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49ers prevail over Steelheads in 035 Cowichan Derby

Six players score for Niners in 7-0 win
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Yuta Yamato of the Steelheads is shadowed by Daryl Rodgers of the 49ers late in the O35 soccer Cowichan Derby at the Sherman Road turf last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

The second meeting this season of Cowichan’s two O35 men’s soccer teams ended with a very different result from the first one.

The Cowichan 49ers defeated the Cowichan Steelheads 7-0 at the Sherman Road turf on Saturday night, showing how much the teams’ fortunes have changed since they played to a 3-3 draw in the same pitch in mid-November.

“It was a spirited affair and always bittersweet to play your friends,” said Neall Rowlings, player-coach for the 49ers and manager of both Cowichan squads.

Stu (Shake and Bake) Barker opened the scoring, then Rowlings added two. Brad Archibald and Matt Arnett rounded out the first half. Brett (The Hitman) Hartmann came out of nowhere to score off a volley from Jeff (Left Foot) Mann in the second half, and Jordan Clarke closed things out. Darian Achurch was perfect in net to record his third shutout of the campaign.

Arnett, Archibald, Hartmann and Clarke all scored their first goals of the season.

“Overall, it was nice to see goals from a lot of new players,” Rowlings commented. “We finally are starting to come together and play like a squad.”

Todd Vass received “the chain” as the 49ers’ Man of the Match, although Archibald earned consideration as well.

“I think Archie is playing better each game and caused a ton of havoc,” Rowlings said.

The 49ers remain tied with UVic atop the O35 table with 16 points (five wins, one draw and one loss), but Cowichan has a game in hand. The Steelheads sit sixth with five points (one win, two draws and five losses) through eight games.

The 49ers will look to keep the momentum going this Saturday when they play host to JDF Pacific at 6 p.m. The Steelheads will take on Vic West FC on the same pitch at 8 p.m.