advantage in height, but they were missing a handful of their big name players. Portland had its biggest squad to date with 19 players, but was also a little green and missing some key players as well.

1st Quarter:

Both teams came flying out of the gate. The return of the Grizzliest Grizzly, Colin Murphy, was a concern to Portland and he was tagged by Ben Cyphery in the middle. Josh Anfinson was dogged by the ever-present Clay Atkins. Ross Tucker pestered Martin Coventry from the first bounce. Both teams were feeling each other out without much action on the scoreboard. Despite defensive pressure, Anfinson got loose for Seattle’s first. Cyphery turned the tables on Murphy and scored the Power’s first goal for the season.

Seattle: 1.3.9 – Josh Anfinson
Portland: 1.1.7 – Ben Cyphery

2nd Quarter:

Portland got into their stride early on in the second and began to pile on the pressure in the middle, winning the centre breaks. A combination of Morgan Will's taps and the quick hands and feet of on-ballers Coventry, Glen Green (Greeny) and Todd Jackson set up several forward thrusts. There was accurate passing to the forwards and they didn't let us down. Goals came from senior players Sean Quinn and Michael Robertson (Robbo). Paul Spencer kicked a nice goal from about 30 yards out and Isaac Koval took an impressive mark and goaled close in, both of them new players for the club in their first-ever games. Seattle had no answer to the Portland pressure and the backline – led by Clay Atkins, Scott Johnson, Sean-Paul Henry and Mark Bartlett – kept their limited opportunities to no score for the quarter. Goals to Portland's Paul Spencer, Michael Robertson, Sean Quinn, Isaac Koval.

Halftime

Seattle: 1.3 (9)
Portland: 5.4 (34)

3rd Quarter:

Seattle came back hard at the start of the third quarter. Tucker got loose from Coventry on several occasions and kicked a goal. The half-backs of Seattle got the run going and the goals piled up from Ian Rubesch, Anfinson and Ed Fayette. Portland was in trouble.

Bartlett switched into the middle to give Portland a spark and it worked; he kicked to Coventry from the full back line and Alex McPhee made his presence known when he took a nice mark under pressure on the end of the next kick from Coventry. Alex went on to kick the goal of the day from a very tight angle, running into the forward pocket. Coach Green then took advantage of an opportunity down forward and bagged a goal. Portland had fought its way back into the quarter and it was polished off by a long bomb on the run from Irish import Henry for goal. So goals in the third quarter were Seattle's Ross Tucker, Ian Rubesch, Josh Anfinson, Ed Fayette and Portland's Sean-Paul Henry, Alex McPhee, Glen Green.

Seattle: 5.9 (37)
Portland: 8.4 (52)

4th Quarter:

There were only 3 kicks separating the teams going into the last quarter. Seattle wouldn't lie down and battled hard to the last. Rubesch showed he can do more than just play down back with his second goal for Seattle. Portland held strong to the lead, keeping the defensive pressure on at all times. Spencer slotted through goal number two. Robbo took a nice mark and kicked one last goal that truly put the game beyond reach for Seattle.

FINAL

Seattle: 6.9 (45)
Portland: 10.6 (66)

It was a great day for Pacific Northwest football; just a taste of things to come this year. Many thanks to Seattle for making the trip and to Peter Klaebe for umpiring the game. Both teams will give Denver and Vancouver a run for their money in June.

GOALS:

PORTLAND: M. Robertson 2, P. Spencer 2, B. Cyphery, G. Green, S-P. Henry, I. Koval, A. McPhee, S. Quinn
SEATTLE: J. Anfinson 2, I. Rubesch 2, R. Tucker, E. Fayette

BEST:

PORTLAND: M. Bartlett, M. Coventry, M. Robertson, B. Cyphery, G. Green, S-P. Henry
SEATTLE: P. Lindsay, J. Anfinson, I. Rubesch, C. Richmond, R. Tucker, E. Fayette

Links:

Portland Power AFC: www.portlandfooty.com
Seattle Grizzlies AFC: www.seattlegrizzlies.com