BATTLE OF THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
In the battle of the heavyweights, unbeaten Wanneroo and Perth-Bayswater clash at Kingsway on Saturday in the KWIK rugby club competition match of the round.
The match continues an intriguing contest from 2008, then reigning premiers Perth-Bayswater winning the two competition matches and bolters Wanneroo taking out the one that counted, the semi-final. The Roo-dogs went on to contest the grand final and have continued that form into 2009, winning their first three games by handsome margins, including the defeat of premiers Kalamunda.
Perth-Bayswater go into the match as slight underdogs after recording a draw and two wins, including games against preliminary finalists Nedlands and Kalamunda.
Wanneroo retained most of their 2008 squad, including ball-carrying flanker Fa’atu Saiumu and slippery inside centre Palei Masili, and added international sevens star Koiatu Koiatu. Koiatu has been in red hot form early in the season, both as an attacking ball runner and as Wanneroo’s back line general.
Wanneroo face a strong challenge containing the heavyweight Perth-Bayswater pack in the set pieces and must concentrate on winning the battle in the loose. A ready supply of go-forward ball will set the Roo-dogs exciting back line up for maximum points-scoring opportunities.
Perth-Bayswater have lost lineout ace Brent Murphy to Sydney but lock Jock Stanley has returned to the club after flirting with Aussie Rules, and the team should count on winning the war up front. Flanker Shannon Christie and outstanding young number eight Pierre Roberts must focus on the vital chase at the breakdown.
The men in black have a master campaigner in flyhalf Sam Moon while former state flyhalf Nathan McCort gives extra options at inside centre. Young wing Nathan Hunt and talented newcomer Gareth Cossey at fullback ensure the Perth-Bayswater backs division has more than just a tenacious defence.
The Morley-based club has several injuries but veteran coach John ‘JT’ Taylor is confident he has the depth to cover them, however Murphy will be harder to replace.
“It’s always a concern when you lose probably your best player,” Taylor said.
“His overall game has improved so much over the last two years, he leaves a big hole to fill.”
Taylor sees Wanneroo as his team's major obstacle in the competition but is more concerned with his team than the opposition.
“They’re very direct, they have some big boys,” he said.
“We’ve had a look at their weaknesses, but at the end of the day you’ve got to worry about your own paddock.
“We’re very happy to have the points on the board so we know where we are, but so do Wanneroo, so it’ll be a big game.”
Taylor isn’t overly concerned about Wanneroo’s attacking back line and centre Koiatu, and cites the progress Perth-Bayswater have made.
“They’re the ones that should be worrying about us. Our backs are doing pretty well,” Taylor said.
“He [Koiatu] is a good player, but he’s only one player with two arms and two legs.”
Taylor is satisfied with his team’s performance at this stage and points to Perth-Bayswater’s broad-vision approach to team development.
“We’ve got a better all round game than we had last year. We had a good off season and we have good new players coming through our academy system,” Taylor said.
“Our pattern is settled and we’re happy with the players we have. Club management have put a lot of effort into the off-field stuff this year so we have a good team spirit. When times get tough, as we all know, you need that.”
“We’ve got mini-goals, we work in sets of six [games], and then we start again and don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”
At Sir Charles Court Reserve, the match between Nedlands and Kalamunda has been relegated from a top of the table headliner to a battlers’ sideshow, both teams winless after three games.
Nedlands have stumbled from a wildly fluctuating draw against Perth-Bayswater, to a loss against stunningly resurgent wooden-spooners Palmyra, to their fifth consecutive loss against bogy team Associates. Celebrating their 75th anniversary after three decades as the competition’s most consistent performers, Neddies couldn’t have asked for a worse start to the year.
Kalamunda’s position is little better, the premiers going down to Wanneroo, Perth-Bayswater and Palmyra in consecutive games, none of them close. It’s early days yet but both teams will be desperate for a foothold in the competition to restore their battered confidence.
Palmyra will be expecting to build on their surprise third position in the competition when they travel to Lark Hill to take on Rockingham, after the southern club regained a modicum of form with their come-from-behind win over Wests-Subiaco last week.
The competition’s top team, Associates, play close neighbours Cottesloe at Harvey Field and should be counting on a win over the improving Seagulls. Both teams need a result to stay in contention with tough games against major teams on the horizon.
At McGillivray Oval, University and Wests-Subiaco are chasing their first win of the season and their performance against their closest competition should provide valuable context for their longer term goals.
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,55654.html
