The intermediate B Cowichan Valley Thunder got back to their winning ways last weekend with back-to-back home-floor victories over the Saanich Tigers and Oceanside Sharks.
The Thunder were coming off their first loss of the lacrosse season, but they got back on track last Saturday with a 17-9 win over Saanich, probably their closest competition in the Island league.
The Thunder jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first period and cruised from there as the Tigers took 28 minutes in penalties to Cowichan's 16.
"We always have big, spirited affairs with them," head coach Lorne Winship noted. "It doesn't seem like there's a lot of love between the teams. There was a bit of sparring, even between the benches. I was doing my best to control the players."
Brandon (Skippy) Corby led Cowichan with four goals and four assists, while Colin Winship had four goals, James Taylor had three goals and one helper, Tyson Black had two goals and five assists, and Mat Jung had a goal and eight assists.
Midget call-up Brayden Zunti had a goal and two assists, Liam Clinging and Kyle Page each scored once, and Steven Robertson and Jacob Taylor each had one assist. Kain Stewart earned the win in goal.
Coach Winship doesn't believe his team has seen the best the Tigers can deliver. The teams meet again at the Island Savings Centre this Sunday.
"I know next time we play them, they'll have two or three really solid players that they haven't had in the first few games," he said. "It will be a lot closer. I'm looking forward to it.
Sunday's tilt was the first of the season between Cowichan and the new Oceanside entry in the league, which includes players from Nanaimo, Parksville, Comox and Campbell River. The Thunder scored five times in each of the first two periods and played solid defence throughout as they won 14-4. "We pretty much dominated the game," Winship said. "They're a developing team, but they've got some talented players."
James Taylor scored five goals and set up one other, Corby and Page each had hat tricks and two assists, Colin Winship had two goals and five helpers, and midget call-up Brody Black also found the net. Jung had seven assists, Corwin Trent had three, Jacob Taylor had two, and Clinging had one.
The Thunder will be in action again this Friday at home against Peninsula at 8 p.m., and again on Sunday at home against Saanich following the junior A game between Nanaimo and Delta.