Big Step Back
You want your best players to be your best players in big games. You don’t want the other guy’s best players to be the best players in your barn. But that’s the way it was Friday night, as Gavin Prout and Gee Nash put on a lacrosse clinic in front of the Roughnecks, ending any flickering hopes of a first place finish.
It was a helluva first half. The Roughnecks came out firing, both defences were tenacious, big plays at one end were answered at the other, and the Rigger’s big guns seemed poised for a big night. Mix in a little bad blood between the two teams, and it was 30 minutes of big fun.
Cue the second half.
Calgary answered Coldorado’s go ahead goal scored with a two man advantage late in the first half with an early strike from Kaleb Toth to knot things at 5, but after that, the Calgary offense went into the witness protection program. Actually, that’s not entirely fair. Credit has to given where credit is due, and it has to be given to the Mammoth for a great effort at both ends of the floor.
Coldorado took over the dead-even defensive battle that had been the first half at both ends. Prout seemed to find more time and space as the Roughnecks D backed off him, while the Mammoth defense set up a wall in front of Nash, forcing Calgary to play from the outside, jamming passing lanes to prevent any kind of offensive setup, making desparate attackers play as individuals instead of as a team. Behind it all was Nash, cooly turning aside what shots the Roughnecks did manage to get thrugh. Make the final 11-6 after yet another late fold, with the locals outscored 6-2 over the final 30 minutes.
What had been a nasty game boiled over late, with cheap shots on both sides, and sluggers Andrew McBride and Ryan McNish going 0 for 2 in a pair of scraps. Ryan Avery got in late in relief of Pat Campbell (Who in no way can be blamed for the loss as he was superb once again) and proceeded to jack Bruce Murray of the Mammoth in the skull with an elbow. He may have to answer for that if the NLL decides to take a second look. ‘Sending a message’ for a future meeting? I think not. More like the frustrations of the now just blowing up.
The loss gives the season series to the Mammoth, and leaves the Roughnecks 2 games back of their bitter rivals. Calgary now has to turn its attention to San Jose next week, hoping to take the rubber game in that series or give up pretty much any hope of a home playoff game.
Speaking of home, I have to say I’m disappointed in the crowd. A week after Brad Bannister’s bold and seemingly successful plan to give away free tickets to attract new fans, the house was back to the same old size. Don’t get me wrong, the fans that show up are great, there just needs to be more of them. The showcase of what NLL lacrosse is like last week should have translated into at least a boost of two or three thousand. It didn’t. I don’t know why. Now Bannister has to wonder if he gave away 250 G’s of income for nothing.
All in all, the kind of night that leaves a bit of a bad taste in your mouth.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Hi Dave,
I just read your blog on the poor showing at the Roughnecks game on Friday. Poor showing from teh team, poor showing from the fans. I can’t say that I was surprised. For the past 3 years this team has been inconsistent, a good game or two in a row followed by one or two piss poor games…results in a season where they make the play-offs as the number 2 or 3rd seed (barely sometimes) and get dumped in that play-off game with seemingly a lacklustre effort. I think the first time fans that came to see the game for free did a little homework on this team and wondered if they’d get the same effort. Then again, there are lots of people that would take a free ticket to see Celine Dion in Edmonton (Gross). Reminds me of 2004 when “everyone” was a Flames Fan on the Red Mile. What a load of bull that was, people cheering on the team and the only player who’s name they knew was Iggy’s…any reason to party. My own opinion on the Rigger’s inconsistency…until the the NLL can become stable & profitable enough to ensure that the players & coaching staff can afford to play, practice & live in the same city they play for, you will see this year after year(This theory obviously won’t apply to the Flames). I just don’t know if the league will become that strong. I hope it can…I enjoy the game and admire the athletes who play it. As for how Mr. Bannister can fill the Dome for every game…just win…that’s the only way, but I have no ideas for how to make that happen every time.