The morning game was already complete when the Blue Bowmen strode onto the field to Stravinsky's soaring strings and the deafening roar of their new-found fans.  The emotional charge from President/Captain James "Shower" Martin had the Navy Nimrods wired to face the Power on a slick field moistened by the previous night's gentle rain, and the game started as so many do, with the aptly named "Thunder" Dan Sergot winning the ruck.  Your most humble scribe can remember only one ruck Quit Riot lost all day, and rest assured, this reporter's eyes never left him.  The tournament style games were quick affairs, two 20-minute halves each, and the Old Dark Navy Blue was ahead at each break and at the end of each of their two games. 

In the morning game against Kansas City, the Blues mostly dominated play from the start, mostly, but could not seem to score much, and the game score remained unnaturally close for a while.  But before it was said and done, Darrell "Wet Shoes" Butler's two goals and Clint "Jerry" Something's hat trick would have been enough by themselves, as St. Louis won with a final tally of  7.6.49 to 4.2.26. 

The control that the Blues exerted in both games they played started from Quiet Riot's domination, and ruck play and ball skills earned him the Match Report Best On Ground Award for the day's activities.  But those balls off the ruck don't move on their own, and Clint "Jerry" always seemed to be around to scoop them up, and often was around to slot them for a major, earning himself The Most Coveted Award In All Of Sports- the Match Report One-Percenter Award.  And his hair was perfect. 

In both the KC game and the afternoon tilt in the Grand Final against host Louisville, the defense played when it needed to, but that just was not all that often.  Often enough for Matt "Moons Over My Hammy" Hans to pop a bow string or two, though;, and, luckily,  often enough for Nate "The Masseuse" Zenser to add to his personal highlight reel.  The Blues had gotten out 36-0 over Louisville at the end of the first period, and as the 9.11.65 to 3.3.21 victory over Louisville was winding along in the second half Zen managed to lay a man out, shockingly, with a legal hit.  The whole affair did not seem to sit too well with Zen, and after he regained his composure and noticed the opposing player lying on the ground, Zen took a good run up and dropped a knee on the boy.  Well done, Zen Dog.  But the Masseuse was not the only one making his family proud.  Jason "One Who Aims At Enlightenment By Direct Intuition Through Meditation" Zenzer played in his first games and was a stalwart in Matt "My Mommy Drove Me" Jagger's back lines. 

While the Zen masters were exerting their calm, the Aussies on the squad, elder statesmen that they are, were doing anything but.  Jerry was scurrying about earning his award; Matty "What R?" Haren seemed to be under almost any ball in flight; Ads was shepherding to his heart's content; Damien "Automobile" Mills was a whirling, if time challenged, dervish; and fan-favorite Phil "Little Orphan Annie" Brereton made his triumphant return to unhindered play.  No slippery balls were going to keep Sticks from getting his chances to whine to referees each time he could not understand a call, and each time a call ended up leading to a goal by one of his teammates.  Amazingly, Annie managed to find time kick three majors of his own.  Other old-timers were inspired on the action, as well.  The scrappy and venerable D-1 had two goals in the second game to go with a few marks and tackles, and Joey "Little Kangaroo" Schomaker got a couple of goals among some shocking kicks. 

The highlight of the second game was, of course, Bucky "Eastern" Buchanan's introduction to the time zone theory.  Without any warm up, the kid did some great damage on the wing, and the rest of the team followed form, with contribution as the story of the day.  A number of the teams were short men, and the Blues were no different.  What made the difference, was that each Blue Boy played his heart out and gave something to team when it needed it, leading to the tournament victory.  Footy- yeah, that's the game. 

Bests On Grounds: Dan Sergot, Clint Hurdle, Darrell Butler, Benjamin Lipman 

Goals:  Clint Hurdle (5), Darrell Butler (3), Phil Brereton (3), Benjamin Lipman (2), Joseph Schomaker,  Matt Jagger