Could you put a link to the Kelowna papers report?
Unfortunately one needs to subscribe to the Kelowna Daily Courier to see the article, but this is the text sent to me by the BCRL rep I spoke about.
The B.C. Bulldogs gave fans what they came to see.
A showcase of Rugby League - a faster, harder-hitting version of the sport than the traditional Rugby Union - and also a big victory, 48-12 over the visiting Utah Avalanche on Saturday afternoon at the Apple Bowl. It was the Bulldogs' debut and the first international Rugby League game played in Kelowna, in front of a few hundred fans on a sweltering hot day.
"We only actually trained (on Friday) for the first time fully as a team, so considering that, I think we did absolutely amazing," said speedy back Jared Curry, one of four Kelowna Crows on the provincial squad and the only B.C.-born player on the Canada Wolverines national team. "We put up a lot of points, a lot of big hits, so I'm sure the fans loved it.
"After a game like this, I'm sure even more people will come out next time."
It's unknown when that will be, with the Bulldogs' schedule still a work in progress and their next contest a return trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, to rematch the Avalanche on Sept. 7.
"It must have been nice and enlightening for some of the Kelowna fans to see Rugby League for the first time, and to host the first-ever B.C. Bulldogs game is something special too," said Bulldogs coach Andy Blackburn, whose side raced out to a 14-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes and stretched it to 26-0 at the break. "It was a great result. I thought after the first half that we might have run away with it, but credit to Utah for coming back.
"It was almost like they got a second wind and, in all fairness, we probably fell off the pace a little bit. But they have to be licking their lips and wondering what they can do to us on their own ground in three weeks time."
Curry, just 19 years old, showed glimpses of his potential, but was kept off the scoresheet. Another local product, forward Daniel Blasco-Morris, made a bigger impact - at least physically.
"He's a tough lad, made for Rugby League," Blackburn said of Blasco-Morris. "It was fitting that he finished off the game with one heck of a hit on one of the Utah players right after the full-time hoot. That certainly got some of the crowd cheering."
As for Curry's effort, Blackburn said: "He's a competitor. You can see by the yards that he makes and the work rate that he has, that the opportunities are going to come his way and he'll get his name on the try sheet."
Meanwhile, Utah's player-coach, George Tupou, was impressed by both, and many other Bulldogs.
"They've got a good team, a lot of talent and some real standout players," Tupou said. "They just beat us overall. The only thing for us to take away from here is the second half, when we played a lot better.
"We just have to turn it up at the beginning of the game rather than fool around and then try to play catch up."
Curry agreed that B.C.'s fast start was the difference.
"We just came out hard, came out swinging, had a little bit of momentum and it just got carried away after that," he said. "I didn't even need to score the tries because the forwards were doing all the hard work and getting through the middle.
"There are still areas to improve, but, all things considered, we are looking at a great season this year."
The article took up "2/3 of a page" and featured a color photo as well.
