The Orange County Bombers played host to the San Diego Lions in Riverside on Saturday September 8 in a game that will be remembered for some nasty injuries, some tough, hard footy, and a gutsy effort from OC who lost 3 key players in the first quarter.

Firstly, ruckman Andy Lindsay who was dominating the center bounces, had a head clash that required a trip to hospital and 6 stitches to his eye. He played no further part in the game. Then full back Kelly Nelson left the field with a badly corked calf, although he returned in the second half, albeit hobbling around on one leg, to the forward pocket where he snapped 2 crucial goals. Finally, midfielder Janni Mirosevich who was outstanding in the opening 10 minutes, received an accidental but sickening kick to the head which knocked him out cold, and left him bleeding profusely and convulsing on the ground for at least a minute. It was a scary moment and the Bombers players were obviously concerned for their teammate, but eventually he came around and was picked up by an ambulance. So with 2 players in hospital and one sidelined just 15 minutes into the game, the team was a bit shaken and could have been forgiven for letting things slip.

Instead, they lifted and fought out the game against the reigning National Champions with distinction.

The pressure applied by the Bombers was excellent, and resulted in San Diego making errors they don't often make, giving OC an opening which they made the most of. Captain-Coach Steve Cliff rallied his players, made the necessary changes and then led by example to keep us in the game at all times. But it was the Bombers defenders who worked their butts off all day to really give us a serious chance of stealing the match. After the injuries, changes were made and it was an unlikely hero, Ryan "Ryno" Lorseyedi who stood up at center half back and played his best game for the club. In only his 3rd year of footy, Ryno has developed into a key player and showed what he can do with an excellent performance. He was well supported by the silky skills of Jacko at half back, Fish at full back and Dazza and co mopping up any loose balls. With the midfield matching it with their opponents and the forwards making the most of their chances, the game was a low scoring but very tight, physical affair which was close till the final siren. The Lions had a little more run in the last quarter and snuck away early with a couple of goals after they got their running game going. But again the Bombers fought back with the final 2 goals of the game to bring the margin back to 10 points. Unfortunately they would run out of time and SD took the win by that margin.

It was a very good effort from the Bombers after a very difficult start that could have seen them drop off, but instead the team pulled together and worked hard for each other and their injured team mates and went very close to pulling off an upset. It gives the club a real confidence boost going into Nationals, as we now know we can mix it with the best. Bring on Kentucky!



Quarter by quarter scores:

Q1 OC 1.2 - 8 SD 1.2 - 8

Q2 OC 1.2 - 8 SD 3.3 - 21

Q3 OC 3.4 - 22 SD 4.7 - 31

Q4 OC 6.4 - 40 SD 6.14 - 50