0
Nedlands took ominous steps closer to the premiership at Kingsway today with a polished 52-20 thumping of Wanneroo, dropping the Roo-dogs to third place in the WA club rugby competition sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
With the finals just five weeks away, Nedlands couldn’t have chosen a better time to reverse their awful early season form and retain fourth place in the competition in style.
And at Harvey Field, Cottesloe moved up to share top billing with competition favourites Palmyra, coming home in a big second half to win 38-10 after trailing 10-5 at half time.
At Kingsway, Nedlands dominated territory and possession throughout and except for a lull in the second half, scored regularly against a low-key, error-prone Wanneroo team missing key personnel. The score would have been higher but for a forgettable day by normally reliable Neddies kicker, inside centre Mike Denton.
For Nedlands, centre Zane Houia was a revelation, repeatedly carving up the opposition defence with electric attacking runs, young wing Matt Venter was busy and inventive outside him, and lock Tyson Takiari enjoyed a red letter day with a hat trick of tries.
The opening minutes were even but following a weaving run by Houia, Nedlands moved play into Wanneroo's 22. Neddies launched waves of attack until the Roo-dogs conceded a penalty for a high tackle in front of the posts and inside centre Mike Denton knocked over the sitter 13 minutes in.
Nedlands continued to set the pace with strong scrum work and enterprising back line moves but Wanneroo moved downfield with a penalty lineout and mirrored the opening score when the visitors conceded a penalty for a high tackle in front of the posts. Fullback Troy Doughty kicked the simple goal and it was 3-3 after 20 minutes.
But Nedlands swept onto attack from the kick off and called for a scrum when Wanneroo was penalised in their 22. The ball quickly went wide and Venter sped into the corner for a try after 23 minutes.
Nedlands were right back into it from the kick-off, hammering Wanneroo's line with side to side back line sweeps until Takiari was on hand to finish off multiple phases of attack, striding through a gap in the midfield to score out wide after 32 minutes.
There was more to come. Three minutes later Denton nabbed a wayward chip kick over half way and shot down the sideline to score in the other corner. Fortunately for Wanneroo, his sideline conversion attempts were off target but the Royal Blues still shot out to a stunning 18-3 lead.
But the Roo-dogs weren't about to roll over. When Nedlands lost the ball, blindside flanker Lance Hamilton powered clear to set up the try for hooker Jacob Smith minutes before half time. Doughty kicked the angled conversion and the Roo-dogs gained modest solace at 18-10.
But Nedlands stayed on top, dominating territory and possession, and from a penalty tap the Royal Blues swarmed into the corner for a second try to Takiarai, taking the 23-10 lead into the break.
The floodgates stayed wide open into the second spell, Wanneroo mis-handling the restart kick and putting Neddies right back on attack. The Royal Blue forwards charged up and the ball shot out to flyhalf Cameron Sinden on the blind and he nipped over for the try. Denton kicked the difficult conversion and Neddies went further ahead 30-10 after 3 minutes.
When Wanneroo took play downfield and gained a penalty in perfect attacking position, strangely they opted for the kick despite the margin and Doughty goaled. However, the Roo-dogs didn’t lack for heart and tried their best to claw their way out of their hole, but Neddies' pressure and attack were relentless, prop TJ Asiata finding himself a surprise wing to score a try on an overlap after 15 minutes. Sinden tried his hand at goal kicking but was no more successful with the conversion attempt, but at 35-13 it was hardly an issue.
Neddies lost their edge as the second half progressed, Wanneroo repeatedly turning over ruck ball in defence of their line, and the tries dried up. But the Roo-dogs were unable to capitalise, errors unravelling their forays across the half way line.
With their dominance of possession, Nedlands couldn't help but score at some stage and after a penalty lineout after 35 minutes, the forwards mauled up and Takiari broke loose to plunge over for his hat trick. Denton's conversion attempt failed but the lead stretched to 40-13.
Then two minutes later, Neddies turned over a Wanneroo defensive scrum and the ball shot blind for a simple try to reserve wing Cody Cole. Needless to say, the conversion missed.
But just to show there was fight left in the home side, the Roo-dogs struggled downfield for a try in the corner to lock John Wenman, and Doughty converted from the sideline.
But Nedlands had the last word, attacking without mercy right to the final whistle, reserve flanker Richie Naylor finishing off a width of the field sweep for a try in the corner, and Denton slotted the sideline conversion to a hearty cheer from the Royal Blues supporters as the full time whistle blew.
At Harvey Field, Cottesloe dominated in the forwards to score a try, but failed to execute and conceded turnovers, coughed up an intercept try to give Palmyra a half time lead of 10-5.
The Seagulls steadied in the second spell to capitalise on their control of the game, retaining the ball and scoring four more tries to win 38-10. Cottesloe kept the ball close to the forwards for much of the game, spinning it wide when the opportunity arose to keep the scoreboard ticking over steadily. Tries were scored by flyhalf Dave Cloete, wing Todd Edwards, fullback Sam Ackerman, flanker Carl Leery, and colt wing Edward Melville. Number eight Matt Aitken and lock Matt Battishall were outstanding in the pack.
“It’s pretty tight,” Cottesloe coach Ian Fowler said.
“We’ve got Neddies and Wanneroo over the next couple of weeks so we can’t let off.
“And Neddies have been on a roll and we’ve been going all right, so that’s probably a big game in the scheme of things.”
In other games, Kalamunda gained late season consolation with a good 44-23 win over Rockingham at Hartfield, Associates stayed in contention with a thriller 34-33 win over University at McGillivray Oval, and at Rosalie Park, Perth-Bayswater plummeted to new depths with a dismal 23-17 loss to a young Wests-Subiaco team.
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,56087.html
Reply With Quote
