Round Five Club Rugby - The Great Divide?
There should be two outstanding games this weekend, and rugby fans will be able to watch both.
On Friday at 8 PM fourth placed Palmyra take on undefeated third place Kalamunda at home, and 3.30 PM Saturday sees a top of the ladder clash between Nedlands and Cottesloe at Harvey field.
Kalamunda will be without Dion Berryman, whom I am informed left with another of their stars for the bright lights of East Coast rugby (sorry, I was told, but I've forgotten who), and young rising star Eric Vasu is unavailable through injury to play against his big Brother Johnny. However Kala have proven they have the depth to cover these losses, and will certainly take it right up to Pally.
Pally are improving week by week after a very ordinary start to the season, and have been strengthened by the arrival of several very useful players from the UK to bolster their already huge pack of forwards. Sadly injuries have decimated their backs, although the return of their sharp shooting five eight will stiffen the backline, as will the inclusion of an ex first grade Gordon winger as a reserve. I give it to Kala by 10 points, if only for their demonstrated consistency.
Nedlands will miss Harry Cogin on the wing, a victim of a nasty knee injury, and unless they have some new blood coming in, will be set back considerably by any further injuries as their reserves haven't been travelling too well by Neddies' usual high standard.
Cottesloe are a complete side, and with the little backline general Cloete leading by example, and with very mobile forwards and a home ground advantage, have every prospect of rolling Neddies, though not by much. I expect this game to be brutal, and depending on the ref, possibly turning on the random fall of yellow and red cards. This season they have been raining down like confetti, and this weekend shouldn't be much different, given the very shallow pool to select from.
Perth play University at Morley, and Perth will have one of their few and remote possibilities of a win this season, with a demoralised Uni reeling from the loss of their captain and outstanding number eight Ashton, who suffered a worrying neck injury last weekend. Perth have serious problems of their own though, and are hemorrhaging players to other clubs, despite their very well credentialed coaching staff, so this one will be a rather low standard clash of the cellar dwellers, with probably not more than a penalty to differentiate between them.
Soaks play Wests at Allen Park, in a game which is more critical for Wests, whose season is almost certainly over if they don't pull something out of their bag of tricks. I'm afraid that they won't have the wherewithal against a competent if not brilliant Soaks. I give it to Soaks by 20 plus points.
Finally Rockingham take on Wanneroo at Lark Hill. My sympathies are with Rocky, but my head says Wanneroo. However Rocky do have an extremely useful number eight who recently arrived at the club, and their Ranga fullback is a big, hard running unit. Wanneroo have shown that they are not what they were last year and the perennial gale, which is usual Lark Hill weather, may assist Rocky. Unfortunately I don't think it will be enough, and the Dogs will take it out by 15 points.
Referees as at Thurs 6 May
Rockingham v Wanneroo S POPPERWELL
Perth Bayswater v UWA D WAETFORD
Palmyra v Kalamunda J HILL
Cottesloe v Nedlands J SHERRIFF
Associates v Wests Subiaco R KELLAM
