Home Building Society Competition Kicks into Finals Mode

It is finals time in the Home Building Society Competition, with the Premier Grade Major and Minor Semi Finals kicking off the action at Rugby Park this weekend.

Minor Premiers Nedlands will tackle Palmyra in the Major Semi Final on Sunday, with the victor going straight through to the Grand Final. The team from Tompkins Park has had the wood on Nedlands during the home and away season, with a 26-13 win in round 7 followed by a 27-19 victory in round 16.

Nedlands are nearing full strength for the clash, with Argonaut Gold and Western Force Gold players back on deck. The club provided eight representative players during 2006, with Dan Bailey, Trefor Thomas, Nathan Roberts, Blair Morris, Will Brock, Ryan Symes, Garth Ziegler and Joe Egan all turning out during the Australian Rugby Shield or for Force Gold in 2006. Neddies coach Dave McKnight has a formidable unit at his disposal even without the injured Bailey and Brock (Ziegler is also in doubt).

Palmyra have made a remarkable turn around in 2006 after finishing the 2005 season last with only one win. Flyhalf James Stannard and forwards Jerry Viriki and Andrew Turner have been central to the success, with Stannard, Turner and prop Rob Salotti winning selection in the Argonaut Gold squad during the year.

The Major Semi Final kicks off at 3.30pm at Rugby Park, Perry Lakes, on Sunday.

The Minor Semi Final will see third place Associates play triple defending Premiers Wests Subiaco on Saturday. The two teams split the season series, with Soaks taking the round 3 honours 20-16 and Wests winning the round 12 rematch 34-12.

Associates made a strong start to the season, but have stumbled in the lead up to the finals with only two wins in their last eight matches. A combination of injuries and a young side not putting away opponents was to blame for the slump, but Coach Andy Cole was quick to point out that finals don’t always reflect the performance during the season. With veterans Dirk Gleghorn, Adam New and Damian Elton in the front row, Western Force Academy players Tristan Winnall, Tim Carslaw and Angus Neilson in the backrow and as many as five Argonaut Gold squad members in the backline, Soaks will be ready to play this weekend.

Wests Subiaco started the season with three consecutive losses, but bounced back in typical fashion to finish comfortably in the top four, with a massive 14 point gap back to fifth placed Cottesloe. The recent departure of prop Mike Rowe, who has joined New Zealand NPC side Manawatu, will be a big loss as the Argonaut Gold skipper has got plenty of finals experience under his belt. Despite Rowe’s absence, Wests are full of experienced finals campaigners, with Greg Plimmer, Hamish Grace, Leon Felton, Dwayne Grace and Scott Batters leading the charge.

The Minor Semi Final kicks off at 1.30pm at Rugby Park, Perry Lakes, on Saturday. The game between Western Force Gold and Japanese touring side Yamaha Jubilo will follow at 3.30pm.

No Western Force Gold players are available for club selection in week one of the finals, due to the Force Gold game against Yamaha.

Under 19 and Second Grade finals will also be played at Rugby Park this weekend, while lower grades will play finals at McGillivray Oval on Saturday and Allen Park on Sunday.

Preliminary Finals will be held on the weekend of 26 and 27 August, with Grand Finals on 2 and 3 September. Click here to see the full finals fixtures.

The Premier Grade standings for the final four at the conclusion of the home and away season:

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