GAME BALLS:

OFFENCE

No question here it's Stefan LeFors. The entire city let out

its breath when LeFors came out firing and went 5-for-8

for 98 yards with no picks. LeFors was calm and sharp and

gave coach Mike Kelly everything he wanted to see in his

first quarter of work with the Bombers.

DEFENCE

All the Bombers were good on the tough side of the ball

but the prettiest play of the night went to high-flying Willie

Byrd as he flew past a Cats receiver and stole an Adam

Tafralis pass midway through the third quarter. Byrd's had

a slow camp but Kelly loves playmakers and this should extend

the Boynton Beach, Fla., native's stay in Bomberland.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Newcomer Mike Renaud was solid in his first stab at punting

with the Bombers and certainly out-kicked teammate

Alexis Serna in this area. Renaud hit four punts for an average

of 47.2 yards with a long of 59.

CRITICAL NUMBERS: 0

As in no interceptions. The Bombers used four different

quarterbacks and none of them threw an interception.

1-0

Sure, it's just the preseason but after a winter of turmoil

in the land of Blue and Gold it's got to make all of Bombers

Nation feel a little better about the coming season after

watching coach Mike Kelly and his sea of new faces get off

to a winning start.

FAN-O-METER:

Maybe we're getting old but the blaring Judas Priest played

for a good chunk of the pre-game was a little mind-splitting.

Maybe it goes down better in the stands. It was Bring-abuddy

night at the park with season-ticket holders given a

buddy voucher for a free ticket. The announced attendance

was 27,742 but we're not sure they were all here. Great looking

crowd, maybe closer to 22,000, if not exactly boisterous.

That's the last chance the locals will get to see their

team in the flesh until the home opener on July 10 against

the Calgary Stampeders.

SCORING SUMMARY:

FIRST QUARTER

WPG (11:08) A. SERNA Field Goal (11 yds)

WPG (8:42) L. GILES Run (1 yds) -- Touchdown (Serna convert)

WPG (7:12) N. SETTA Team Loss (10 yds), Safety

WPG (2:41) L. GILES Run (1 yds) -- Touchdown (Serna

convert)

SECOND QUARTER

WPG (1:02) B. RANDALL Run (1 yds) -- Touchdown (Serna

convert)

THIRD QUARTER

HAM (14:14) D. COBB Run (62 yds) -- Touchdown (Setta convert)

HAM (7:05) J. KILIAN Team Loss (2 yds), J. HICKMAN

Sack (2 yds), Safety

WPG (3:10) A. SERNA Field Goal (40 yds)

HAM (00:58) N. SETTA Field Goal (38 yds)

FOURTH QUARTER

HAM (12:47) N. SETTA Field Goal (27 yds)

HAM (11:00) J. BOLTUS Completed Pass to C. DAVIS --

Touchdown (Setta convert)

WPG (2:57) A. SERNA Field Goal (17 yds)

BOMBERS LEADERS

PASSING: Lefors -- 5/8, 98 yards; Williams -- 5/10, 71

yards; Randall -- 4/7, 82 yards; Kilian -- 3/3, 13 yards

RECEIVING: Bryant -- 3/108 yards; Franklin -- 3/24

yards; Taylor -- 2/30 yards

RUSHING: Giles -- 14/72, 2 TDs; Bernard -- 10/54

Bombers 32

First downs 27

Yds rushing 141

Yds passing 264

Total offence 376

Time of possession 35:57

Turnovers 2

Sacks 0

Penalties-Yards 9-108

Tiger-Cats 22

First downs 14

Yds rushing 121

Yds passing 175

Total offence 286

Time of possession 24:03

Turnovers 3

Sacks 5

Penalties-Yards 16-146

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 18, 2009 C3