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Pindan Premier Grade
Nedlands 17 defeated Associates 14 Allen Park, Swanbourne
Cottesloe 30 defeated UWA 22 at McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont
Wests Scarborough 23 defeated Palmyra 21 at Bennett Park, Scarborough
Wanneroo 17 defeated Perth Bayswater 10 at Pat O’Hara Reserve, Morley
Rockingham 27 defeated Kalamunda 19 at Lark Hill Sports Complex, Port Kennedy
Nedlands has stolen the competition points from Associates, 17-14, in their Pindan Premier Grade Match of the Round at Allen Park.
It was the 2012 major semi-final all over again in Swanbourne, with Associates seemingly in control before surrendering two tries and with it the match in the final ten minutes of the game.
A lackadaisical Nedlands copped the wrath of a fired up Tony Ball at half time with the coach clearly unhappy with his team’s intent.
“At half time we were really struggling, our effort was poor, our intensity was way off and we had no flow in our attack,” he said. “Our defence lacked energy and there weren’t too many positives, so to come back and win was very pleasing.”
Ball commended X-factor players such as fullback Fred Tuua, who utilised some brilliant finishing, footwork and fend to touch down for the final try to claim the win.
“You let guys with a natural gift like that to just play it as they see it because if you try and restrict them it takes away their normal game and we saw some spectacular stuff out of him today,” he said.
Associates coach Andy Cole was circumspect when assessing the match, but was no doubt disappointed at having the match fall through his side’s grasp at the death.
“I think we had good control for a while but Neddies are a good team,” he said. “If you take your eye of the ball once or twice and give them a sniff they will come back. “
“We assisted them to come back in the game and for the last 15 minutes; we couldn’t hold our structures, which clearly hurt us.”
It took a sharp Associates just 13 minutes to score the opener through consistent phase play from the forwards in tight allowing Pama Petia to break through the Nedlands defence. Matt Dreyer converted for an early 7-0 lead.
The Nedlands defence fell short again 25 minutes in, this time when a perfectly executed Associates set play used the width of the field, with winger Irvine finishing off some sharp quick hands from Amon Matuauto in the corner. Dreyer again added the extras with the home side taking the 14-0 lead to the break.
An improved Nedlands came out in the second term and hit the scoreboard through a Tuua penalty goal midway through the half.
Constant kicking away of a mountain of possession frustrated the last year’s runners-up until Michael Ruru took advantage of a relaxed Associates defence with 10 minutes remaining, when the robust halfback took a quick tap to dive over for the try.
Tuua drew his side to within four points through the conversion before he would be involved again in the final two minutes.
After Nedlands worked their way into the Associates half, Richard Naylor then broke the line before offloading to Tuua. The dangerous fullback stepped and fended his way through the Associates defenders on his way to scoring the match winner and adding the icing on the cake with his wide conversion for a three-point win.
In today’s other matches, Rockingham upset Kalamunda, 27-19; Cottesloe claimed a 30-22 win over UWA; Wests Scarborough edged out Palmyra, 23-21, and Wanneroo registered their first win of the season, defeating Perth Bayswater, 17-10.
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Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter
