Metro League Home, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Finals

METROLEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP DAY REPORT

The Outback Steakhouse Metroleague's most celebrated day saw the Surburban Tollmen take their first ever Metroleague crown, knocking off the Times Square Tourists in convincing fashion.

3/4 PLAYOFF

Hudson River Rats 9-1-55 (Smith 2, Bridges 2, Jimmy 2, Hayes, Randall, Anderson) defeated Village Bohemians 5-0-30 (McLeod 3, Payne, Crighton)

In game one, the Hudson River Rats took control in the first seven seconds with an easy goal from the first bounce. The Double-R's took a 3-1 lead into the first break but some quick kicks through the big sticks in the second period got the artists back into the game.

The Rats took a thirteen point lead into the final break, but some great running through the mid-field and a rare goal by 36-year old Rat veteran Tom Hayes gave the Rodents the convincing four goal win.

The Yankee-like demise of the Village Bohemians has everybody wondering what happened when the 2004 Champions were unable to win a game this season. Captain-Coach and serial wedding guest Jarrad Crighton was left scratching his head and hoping for a god-send in the 2006 draft.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Suburban Tollmen 8-0-48 (Laube 3, George 2, Desai, Devine, Bish) defeated Times Square Tourists 2-0-12 (Vonwiller, Jimmy)

Both teams lined up strong for the championship game with Tourists President Brett Lewis once again trying his shifty recruiting tactics adding Jimmy and Adam Manners to his line-up at the last minute. Team Ezpass responded unphased getting off to a two goal advantage in the first term.

In the second term, Trash skipper Shane Devine took a great slip catch in the forward-line and kicked truly for his forth goal on the year giving them a convincing four goal advantage going into the main break. Veteran Kim Laube gave the Islandites three for the game, while Adam George gave great run up the middle and added two to his tally.

At the final siren the Tollmen had a six goal advantage and their first-ever Outback Steakhouse Metroleague crown. Since joining the league in the 2003 as an expansion franchise the Tollmen have steadily climbed up the ladder under the tutelage of veterans Gary Lerch, Ojas Desai, Bruce Camerson and now Skipper Shane Devine.

For the Photo-Takers, this season must have been a moral victory coming from a winless 2004. Under the guidance of former Wandsworth Demons (UK) Skipper Brett Lewis, things are looking up for 2006 in the land of Tourist.