OXLEY Diggers almost dug themselves out of a hole during the Scully Park derby on Sunday although the Lions eventually hunted them down, with former Digger Chris Hunt leading the charge after returning to the Lions club he won back to back titles with a few years ago.
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The Lions went into the sheds up 34-6 and looked like having the game well and truly wrapped up but five unanswered tries, and almost a sixth, in 20 minutes had the Diggers back on even footing before the Lions ran away with the show to finish at 50-34.
Hunt started at lock but ended up playing at five-eighth in the second half as the Lions showcased what they have available in the playmaker roles and out wide, with Luke Cox and Sam Taylor the starting halves, former Gunnedah five-eighth DJ Smith at centre and fellow former Bulldog Tyler Fleming at hooker.
Those players all impressed with ball in hand on Sunday, along with former Walcha Ram Andrew Taputoro at centre and the lightning -fast Dylan Lake at fullback.
“We have got some really good backs this year but a smaller pack,” Hunt said.
“We just have to use that to move other teams around and play to our style.”
The Lions will have a good scrap on their hands when they face Gunnedah this weekend at Scully Park, although Hunt believes that they will only improve with game time.
The former Lions skipper said the team can’t afford to switch off and let sides back in the game as they did against Diggers last weekend, and Narrabri the week before.
“We thought we had it over them,” Hunt said.
“You tell yourself not to go to sleep but you tend to.
“We showed that once we did start holding the ball again we can score points and got the win.”
While scoring points is rarely a concern at Wests, Hunt believes if they can shore up their defence, the team they have this year can give the competition a shake.
“We need to work on our defence a bit and not let in so many tries,” he said. “If we hang onto the ball we will score but can make it hard on ourselves with our defence.”
The Lions will be looking to keep the momentum rolling this week against Gunnedah and hopefully roll into the grand final rematch against Norths the following round unbeaten.
“Against Gunnedah and Norths it is about stopping their big forwards getting that roll-on,” Hunt said.
“If you can control the ruck you can get on top and stop that roll forward.”
This weekend, North Tamworth will be looking to add to their for and against tally when they host the winless Armidale Rams, while the Diggers will travel to Narrabri searching for their first win.
