It’s beginning to look a lot like midseason form for the Foothills Lions.
Foothills shook off an inauspicious debut as it struck for a season high output to trounce the visiting Red Deer Titans 70-35 Saturday at Wylie Park to extend its winning streak to three games in the Calgary Rugby Union’s third division.
“Our team is just learning how to play together,” said Lions flanker Matt Hunter. “The chemistry has been really good and the last four weeks we’ve just been getting better and better every game.”
Foothills set the tone early, about as swiftly as possible.
In the opening minute the Lions were already on the scoreboard when winger Oluwamuyiwa ‘Mo’ Abolarin had the final touch on a swift counterattack.
Red Deer would bounce back with a pair of trys of its own to take a 14-5 advantage and put the Lions on their heels midway through the opening half.
“There were a couple times where our support in the rucks was a little bit off,” said Lions winger Cam Dowie. “Once we realized that’s what was going on our forwards stuck right there for the hard stuff and passed it out wide for a couple quick runs.”
Foothills responded with 25 unanswered points.
After Dan Larson trimmed into the disadvantage on a penalty kick he would find himself in the try zone as the benefactor of a terrific off load from back Braeden Bespalko who caught a bouncing ball, withstood a ferocious tackle and still managed to dish it off to the fly-half.
Cam Dowie scored his first of three trys on the afternoon on the heels of a meandering run from fleet-footed full-back Lucas Chute then Hunter got his name on the scoreboard with quick work off the ruck.
“It was set up off a good run,” Hunter said. “I was just there to finish it at the right place and the right time. Props on the forwards that took it in and broke the line.”
The onslaught continued in the second half.
Hunter played playmaker with the perfectly timed off load down the right sideline to a streaking Dowie who went 30 yards for the major.
The former runningback showcased his speed minutes later as Hunter took off up the gut and easily won the foot race to pay-dirt.
Next, Shayne Pelletier chased down a kick at the goal line, tackled the Titans player and forced a fumble for Dowie to recover and put the ball down for the winger’s first career hat-trick.
“You hear it every practice, every game, captain and vice captain are always saying support is a big thing,” Dowie said. “I contribute any way I can. I haven’t been playing a ton of time, three full seasons. Whatever I can do to help the team I will do it.”
Foothills added to the lead on a short yardage score from Miles Gibbs followed by a pick five when Bespalko jumped the route for a clean interception before running it into the try zone from 70 yards out.
Red Deer didn’t go away quietly. The Titans mustered a pair of quick majors in succession to cut the deficit to 30 points.
Eric Le Greeley put the finishing touches on the rout, bulldozing in from 15 yards out for a try in the forward’s first game of the season.
Foothills (4-2) sets its sights on its fourth straight win this weekend on the road when they make the short trek to Cochrane’s Milford Pond to battle the Bow Valley Grizzlies on July 28 at 8 p.m.
The Lions’ next home date is Aug. 11 versus the Calgary Hornets.
For more information go to foothillslionsrfc.org
