Last week the captain of the Foothills Falcons boys’ rugby team saw something a bit different during his team’s victory over the Chestermere Lakers last week.
This time when the Falcons got a bad break, they kept their composure and came back to win.
The Falcons fell behind 7-0 early in the second half when a Chestermere Laker picked up a punt off a bad bounce and then romped into the try zone. However, the Falcons came back to win the game 22-7 on Thursday at Foothills Composite High School.
The victory, coupled with their 20-7 triumph over the Strathmore Spartans on April 24, gave the Falcons a 2-0 record in the Big Sky Rugby Union.
“This team has more experience and we have been working hard at practice,” said Jack Graham, a Grade 12 scrum half. “We played together and we were able to comeback.”
The Falcons were able to cut the lead to 7-5 when the Falcons’ Chance Hamilton took a lateral and scampered 37 yards to the outside for the try.
The Falcons took the lead for good when their perseverance paid off. The Falcons appeared to score twice, however both times the tries were called back because of a knock up — the Falcons illegally knocking the ball forward.
Finally, they scored the go-ahead try when Harry Parkin jumped on a loose ball in the try zone.
“I think we had something like four scrums in a row (in front of the Lakers’ try zone),” Parkin said. “Finally, I was just able to jump on the ball.”
Falcons head coach Steve Wager said Foothills showed composure in finally working the ball over the line for the try.
“We were able to keep our cool under pressure and didn’t get distracted,” Wager said. “Usually when you get in close and think you are going to score, that’s when you lose one.”
The Falcons made the convert to take a 12-7 lead and they weren’t done yet. The Lakers were about
to be plowed over by a bulldozer.
Grade 11 student Jake Gaetz took a pass from Graham on a penalty and romped right up the middle for a 15-yard try.
“I had a free run and I was just able to bulldoze my way through them,” Gaetz said.
The Falcons put the game away when Graham ran a 40-yard try.
“It was a penalty so I just tapped the ball to myself, grabbed it and headed for the corner,” Graham said.
The Falcons will have to be at the top-of-their game if they are to remain undefeated. They host the perennially powerful Holy Trinity Knights tonight (May 2) at Foothills Comp at 5 p.m.
“We will just try to give it our very best,” Graham said. “They are always very good.”
Falcons head coach Steve Wager is happy with the wins, but he’s even more excited about his team’s enthusiasm and worth ethic.
“This team has a lot of leadership from the guys who are returning,” Wager said.
He said the Falcons’ forwards did the dirty work in the rain to give Foothills’ ball possession.
Wager admits the Falcons have their work cut out for them against HTA.
“It is going to be a test for us,” Wager said. “Joe (Knights coach Joe Buck) has a good rugby program and he gives so much back to the game.”
The Knights remained undefeated in Big Sky play by downing the Bow Valley Bobcats 38-0 at Holy Trinity Academy April 25 to improve their record to 2-0.
Knights coach Joe Buck said he was disappointed in his team’s effort in the first half of the victory over Bow Valley.
However, they were able to turn things around in the second half.
He said he is looking forward to playing the Falcons.
Buck added Wager and the Falcons have worked hard in improving the Foothills program.
The Knights are the host school this weekend for the Clearwater Cup at the Calgary Rugby Union. The tournament will feature some of the top high school teams in Alberta.
Drillers lose
The Oilfields Drillers improved their record to 1-1 when they downed the Highwood Mustangs 25-5 on April 26..
“The team cam together and really started to figure out what was happening,” said Drillers coach Aaron Langstraat. “We were really able to take advantage of some penalty situations.”
He said the key to the Drillers’ victory was their defence which was able to pin in the Mustangs’ offence — providing excellent field possession for Oilfields.
The Drillers take on the Springbank Phoenix this Thursday.
