Early Game – Scotland vs Ireland

Only 30 km of North Channel separates Ireland from Scotland, closer than Port Credit to Hamilton, but there are no friendly neighbours in this PCOHL rivalry. Ireland lost last week and Scotland hasn’t won in a month so this was an important game for both squads.

Robin Flumerfelt opened the scoring halfway through the opening frame but Brad Stoll responded minutes later. Otherwise, these two fine tendies were rock solid. 1-1 after the first period.

Greg Platt steered in a gorgeous Jay Cummings pass early in the second to put Scotland up by a goal but “Jonny on the spot” Fasulo was ready and waiting for a juicy rebound to make it 2-2. The second was looking to end in a draw but Flumerfelt picked up his second in the waning minutes to put the kilts up 3-2 going into period three.

Jodie Young tied things up halfway through period three, but Patty Sharp notched two quick ones and, bada boom, bada bing, it was 5-3 for Scotland. Flumerfelt and Stoll traded goals late in the game but first place Ireland goes down 6-4 to a Scotland team desperate to break their losing skid.

Scotland’s POG goes to Robin Flumerfelt with the hat-trick on his neighbour Nieminen while Jonny Fasulo earns POG honours throwing darts for the Irish.

Scotland POG Robin Flumerfelt

Ireland POG Jonny Fasulo

Late Game – Italy vs Portugal

Italy and Portugal go into this game tied at 6 points, both teams eyeing a chance to move into 1st place. Both teams also on a heater of late with two straight wins. No way this wasn’t going to be a good one.

In the first period it was Rispoli vs Henderson with nary a twine-bulge for the first 12 minutes. But sniper Steve Davis finally solved Henderson followed 30 seconds later by fellow teammate and sniper Don Hambly. Suddenly it was 2-0 for the Lisbonites.

But these Italians, well, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Alan Robb beat Rispoli the Goalie with 5:49 on the clock and Jim Maguire followed up a minute later to tie the game 2-2 at the end of period one. Tanti shottini di sambuca in the Italian section of Port Credit Arena.

The second period began with Steve Davis and Dave Woodside trading goals, but Henderson shut the gate after that while his Italian teammates Al Robb and Murray “Don’t Worry” Russell padded the Italian lead. 5-3 for the Romans going into period three.

Davis narrowed Italy’s lead to one goal early on But Al “I don’t play late games” Robb picked up his hat-trick and restored Italy’s two-goal lead. Hambly narrowed the lead to one goal with three minutes to go and made Italians pucker until Alan “I work Saturday” Robb picked up his FOURTH goal of the evening to make it 7-5 for Italy. His teammate Mike Rukavina, whose personal design of the PCOHL cup is reminiscent of fellow Italian Michelangelo’s David, got a buzzer-beater and that’s how this one ended: Italy 8, Portugal 5.

Italy’s POG goes to top-notch tendy Stu Henderson, getting much love from teammate Tony Carlisle as they celebrated the win along the channels of Venice Saturday afternoon, while Scott Wilson serves up the piri-piri for Portugal.

Portugal POG Scott Wilson, serving up the piri-piri