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(I'm posting this today to be one up on Rick. )
Palmyra v Rockingham
On form so far this year it has to be Palmyra, even though Rockingham had a morale boosting win last weekend. It will be a very good tussle in the forwards, especially the set pieces, with Palmyra's front row showing it is up there with the best in the competition, and Rockingham hopefully having Longbottom and Minson firing. But is Minson really best used as a prop? Last year he was very highly rated as a no. 8. Must have grazed in a good paddock over summer!
I think Pally will have some advantage in the backs. I give it to Palmyra by 20 points.
Wanneroo v Perth
One of the two matches of the day. There is no love lost here and they will be out to hurt each other. Count on a couple of red cards resulting. I give it to Wanneroo by 10 points only on the basis that their team is more settled and Perth do not yet appear to have their final side together and have lost the services of one of the Murphy brothers. On the other hand 5/8 Moon has returned, and will give them direction in the backline again. I'm not really confident of my prediction here. If Wanneroo have more than one or two players out of their usual first team they will suffer from lack of quality depth, while Perth are reasonably well off in that department.
Nedlands v Kalamunda
Who would have thought three weeks ago that this would be a battle between, if not cellar dwellers. then cellar lurkers?
I find this hard to fathom. Nedlands have direction and excellent depth and quality players. They were unlucky to lose against Palmyra in the second round in the last few minutes. Kalamunda still have the nucleus of last year's premiership side and from what I saw last Saturday are capable of playing far better than their current performances indicate.They also have a very strong second grade. (Top of the ladder at the moment I think.)
I give it to Nedlands by 5 points, but both sides have a lot to lose, probably a chance of a finals berth, if they lose another one on the trot.
Cottesloe v Associates
You would have to pick Soaks. Dreyer was on fire for them last weekend, more than making up for the loss of Daruda at 5/8, and their fullback Holmes is a class act. (By the way, where was Daruda last Saturday? He wasn't injured, and he didn't travel with the Force, so should have been available against Nedlands.)
If anything Soaks are likely to be vulnerable in the forwards. They have lost their travelling tall second rower Westcott who has now joined his wandering mates at University, New is their only recognised prop, and they don't appear to have the impact up front they had last year. Still and all, their backs should win through, and Cottesloe have a young, relatively inexperienced front row. Soaks by 35 points.
University v Wests Subiaco
University by 25 points.