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THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR 2013 PREMIERS, NEDLANDS
Nedlands have stormed home to win the 2013 Pindan Premier Grade premiership at McGillivray Oval this afternoon, running out 20-14 victors over Cottesloe.
The Foreshore side overcame a four-point half time deficit to secure the flag having finished runners-up for the past two seasons.
Cottesloe back-rower Nick Haining was named man of the match to provide a silver lining on an otherwise heartbreaking day for the minor premiers.
Nedlands coach Tony Ball was elated to finally break his premiership hoodoo against the Gulls.
“It’s the most amazing feeling – to go out like that is something special and I’m really proud of the boys,” he said.
“We weren’t playing that well but we dug in and showed so much character.”
Ball believes the current crop of Nedlands troops ranks amongst the best sides he’s been involved with at the club.
“In 2010 we played really well but this team has some special players in it and they showed that they have tremendous character,” he said.
Gulls coach Ian Fowler was bitterly disappointed with the loss but still credited his men with a strong season.
“It was a great year for the team and the club, we just couldn’t quite get there,” he said. “Congratulations to Nedlands; it’s been a few years coming for them and today it just wasn’t to be for us.”
The overcast-but-otherwise-perfect conditions provided little excuse for errors in general play as grand final expectations weighed heavily on either team.
The opening stages set the stage for the tense affair as both sides jostled for field position, while Ed Melville and Fred Tuua traded shots at goal to have Cottesloe ahead 6-3.
The try deadlock was eventually snapped when Nedlands grabbed first five-pointer of the game from an unlikely source, as stalwart prop Joe Richie crashed over off the back of some consistent phase play.
Melville’s third successful penalty kept Cottesloe within striking distance before Ryan Louwrens caught the Nedlands defence napping, when the halfback slipped down the blindside off a short-arm penalty to score untouched and put the coastal club in front to give his side a 14-10 advantage at the break.
The scrumhalf’s touchdown kick-started a string of further challenges for Nedlands, as flyhalf Fred Tuua was carried from the field with a knee injury before referee Graham Cooper lost patience with an ill-disciplined Neddies defensive line when Luke Doherty was sent to the sin bin.
As the second half continued and the four-point buffer remained intact, it looked increasingly likely that the premiership would be heading to Harvey Field until Nedlands found the impetus in the final 20 minutes.
Desperate play from the foreshore men inside Cottesloe’s quarter eventually brought about success, as winger Ben Titoko touched down to give his side the lead, with Mark Davies’ touchline conversion providing the seven-point swing to take a three-point lead.
A late penalty to Mark Davies extended the gap to six points and provided a simple equation for Cottesloe: score a converted try to take back their first premiership since 2009. However, the Gulls were unable to do so as a knock-on into touch brought down the curtain on Season 2013 and granted Nedlands their first premiership since 2010.
Pindan Premier Grade – Grand Final
Nedlands 20 (Joe Ritchie, Ben Titoko tries; Fred Tuua conversion, penalty; Mark Davies conversion, penalty) defeated Cottesloe 14 (Ryan Louwrens try; Ed Melville 3 penalties) at McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Reserve Grade
Wests Scarborough 21 (Jaden Devorns, James Harvey, Saula Fifita tries; Dylan Parsons 3 conversions) defeated Palmyra 17 (Sean Joyce, Bradley Kenton tries; penalty try; Adam Kennedy conversion)
Goodlife Health Clubs Under 20’s
Associates 21 (Tom Enright, Walter Van Der Merwe, Nick Fielding tries; Rhodri Adamson 3 conversions) defeated UWA 13 (Luke Fogliani, Kieran Macguire tries; Luke Gilbert penalty)
Goodlife Health Clubs Under 18’s
Palmyra 50 (Nicholas Ward 2; Casey Skinner, Brett Bissett, Michael Tui, Chad Ramsay, Alex Marshall, Mitchell Short tries; Alex Oakley 5 conversions) defeated Mandurah 24 (Harrison Ross, Gerard DeKlerk, Kyle Akuhata tries; Zachary Nicholson three conversions, penalty)
Saturday, 31 August
Premiership Third Grade
Nedlands 33 (Nate Christian, Mark McGregor, Matt Suter, Glen Briggs, Alvin Lau tries; Nate Christian conversion, 2 penalties) defeated Palmyra 3 (Tame Simpkins penalty)
Premiership Fourth Grade
UWA 34 (Adrian Scherpenzeel, Ryan Lenegan, Montgomery Smith, Andrew Dopson, Greg Manning tries; Andrew Dopson 3 conversions, penalty) defeated Nedlands 28 (Mike Smith 2; Luke Powell, Grant Allison tries; Simon Ruri 2 conversions, Hayden Smith 2 conversions)
Premiership Fifth Grade
Cottesloe Blue 17 (Jarrod Manson 2; Jeremy Wallcroft tries; Tiernan Byrnes conversion) defeated Associates 10 (James Sermon try; Damon Elton penalty, Aphirak Paul conversion)
Women
Cottesloe 10 (Natasha Haines try; Kirsty Hadfield conversion, penalty goal) defeated Wanneroo 3 (Sharnee Werahiko penalty)
Championship First Grade
Curtin Uni 16 (Marthin Slabber try; Craig Tulloch conversion, 3 penalties) defeated ARKS 9 (Reon Wynyard 3 penalties)
Championship Second Grade
ARKS 19 (Kayne Cassidy try; Angus Lawrie conversion, 3 penalties, drop goal) defeated Curtin Uni 5 (Hamish McKay try)
Championship Third Grade
Curtin Uni 20 (Rob Chasland try; Steve Maher 4 penalties) defeated Bunbury Barbarians 13 (Seko Koroiuwai 2 tries; Ray Reti penalty goal)
