By JARROD POTTER
SHAKING off the rust on its 2015 championship defence, Keysborough Cougars went through the ringer in an up-tempo pre-season clash against McKinnon.
Held between the BIG V’s Cougars sides, the annual Cougar Cup was on the line at Springers Leisure Centre, giving the local fans plenty to cheer about on Saturday night.
The three-clash showdown, won by the side with the most cumulative points across the fixtures, was retained by McKinnon but not after some impressive work from Keysborough.
Showing how far the local BIG V side has progressed, Keysborough’s women – now coached by Scott Middleton – started the clash strongly to win by nine.
Despite a dogged effort, a complete mirror image of the first result faced the Cougars’ youth men, leaving the final clash a winner-takes-all battle between the Cougars’ combatants.
Showcasing two massive boons to the Cougars premiership defence, Dandenong SEABL champion Calvin Enge has switched across to the blue-and-silver while the club is also trialling American import Aaron Abram from Oklahoma Baptist University, Keysborough had the arsenal necessary to take it up to McKinnon.
The gutsy Cougars’ effort wasn’t enough to knock over the mighty visitors, falling just short in a nail-biting finale.
The Cougars’ core remains at Springers in 2016, but there are a few outs. They lost Andrew Lowe and Robert Ostojic to retirement while Malcolm Heard was unable to return for a second season as Keysborough’s import.
The club’s senior single presentation will be held at the Clayton Bowls Club on Saturday 27 February from 7pm. with tickets available via the club.
