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Palmyra and Associates had to settle for an unwelcome 22-22 draw at Tompkins Park tonight in their RugbyWA club competition match, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.
Palmyra took the lead for the first time with their fourth try midway through the second half and spent long periods on attack only to see a last minute penalty goal by Soaks sharpshooter Kyle Godwin restrict the game to an unsatisfying stalemate.
Discipline was a major player in the contest, zero-tolerance referee Daylin Waetford dishing out five yellow cards, three to Palmyra and two to Soaks. A string of penalty goals from Godwin's golden boot also hurt Palmyra badly, and their own goal kicking woes meant that the four try to one effort was not enough to claim a win.
Associates will also have regrets. The Swanbourne club made an excellent start to the game, mixing ferocious defence, superb goal kicking and wide-ranging attack to lead 16-5 over a threatening but disjointed Palmyra at the break -- but couldn't sustain the pace into the second half.
The game, played under lights on Saturday evening, opened with plenty of action between the 22s, both teams willing to run the ball from all parts of the field.
Palmyra showed a liking for the rolling maul close to the line but it was width of the field passing with an overlap that saw them first over the line when prop Jimmy Tioke touched down; but ref Waetford called them back for a penalty after a forward pass in the final movement. The penalty -- for a spear tackle -- also despatched Soaks centre Hugh Norcross to the sin bin.
Paly hammered Soaks' line with multiple phases from the penalty but savage defence eventually drove the home side back and out over the sideline after 20 minutes.
Instead Palmyra evened the numbers five minutes later when flyhalf Eruera Haimona was sin-binned following a tussle for the ball over the touch line. Godwin landed the angled penalty goal to draw first blood at 3-0.
Soaks went further ahead on the half hour when the ball went wide from a lineout 15 metres out from Paly's line, and Norcross, newly returned to play, cut through to score wide of the posts. Godwin converted and Soaks shot to a 10-0 lead.
Associates dominated territory to pin Paly in their 22 in the closing stages of the half and Godwin booted an easier penalty for hands in the ruck with three minutes to play.
Palmrya shot back, muscling into Soaks territory and declined an easy penalty goal attempt for diving over the ruck, opting to tap and run. The ball went up through several phases before switching wide where veteran centre Johnny Vasukilakau sped into the corner for the try.
The sideline conversion missed but in the last play of the half, Soaks replied with another excellent kick to Godwin for a 16-5 half time lead.
Godwin's deadly left boot nudged Soaks ahead with a massive 45 metre goal seven minutes into the second spell when a Paly player attempted to pluck the ball from the far side of a Soaks ruck.
Again Palmyra struck back immediately, kicking for the corner from a penalty for offside, then mauling over the line for an actual try to Tioke. Haimona missed the sideline conversion again but the home side stayed in touch at 19-10.
Paly stayed on attack, taking a scrum five metres out after Soaks were penalised for closing the lineout, and impressive number eight Anare Koliavu peeled off to plunge over beside the posts after 16 minutes. Haimona slotted the easier conversion and the home side were right back in it at 19-17.
Soaks bashed away and seemed set to score out wide but Waetford again disallowed the move for a forward pass. Associates number 8 Daniel Hobbs was vocal in his disagreement with the decision and was despatched to the sin bin after 20 minutes,
Palmyra took the opportunity to roar back into action and the forwards drove for the corner, Koliavu scoring out wide after 23 minutes. Haimona couldn't manage yet another sideline conversion but Paly took the lead for the first time, 22-19.
Paly were on fire and Soaks made the errors, the home side hammering Soaks' line with multiple phases after the visitors mishandled a grubber into the corner. Associates survived to wrestle the ball over the sideline but couldn't escape as the game entered its final ten minutes, Paly keeping the pressure on with aggressive forward play.
Overly aggressive, according to referee Waetford, the home side losing both flankers to the sin bin with five minutes on the clock: openside Kiti Fuluna for repeated infringements and blindside Harley Salter for taking out an opposition player in the air.
With the home side down to 13 men, Soaks attacked with energy but little pattern. And then with a couple of minutes left, Paly were caught offside and Godwin goaled from 32 metres straight in front to steal the draw 22-22.
Although they stuggled mightily, Associates couldn't penetrate and Paly defended stoutly in the final minutes until full time.
In other games, Kalamunda continued a stellar start to the 2009 season with a solid 38-19 win over University at Hartfield, Nedlands defeated the young Wests-Subiaco team 39-6 at Sir Charles Court Reserve, Wanneroo thumped struggling Perth-Bayswater 52-24 at Kingsway and Cottesloe had a worthy 41-6 win over Rockingham at Harvey Field.
-Rick Boyd
http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58117.html
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