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WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Saturday, 15 August, 2015 & Sunday, 16 August, 2015
Kick-off times:
First Grade: 3.20pm
Reserve Grade: 1.30pm
Under 19: 12pm
By Fraser Smith
Click here to see the Tries of the Week from Round 18 of the Pindan Premier Grade
Saturday, 15 August
Nedlands (1) v Cottesloe (4) at The Foreshore, Nedlands
Round Seven: Nedlands 22 defeated Cottesloe 13 at Harvey Field, Cottesloe.
Round 16: Nedlands 29 defeated Cottesloe 26 at The Foreshore, Nedlands.
The Foreshore will play host to a mouth-watering semi-final when minor premiers Nedlands do battle with traditional rivals, Cottesloe, for a place in next weekend’s decider.
Nedlands have had a stellar 2015 Pindan Premier Grade season to date, dropping just two games on their way to the minor premiership. Luke Doherty’s men have proven themselves as one of the most dynamic attacking forces in the competition, collecting four-try bonus points in 13 of their 18 matches throughout the regular season. Neddies will be determined to make amends after falling to Cottesloe by a single point in their semi-final last year.
Cottesloe hit their stride at the right time of the season starving off the chasing pack to secure the final place in the four and earn the right to take make a run at the title. The Gulls pulled themselves out of a mid-season form slump, winning four of their last six on the way home including an impressive 34-19 triumph over fellow finalists, Kalamunda. A perennial contender, ‘Cott’ are no stranger to the pressure of finals rugby and will be determined to move past Nedlands for a chance to improve on their runner-up finish in 2014.
‘Neddies’ and ‘Cott’ played out two exciting matches in the regular season with the minor premiers coming out on top on both occasions. Most recently Nedlands got home by the skin of their teeth scoring a last minute try to climb over the top of the Gulls for a thrilling 29-26 victory.
Saturday’s match looks set to be yet another classic encounter with Nedlands coming off a dominant 27-0 victory over Palmyra while Cottesloe will take plenty of confidence to The Foreshore after knocking off third-place Kalamunda last week.
Nedlands: 1. Joseph Ritchie, 2. Anaru Rangi, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. TBC, 5. Mikey Egan, 6. Danny Hartwell, 7. Shane Hemi, 8. Richard Naylor, 9. TBC, 10. Jesse Toto, 11. Juan Pretorious, 12. Fred Titoko, 13. Ben Titoko, 14. Kauri Cudd, 15. Dylan Loveridge.
Cottesloe: 1. Shaun Nankervis, 2. John Monk, 3. Kaisa Reidy, 4. Kieran Stringer, 5. Damien Carley, 6. Adrian Hall, 7. Simione Vuetiverata, 8. Rory Crowhen, 9. Charl Nieuwenhuis, 10. Antini Brown, 11. Tobias Hoskins, 12. Sam Parker, 13. Alistair Haining, 14. Nili Afeaki, 15. Sean Martin.
Sunday, 16 August
Wests Scarborough (2) v Kalamunda (3) at Bennett Park, Doubleview
Round Three: Wests Scarborough 37 defeated Kalamunda 27 at Hartfield Park, Forrestfield.
Round 10: Wests Scarborough 37 defeated Kalamunda 10 at Bennett Park, Doubleview.
The Bulls and the Boars will lock horns yet again at when the two sides meet at Bennett Park to fight for the right to contest the 2015 Pindan Premier Grade premiership.
Wests Scarborough, who are chasing their first Pindan Premier Grade title since 2006, come into the post-season on the back of a remarkable regular season with just one loss to their name after 18 rounds. The Boars were just one-point shy of Nedlands in the race for the minor premiership but will be unfazed and have their sights firmly set on claiming the title in the coming weeks. Wests’ season has been built on consistency all over the park with a fine mix of power and aggression in the forwards and pace and skill throughout the backline. AJ Alatimu has been pivotal in the Boars’ brilliant season to date – the competition’s highest point scorer (208 points) will be determined to bring his best both with ball in hand and off the tee as he looks to guide his side to the decider.
Kalamunda have been this season’s surprise package but have more than earned their place in the finals. The Bulls stormed to an impressive 11-7 record in 2015 and collected a massive 12 four-try bonus-points. ‘Kala’ have been thoroughly impressive to watch all season long with a powerful, rampaging forward pack the Bulls forwards have been a nightmare for opposition teams up front, none more so than No.8 Leo Auva’a who has scored 11 tries this season. Kalamunda has also been well served by their back three featuring fullback Daley Harper and winger Natu Apineru, who has tallied an enormous 21 tries in just 16 games to lead the competition and his ability to find space down the touchline will be crucial for the Bulls chances on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulls and the Boars have done battle twice this season with Wests Scarborough taking bragging rights from both meetings. Wests will take plenty of confidence into the home semi-final after outmatching Kalamunda by 17-points in their last encounter at Bennett Park. Although, Wests Scarborough will need to be wary of the Kalamunda who will be determined to bounce back from last week’s loss to Cottesloe.
Wests Scarborough: 1. Chris Kidd, 2. Conan Houkamau, 3. Mike Tamihana, 4. Tom O’Day, 5. Riley Winter, 6. Hayden Anderson, 7. Keith Andrews, 8. Pierre Roberts, 9. Michael Marshall, 10. AJ Alatimu 11. Jordan Luke, 12. Marty Campbell, 13. Sheldon Tarawa, 14. Cody Coe Baker, 15. Jarome Leonard-TeKanawa.
Kalamunda: 1. Arron Menitt, 2. Mark Royal, 3. Beau King, 4. Russell Burgess (c), 5. Nikau Rangiwhetu, 6. Auega Seumanutafa, 7. Lukas Birch, 8.Leo Auvaa, 9. Ryan Black, 10. Tyrone Heke, 11. Natu Apineru, 12. Shaun Baker, 13. John Tuitavaki, 14. Douglas Coradine, 15. Daley Harper.