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Grover Cup showdown hopes end for Cowichan O35 teams

49ers carry on in tournament; road ends for Steelheads
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Cowichan 49ers three-goal man Stu Barker weaves through the Steelheads during the local derby at the Sherman Road turf on Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

The Cowichan Valley’s two O35 men’s soccer teams were hoping to meet in the Tony Grover Cup semifinals this spring, but they will have to be content with their final league meeting on Tuesday night that saw the 49ers defeat the Steelheads 5-0.

Stu Barker scored the 49ers’ first three goals, Brad Thorne and Matt James had the others, and Darian Achurch recorded his 10th shutout in league and cup play combined.

The 49ers will carry on in cup play after a 4-0 win over Vic West Thunder Kings at Sherman Road turf in the quarter-finals last Saturday evening.

Thorne, Dave Tuckey, Jordan Clarke and Neall Rowlings scored for the 49ers, while Darian Achurch recorded the shutout.

Matt James earned The Chain as Man of the Match, while Rowlings gave credit to coach Kevin James (“No relation — you can tell by the calf size”) for his ability to adapt on the fly.

“Our team has so much depth,” Rowlings commented. “We had nine subs; all guys that could easily step on the field and play.”

The Niners’ next cup game will be a home date with the Cordova Bay Bobcats on March 11. In the meantime, their next league game is set for this Saturday on the road against the Fernwood Dragons.

It was the Bobcats who knocked the Steelheads out of Tony Grover Cup play with a 1-0 result at the Sherman Road turf on Saturday night, the lone goal coming just two minutes into the match. The Steelheads have a league game this Saturday on the road against Gorge FC.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
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