M & M MUDDLED AT B-BARN
by thistles forever
ORANGEVILLE - When will the OLA learn not to use veteran referees? A
pair of them together is truly a poison chalice. Sunday night Warrior
fans braved the rain to trek to Orangeville. However nothing could
prepare them for the Martin & McCauley Show. We all had high hopes a
fortnight ago, alas Gary Martin has not retired...again! Who shall rid
me of this meddlesome whatyamacallit? Okay, Shakesphere quotes are out
today. Like King Lear, Mr.Martin has left his best days behind him.
Still it was Terrible Twosome Night and both officials were off their
games. Afraid they were taken as seriously as Pharoah in Joseph and
his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - an inside joke for Steve Plunkett
and other lacrosse sophisticates. Yet, if I may make a morbid
confession, I quite enjoyed the game. It wasn't great for lacrosse but
it was entertaining. One never knew what rabbit Martin or McCauley
would pull out of their hat next! By the third period Whitby and
Orangeville fans were howling at each other out of frustration.
Amusing in a macabre sort of way.
It all began in typical Jr.A fashion: Ten penalty free minutes with
happy, smiling kids doing plenty of running and little scoring. The
Northmen could not have guessed at the 13-7 thumping that awaited them.
Once the penalties commenced there was an avalanche of them. Whitby
took the bulk yet came out ahead because of their lethal power play.
Orangeville counted a bushel of power play markers but not a single one
in a 5 on 4 situation. The Warriors used a diamond which the home side
could not break.
The visitors took the opening frame 2-1, though they were outshot
20-15. Here was no real trouble but blood was in the air. The mutual
dislike in both camps was obvious. M & M would do everything they
could to blow the lid off.
The key play in the game was a Bill Greer crease goal. He scored on a
breakaway to make it 5-3. The play concluded with Travis Gault running
Greer through the crease and into the boards. On the ensuing 5 minute
major Mike Morrison popped in two quick ones from the righthanded
shooter position. A.J. Shannon next beat Kevin Samuel from outside,
concluding the Sammy the Seal slaughter. Call Greenpeace! Enter John
Conway. Whaling season wouldn't be until the third period. Conway
pitched a shutout for the last 8 minutes of the second. Due to
Orangeville being on the power play practically the entire time the big
guy only faced three shots. He got more work running to the bench on
delayed penalties. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, John Conway should
only play the odd numbered periods. So much exercise! He may end his
Northmen career looking like Chris Sanderson.
For the most part M & M had done their best, a barely passable
performance. They can't be totally blamed when both teams indulged in
extracurricular activities. Unfortunately the officiating began to
fall apart late in the second session.
For a first period bad omen, after a stop in play the visitors took
possession with five players on the floor when they should have had
four. Lots of home town shouting so the referees stopped the play.
Offence with too many men, change of possession. Simple. M & M got
the call right, however the virdict was achieved after a minute long
discussion. Discussing what?
That delay was nothing compared to the Mann Cup caliber delay which was
to come. It all started with John Conway on a loose ball. He lumbered
out of goal to help a teammate and pulled off the perfect bit of
interference on a Warrior. Perfection because it wasn't called. Evil
Knieval meets the Great Wall of China! Down the floor the ball went
and ended with a scramble in the corner. A Colin Sherbanuk high stick
sparked three fights. With Whitby shorthanded Wes Suddons took on two
Northmen at once. This was due to Bryan Kazarian jumping on his back.
Kazarian would be tossed for his troubles. Scott Wylie momentarily
grabbed Kazarian but luckily backed off. Thus Suddons forgot his first
combatant and went toe to toe with Kazarian. Actually it was more like
Astaire and Rogers doing the Continental. Looking at the still
helmeted Kazarian, Suddons must have felt like Fred. "Won't Ginger ever
learn to dance?" So the fight fizzled without even one dip.
Now it was Popcorn Time! A wonderful opportunity to hit the concession
stand while M & M held court at the penalty box. Mike Hamilton(out
with a concussion) had the same idea. They don't call him a smart
lacrosse player for nothing. Well I could probably have gone to
Seaside Fish n Chips and back as the delay lasted over 15 minutes.
They did everything except get the rule book for the Victoria
Shamrocks!
What followed was the most unlikely assist ever seen. Colin Sherbanuk
set up a power play goal. The same Sherbanuk Gary Martin had called
for high sticking then forgot about once the fights broke out. The
same Sherbanuk incorrectly announced to be serving 5 minutes for
fighting! Weird? Just catch this...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven! Seven as in too many players
on the floor - quite illegal. That's what Orangeville pulled on their
fifth goal, scoring on a delayed penalty. Actually it could have been
that they were a manshort and only had six on the floor. Advanced
mathematics was never my strongest subject. Still referees are paid to
be able to count to six or seven. Either way, two came off the bench
when John Conway arrived. I guess the argument that Conway counts for
two players works with some.
The period concluded 8-5. Shot advantage favoured the defending
champions 24-15.
Needless to say, Scott Wylie was outstanding. He faced 11 more shots
in the third, handling 9 of them. Conway gave his team a chance as he
extended his shutout six minutes into the last period. He was
challenged with 16 shots and once beaten was challenged to stop any of
the rest. The initial goal the Orangeville keeper surrendered was a
big one. The Northmen had just drawn to 8-6 but Whitby answered
seconds later. Lindsay Sanderson started pulling his goalie right
after that. Consecutive Steve Hoar power play markers settled matters.
Unfortunately it was an undiscipline period for both clubs. Plus
they'd lost all respect for the men in black. The only bad incidents
came early and late. First Brodie Merrill high sticked Bill Greer into
the boards. No call. Consequently Jeff Frazer had to take the law
into his own hands and went after Merrill. The contest concluded with
quite a fight. Both coaches could be faulted for having the likes of
Travis Gault and Vinnie Crawford on the floor in the final minute.
That led to trouble and three non-fights. Next came the customary
delay, which led to the main event.
Ryan Emilio had some game. In the second period he was injured on
defence and couldn't use his left arm. Yet, with only one hand on his
stick, he continued to hold his post for 30 seconds, right in the
middle of it all too! Talk about a glimpse into the type of mentality
that makes an Orangeville Northman. If it's trench warfare then Emilio
is first out of his foxhole.
He proved it at the end by taking on Wes Suddons. David did not slew
Goliath this time but he had his say. At a price. Suddons landed some
real haymakers yet Emilio took them all and kept battling back. It was
quite a finale to a wild night of lacrosse.
Of course we cannot conclude without returning to our officials. I
heard after the game that Suddons and Emilio only received 10 minute
misconducts, thus avoiding one game suspensions. Hello? They both
started to fight when the play was dead, an automatic game misconduct.
Suddons led a truly charmed life. It was his second fight of the
evening, once again an automatic game misconduct. Don't tell me
veteran referees interpret the rules their own unique way sometime?
If I'm wrong on the game misconduct thing then I apologise to the
officials. If I have also seemed too harsh, I apologise again, however
such was what I witnessed. If M & M won't admit that they were
dreadful Sunday night then they really should retire. Learn from your
mistakes. Don't repeat them.
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