Local Club Players in the Seat for Yamaha Clash
Emirates Western Force players Vitori Buatava and Tajhon Mailata have been picked in the RugbyWA Development Team to play Yamaha Jubilo on Wednesday night at Tompkins Park.
All but five of the 22 selected for tomorrow’s game have been drawn exclusively from those local clubs not participating in this weekend’s Home Building Society Competition finals.
The Western Force Academy is represented by prop Kieran Longbottom, hooker Bill Johnston and inside centre Lloyd Johnson.
Buatava and Mailata both played in Western Force Gold’s 66-7 demolition of Yamaha at Rosalie Park last Saturday, both scoring points – Mailata a try and two conversions from Buatava.
Academy and Development Team coach Steve McFarland said those involved in club finals had not been considered for selection, providing others with an opportunity to impress.
“It will be a good challenge for our guys, many of whom have never played together before and up against a team of professionals,” he said.
The game is at Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove. Kick off is at 7pm.
The squad is: 1. Kieran Longbottom 2. Bill Johnston 3. Kyle Edwards 4. John Menehira 5. John Summers 6. Jonathan Stanley 7. Ben Calder 8. Sean Ashton (c) 9. Curtis McLean 10. Vitori Buatava 11. Darcy Bowden 12. Lloyd Johnson 13. Tajhon Mailata 14. Alex Rufus 15. David Cloete 16. Chris Indich 17. Ryan Williams 18. Michael Murphy 19. Brent Murphy 20. Anton Wickens 21. Aidan Higo 22. PJ Pitman
