PALMYRA TOP TABLE WITH RUNAWAY WIN
Another week of wildly fluctuating rugby yielded a massive 50-17 blow-out by Palmyra over a decimated Perth-Bayswater at Pat O’Hara Reserve, last year's wooden spooners completing a fairytale comeback by claiming the top of the table in the WA rugby club competition sponsored by KWIK Transport and Crane Hire.
At Kingsway, Wanneroo bounced back from last week’s shock 36 point loss to the Seagulls to dump Associates 41-20, knocking the Swanbourne club off the top of the competition.
At Pat O’Hara Reserve, it was one way traffic as Palmyra’s slick back line cut up a ragged Perth-Bayswater defence at will, and a limited comeback by the home side in the last 15 minutes was far too little far too late.
The forward battle proved to be a non-event, and although Perth-Bayswater crushed Palmyra in the scrums it did not prevent the visitors gaining plentiful possession, a lot of it from scattergun Perth kicking and a conveyor belt supply of dropped ball.
Perth-Bayswater moved talented young fullback Gareth Cossey into flyhalf to replace sorely missed backline general Sam Moon, but it was a resounding failure. It completely wasted his valuable attacking ability and his opposite number, Quintyn Austin, ran through him with insulting ease.
Paly led 17-0 at half time after blitzing Perth with three early tries and after a mixed period of play later in the half, a strong finish by the home side was a reasonable option as Palmyra have struggled to maintain their focus at times this season. Today was not to be one of those times as the Melville club sizzled with virtually every touch of the ball in the second spell, racking up a succession of tries that turned the supposed acid test into a cake walk.
Palmyra showed their hand early from a Perth scrum on the opposition 22, a lightning break and chip kick by inside centre Kone Feaunati giving centre Tajhon Mailata a try in the corner after six minutes of play.
Palmyra continued to dominate territory and repeatedly broke Perth's defence out wide as the home side scrambled for composure. Perth-Bayswater somehow managed to stay in the contest as the tussle continued but their errors gifted Palmyra with possession and the visitors almost scored on several occasions. Instead Austin gained a penalty for offside but steered the simple kick wide of the posts.
But there was no problem a couple of minutes later when Perth's puzzling kicking game again gave Paly prime attacking ball, and the visitors spun the ball from sideline to sideline twice before number 8 Siosefo Manu burst through the over-stretched defence to score out wide after 30 minutes.
Perth's scrum had Palmyra in trouble but it made little difference, Austin cutting through ineffectual defence to hand on to blindside flanker George Sutherland for another effortless try beside the posts.
Austin managed the easier kick and although Perth gained a turnover and attacked with urgency late in the half, they knocked on out wide whenever they threatened to gain momentum and the visitors took the 17-0 lead into the break.
Perth opened the second spell strongly, demolishing Palmyra's scrum but the visitors stole Perth ball and Austin darted upfield, the Palmyra backs and forwards combining like a sevens team to run in a try to flanker Jerry Viriki with contemptuous ease. Austin converted the easier angle and it was one way traffic at 24-0.
Minutes later they were at it again, a simple back line sweep sending Feaunati over in the corner and the Perth defence might as well have been playing touch. Feaunati touched down behind the posts and Austin converted the sitter, the game a foregone conclusion with half an hour to play.
But Perth-Bayswater were determined to make a fight of it and were hard on attack in the opposition 22 when they turned over and wing Johnny Vasu sprinted 70 metres to score behind the posts. Austin added the extras and Paly went ahead 38-0.
Perth gained a little pride as they gamely battled on, the forwards hammering Palmyra’s line with pick and drives until hooker Ash Murphy barrelled over for the try. The conversion attempt failed miserably but at 38-5 with 20 minutes to play it was of academic interest only.
Perth kept plugging away and Paly lost lock Stu Turnbull to the sin bin in a brainless foul in defence of their line, and from the penalty the black forwards drove reserve Mark Hill over for their second try. Lock Jock Stanley converted the simple goal kick to trail 38-12 with 8 minutes remaining.
Palmyra responded with a late flurry, first fullback Scott Bowley scoring in the corner and then Mailata scored his second under the bar following a turnover. Austin converted the second but Perth-Bayswater had the last word when prop Zac Letufaga charged over from a tap penalty.
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,55865.html
