Rivalry Across the River - By Kenzie Nealon

    Competition between the Richland Bombers and the Chiawana Riverhawks gets stronger and stronger with each coming season. Just this past Tuesday, the Bombers put up a tough fight against the Riverhawks. Unfortunately, the Riverhawks came out on top, beating the Bombers 3-1 in their first head-to-head this season.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Zawadzki.

    The Bombers looked strong in the first half against the Riverhawks, playing very tough defense while also putting pressure on the Riverhawks’ defense. Senior Captain, Lucas Wakeley, was on the left wing battling it out against Chiawana’s last line, determined to put points on the board for the Bombers. Wakeley working hand-in-hand with Junior Forward, Justus Thurman, and Junior Captain and center-mid, Owen Jackson. The boys had smooth passing patterns, allowing for good shots on goal.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Zawadzki.

    The rivalry mentality leached into the play on the field, making for a physical battle between the boys. Wakeley knew what was coming for them in this game: “The biggest factor in playing Chiawana is the physicality. Few teams are able to match our work rate and physical presence, but Chiawana is one of them. Every time we play them it’s a true battle, and tonight will be no different.” This was no lie with Wakeley himself being thrown down a few times on Chiawana’s half. On the other side of the field playing right-wing, Sophomore Evyn Maclelland, was pushing and shoving with some of Chiawana’s defenders. The physicality on Chiawana’s half became intense, knocking Justus Thurman down on the grass. A foul was called in favor of the Bombers, earning them a free kick. Owen Jackson stepped up to take the free kick for the Bombers. Jackson booted the ball high to the back right-hand corner of the goal just above the Riverhawks’ goalkeeper.  This put the bombers on the scoreboard first up 1 to 0.  The boys kept the pressure on the Riverhawks for the remaining 22 minutes of the first half.

Photo courtesy of @metcalfmedia_

    Shortly after their first goal, the Bombers were on the hunt for another one. The ball was kicked off by the Riverhawks but was just as easily stolen back by Richland’s defense. Junior center-mid, Martin Rivera, had extremely quick feet, dribbling past the Riverhawks with ease and feeding the ball up to Lucas Wakeley, giving the Bombers leeway to potentially score another goal. A physical game between the boys, yes, but also between the boys and the ball. Senior Captain and center-defensive-mid, Braylon Norris, cleared multiple balls from the back line with quick headers to his teammates up the field. The pressure was kept on the Riverhawks side for most of the first half and when the referee blew his whistle signaling that it was half-time, the Bombers entered the field-house determined to keep up that same pressure.

    When comparing this year’s first game against the Riverhawks to last year’s, the fight is just as intense. Even more similar were the scores at halftime. Both games ended the first half with a score of 1-0, Bombers. When asked about what the team had discussed during half-time, Wakeley had said the boys were told “don’t let them back in,” and keep up the same pressure. This is an important mindset to have against a strong group of players like the Riverhawks. “Both of our teams are stacked with talented players, but playing together is what would give us the win,” says Wakeley. The Bombers have great chemistry on the field, with both moving the ball and communicating, making the games very exciting to watch. You can hear the excitement from the crowd of fans watching. Students, parents, and of course the players on the bench are all locked into this intense game. The students especially get into it, heckling the referee when a call was not made on a fall or just trying to distract players from the other team. It is never a dull moment on Bomber field.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Zawadzki.

    The game overall was a hard-fought battle by the boys. Unfortunately, the Bombers just did not pull out the win for this game. The final score ended up being 3-1, Riverhawks. A tough first loss indeed for the Bombers but they are sure to bounce back. The boys played hard and are definitely determined to give the Riverhawks a run for their money the second time around. The Bombers have 3 games before they will see the Riverhawks again for yet another great game. ”In the next few weeks, we’re really going to have to utilize our practices well and focus on what we need to improve on as a team. It’s also going to be important for us to start getting some wins under our belt and use those to build confidence and momentum before we see [Chiawana] again,” says Norris. This mindset is extremely important for the boys in navigating the rest of their season. It’s a sure bet they will be back and better than ever when up against the Riverhawks again.