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Wanneroo jumped up to second place with a surprisingly hard-fought 13-10 win over rejuvenated reigning premiers Kalamunda at Hartfield in the WA club rugby competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
A penalty goal by Wanneroo fullback Koiatu Kioatu six minutes from time sealed a game where the two sides had been neck and neck throughout.
The Bulls took it to the Wanneroo forward pack in a scoreless first half to comprehensively dominate territory and possession but failed to sparkle in attack against a solid Roo-dogs defensive line.
Kalamunda dominated territory and possession from the opening whistle and left the Roo-dogs playing with scraps. A torrid forward battle unfolded with both sides going to the scrum at every opportunity and while Wanneroo enjoyed the greater weight there wasn't much in it.
Kalamunda got on top in the loose with a series of turnovers and halfback Aaron Murphy repeatedly crossed the gain line with darting runs from behind his pack and set moves with his number eight.
After 23 minutes a Kalamunda attack from a free kick put inside centre Hayden Hireme clear for a possible try in the corner but he lost control of the ball short of the line. The Bulls continued attacking but Koiatu broke clear late in the half and put the visitors on attack for the first time.
Several lineouts and a 20 metre rolling maul took the Roo-dogs within centimetres of the try line but they conceded a free kick in the following ruck and Kalamunda kicked clear. Half time followed a minute later with an unexpected 0-0 score from two of the competition's better back lines.
A scything run by Hireme opened the second spell and Kalamunda earned a penalty ten metres out. They tapped and drove up, the ball going wide after a couple of rucks where reserve front rower Ryan Black charged over the line in a pile of forwards for the try . Flyhalf Kane Allen converted from a difficult angle and the home side took the lead 7-0.
Wanneroo took their turn at dominating territory and locked the Bulls in their 22 as the half continued. The Bulls escaped upfield again and a ruck penalty and three ten yard marches for back-chat to ref John Hill cost Wanneroo a tap penalty to the Bulls from ten yards out, but the ball was passed out over the sideline after 14 minutes.
Wanneroo returned play to the other end of the field and after 19 minutes and the Bulls passed the ball wide in defence of their line once too often, Wanneroo wing Lawrence van der Linde snatching the gift and shooting through to touch down behind the posts. Flyhalf Troy Doughty converted the sitter and Koiatu, taking over the kicking, added a penalty goal from a similar angle, if a longer distance, three minutes later as the Roo-dogs took the lead for the first time 10-7.
Kalamunda took play downfield with an attacking raid down the sideline, earning another sitter penalty in front of the posts which was duly converted by Allen to tie the scores again 10-10 after 27 minutes.
The see-saw half continued back at the other end two minutes later when Doughty slid a wobbly drop goal attempt under the bar, and then from a sitter penalty for a high tackle Koiatu made no mistake to steal the lead 13-10 with six minutes to play.
A Wanneroo high tackle two minutes later cost them a yellow card and Kalamunda opted for the scrum but predictable passing and solid Wanneroo defence kept the home side scoreless through multiple phases and a series of penalties until full time.
In other games, Nedlands moved closer to the top four with a healthy 40-5 thrashing of an erratic Perth-Bayswater team at Sir Charles Court Reserve and in the boilover of the round, Associates dropped to fourth with a stunning 48-5 loss to Rockingham at Lark Hill. At Harvey Field, Cottesloe downed Wests-Subiaco 46-10 to improve to third place, and front-runners Palmyra stayed well clear of the rest by defeating University 27-10 at McGillivray Oval.
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Originally Posted by RugbyWA
