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The formalities are over and it’s down to serious business at Lark Hill this weekend for the minor and major semi-finals of the WA rugby club competition, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
On Saturday, minor premiers Palmyra play fast-finishing Nedlands in the coveted major semi-final, the winner going straight into the grand final on September 19, while the loser gets a second chance in next weekend’s preliminary final at McGillivray Oval.
There are no such luxuries on offer for the contestants of Sunday’s minor semi-final. Cottesloe, the season’s quiet achievers, face a sudden death play off with Wanneroo, the winners going through to the next hurdle of the preliminary final while the losers’ season comes to an abrupt end.
Major Semi-final
Palmyra and Nedlands offer similar styles of expansive, open rugby but with rain forecast and traditional finals play favouring tight territory-based game plans, there is unlikely to be a lot of flair on display.
Of the two, Nedlands are probably better equipped to play the tighter game although the form of Palmyra’s outstanding flyhalf Quintyn Austin must be a major bonus for the Melville team, particularly if the outcome rests on goal kicking.
Perversely, Neddies should start the game as favourites despite being late arrivals into the top four. A horror start to their 75th anniversary year had the Royal Blues struggling in the lower reaches of the table early with just two wins from their first seven games. However, Tony Ball’s team turned that all around with an all-conquering second half to their season, recording ten straight wins to claim a last minute place in the major semi-final.
By contrast, a summer recruitment bonanza rushed minor premiers Palmyra from the wooden spoon last year to the minor premiership in 2009. But after looking the team to beat mid-season, Paly’s once-sizeable lead over the pack was whittled down to mere points as they lost three of their last six games. Worryingly, Palmyra have lost to all three fellow finalists in the second half of the season and coach Dave Ball and his team must reverse their slump in form in this game or the next if they want to avoid becoming just another minor premier that no one will remember next year.
Palmyra will need the best from their key players, dynamic number eight Flip Manu, evergreen flanker Jerry Viriki, and electric centre pairing of Malo Lauti and Tajhon Mailata. For Nedlands, workaholic loose forwards Blair Morris and Richie Naylor, inspirational halfback and skipper Nathan Roberts, and exciting centre Zane Houia will be determined to continue Neddies’ unstoppable momentum through to the grand final.
Minor Semi-final
Cottesloe are the finals team most naturally placed to benefit from tight, wet-weather finals rugby. Boasting arguably the competition’s most complete forward pack, the Seagulls worked their way steadily up the ladder after a slow start by dominating territory and possession. Their back line is dependable rather than exciting but Cottesloe regularly turned in solid team performances and were on course for the major semi-final until the final week of the competition.
An uncharacteristic stumble in week 18 against outgoing premiers Kalamunda cost the Seagulls that coveted place and now Ian Fowler and his team have no second chances and will need all their patience and composure to reach for the big prize, and not settle for merely making the finals.
Wanneroo have no qualms about their aims after a huge 2008 season took them into the grand final, and this year nothing less than a premiership will be good enough for coach Elwee Prinsloo and his Roo-dogs.
Wanneroo have been close to the top of the table all season despite a couple of mid-year wobbles with a horror injury run. However, late season losses to Cottesloe and Associates dropped them to fourth and threatened to eject them from the top four altogether until a powerful closing game brought them home with a last-minute, confidence-boosting win over Palmyra.
Wanneroo may benefit from the return of players from injury and will need their best eight on the field to combat Cottesloe’s effective pack. The return of flyhalf Phil Gibson should steady a dangerous backline featuring big inside centre Palei Masila and livewire sevens international Koiaty Koiatu, with talented young fullback Troy Doughty kicking goals from all angles.
For Cottesloe, Irish flanker Karl Leary impresses, veteran number eight Matt Aitken has been as his barnstorming best this season and lock Matt Battishall is as dangerous in the loose as he is in the tight. The Seagulls danger man is Dave Cloete at flyhalf, an ace goal kicker and equally deadly with the ball in hand, while utility back Ryan Westaway and centre Sam Parker are seasoned back line performers.
A major boost for the Seagulls is the appearance of Wallaby number eight Richard Brown. Brown was released from the national squad during the week to play club rugby and elected to represent his Western Australian club rather than Sydney. Cottesloe will also benefit from the presence of Western Force Academy halfback Mark Swanepoel, who started the season for the Seagulls but has been playing in Queensland.
By Rick Boyd
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56361.html
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Originally Posted by Coach
