A late surge by Cowichan FC dusted the hopes of Victoria’s Bays United in the 2012 Jackson Cup at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Bays took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Dan Cumming (7th minute) and held it until brothers Chris and Matt Arnett scored in the 65th and 72nd minute, respectively, to win it 2-1 for Cowichan.
“(Cowichan) played well,” said Jordie Huges of the Bays. “The field wasn’t the greatest, it was sticky (and wet). Both teams had chances and we were unlucky.”
It’s the second straight year Cowichan won the historic Jackson Cup trophy as Vancouver Island Soccer League champions, beating upstart Juan de Fuca last year.
Sunday was especially bitter for Bays midfielder Jordie Hughes, whose brother Tyler is the anchor on Cowichan’s back line.
“We talked about it going into this game, that one of us was going to have one more (Jackson Cup) than the other,” Jordie said. “It’s always been competitive, going back to when we were kids.”
Big brother Tyler, 31, now has two Jackson titles, while Jordie, 27, is stuck at one, which he won with Gorge FC over Cowichan in 2010.
The two Spectrum community school grads are best known for playing together on the Victoria Highlanders, but on Sunday they were pitted against each other.
With less than three minutes to go in regulation, the Bays were one step short of hitting the desperate button when Jordie challenged Tyler in a one-on-one. Jordie beat Tyler to the outside and would’ve had an opportunity to make a dangerous crossing pass until Tyler tripped him. By doing so, Tyler surrendered a free kick just outside the 18 yard box along the goal line.
It was the second time Tyler had fouled Jordie in a game this season.
“(Tyler) got a yellow card earlier this season for pushing me,” Jordie said. “He said he would have pushed me harder if he knew he was going to get carded.”
This foul, however, could have become a legendary highlight in the Hughes’ soccer history. Luckily for Tyler, it didn’t.
On the ensuing free kick Jordie chipped a lobbing cross into the six yard box, where all 11 Bays were pressing for the tying goal.
Cowichan cleared it, then survived a header from Jordie that just missed, and a volley by Peter Richmond that cleared the crossbar by three feet, all in the waning moments.
Matt Arnett was named MVP of the game.
The Bays and Cowichan will continue on in the provincial cup.
Cup weekend
The Bays United Gunners defeated Nanaimo 4-1 to win the George Smith Cup under-21 title.
Alex Will (16th minute), Kean Devries (18th), Jeff Bone (53rd) and Caleb Hosie (86th) scored for the Bays.
Colin Medlar was the game MVP.
Gordon Head Active Earth defeated the Cordova Bay Bobcats 1-0 In an all-Saanich matchup for the Div. 3, George Pearkes Challenge Cup. Luke Hill scored the only goal in the 86th minute and Gordon Head’s David McCauly was MVP.
Nick Gilbert scored a free kick in the 86th minute as Gorge FC defeated UVic Alumni in the Toni Grover Masters trophy match. Jason Owen scored for the Alumni in the 53rd minute, and Derek Rees scored for Gorge in the 83rd minute.
Gorge’s Toni Roach was awarded MVP.
