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Match of the Round: Palmyra v Associates at Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove
Palmyra returns home this weekend to host reigning premiers, Associates, in the Pindan Premier Grade Match of the Round at Tompkins Park tomorrow.
The hosts go in to the match with winning form following a 17-10 victory over last year’s semi-finalists, UWA.
Despite the win, Palmyra coach Dave Ball has brought six new faces into the team for this week’s clash. Hooker Eli George, flanker Shannon McRae and No.8 Mark Nu’u come in to the pack while centre Hayden Baird, winger Steven Cullingworth and fullback Ray Maloney form a new look backline. Tutere Waenga also moves from fullback to the left wing.
Soaks were stunned last week by a fired-up Rockingham, managing only a 19-all draw. As a result, coach Andy Cole has made five changes to his starting XV. Ben Hales returns to the second row, Pama Petia comes in to play at the base of the scrum and centre Michael Schmidt, winger Caillan Richards and fullback Mathew Dreyer all come into the team.
Ball believes last week’s shock draw against Rockingham will only spur Soaks on for a big performance tomorrow.
“You look at their track record in recent years and there is no doubt they’ll be a very difficult team to beat,” he said.
“This week we are expecting one heck of a contest from a team who will be desperate to get their season back on track. I have no doubt they’ll come out all guns blazing.”
While the home side will be keen to consolidate their place within the top four, a win to Soaks would effectively see them leapfrog Palmyra on the premiership table and, depending on other results, may even see them break in to the top four.
Palmyra: 1 Joe Savage, 2 Eli George, 3 Connor Higgins, 4 Fraley Hopa, 5 James Riddell, 6 Shannon McRae, 7 Sean Stapleton, 8 Mark Nu’u, 9 Brad Fell, 10 Sam Jurisich, 11 Tutes Waenga, 12 Hayden Baird, 13 Va’a Mailei, 14 Steven Cullingworth, 15 Ray Maloney. Res: 16 Stu Dyer, 17 Hamiora Tioki, 18 Hayden Croghan, 19 Reggie Manu, 20 Jarrad Trevanthan, 21 Rob Vados, 22 Rawhiri Wilson
Associates: 1 Michael D’Adamo, 2 Anthony Savovski, 3 Andrew Lawrence, 4 Benjamin Hales, 5 Zain Kader, 6 Tom Hobbs, 7 Dean Taylor-Menzies, 8 Pama Petia, 9 Mike Van Der Heever, 10 Hugh Norcross, 11 Ronan Colleran, 12 Michael Schmidt, 13 Christian Gervais, 14 Caillan Richards, 15 Mathew Dreyer.
Referee: John Hill
UWA v Perth Bayswater at McGillivray Oval, Mt. Claremont
The Students’ indifferent start to the season continued last week with a loss to Palmyra, but they will be seeking a return to the winners’ circle this week against Perth Bayswater.
Last week Perth Bayswater became the latest team to fall to a rampaging Cottesloe, going down 41-16 at Harvey Field.
With UWA sitting only two table points ahead of Perth Bayswater, a win will give the visitors the opportunity to leapfrog UWA and keep in touch distance with the tightly contested top four.
UWA’s team is unnamed at this stage, but flyhalf Luke Burton will be out of the starting XV after joining the Australian Under 20s squad on the Gold Coast.
UWA: Not provided
Perth Bayswater: 1 Liaone Mulikihaamea, 2 Chris Kidd, 3 Ian Hendricks, 4 Jason Woolfitt, 5 Jake Buist, 6 James Eliaschewsky, 7 Jason Neale, 8 Jurrell Te Kahu (c), 9 Curtis McLean, 10 Landre Te Kahu, 11 Dylan Johnson-Timu, 12 Wynstone Cameron-Dow, 13 Wade Bryant/Sean Tamehana, 14 Zubayr Abrahams, 15 Ethan Reed
Referee: Robert Kellam
Wests Scarborough v Nedlands at Bennett Park, Scarborough
After opening the season with two close losses, West Scarborough’s season sparked to life last week with a dominant opening half to set up a 40-17 win over a previously undefeated Kalamunda.
Coach Dwayne Grace spoke during the week of consistency and will be hoping for a similar effort this weekend when they host an undefeated Nedlands.
Neddies are coming off a big 62-7 win over Wanneroo to solidify their place at the top of the Pindan Premier Grade ladder.
Stalwarts Joe Ritchie and Richard Naylor come back in for Nedlands while Cam Crowley moves back in to the centres with Fred Tuua shifting to fullback.
In what will no doubt be a physical contest, Grace has brought Dylan Parsons into flyhalf and Riley Winter takes his place in the second row ahead of Josh Katene. A notable omission is Brad Lacey, who will not play due to his selection in the Australian Under 20’s squad.
Nedlands: 1 Joe Richie, 2 Mason Pomare, 3 Mark Davies, 4 Cal Sauer, 5 Mike Egan, 6 Richard Naylor, 7 Krysten Lawrence, 8 Jason Paseta, 9 Michael Ruru, 10 David Taveta, 11 Ben Titoko, 12 Ryan Mcloud, 13 Cam Crowley, 14 Jake Wilson, 15 Fred Tuua. Res: 16 James Oddie, 17 Travis Church, 18 Steve Tong, 19 Rob Carter, 20 Jayden Scorridge, 21 Beau Hape, 22 Dylan Loversidge.
Wests Scarborough: 1 Junior Sala, 2 Conan Houkamau, 3 Ben Diaper, 4 Riley Winter, 5 Matt Obrien, 6 Thomas Goosey, 7 Kane Koteka, 8 Brad Griffiths, 9 Michael Marshal (c), 10 Dylan Parsons, 11 Sheldon Tarawa, 12 Brendan Anderson, 13 Saula Fifita, 14 Allan Wheeler, 15 Chance Bunce.
Referee: Graham Cooper
Rockingham v Wanneroo at Lark Hill Sporting Complex, Port Kennedy
Rockingham and Wanneroo will be chasing their first wins in this season’s Pindan Premier Grade when they face off at Port Kennedy.
The match should produce a hotly contested affair, with both sides eager to create some breathing space between themselves and the bottom of the ladder.
Rockingham will be loaded with confidence after coming within a point of producing the biggest upset of the year when they drew with last year’s premiers, Associates, at Allen Park last week.
Wanneroo will be hoping to produce an effort one step better than its narrow Round One loss to Perth Bayswater, having suffered heavy defeats in the past fortnight at the hands of heavyweights Cottesloe and Nedlands, conceding a 176-7 aggregate from the two outings.
For Wanneroo, flanker Glen Jessup comes in along with left wing Dallas Cameron.
Rockingham: 1 Farron McCoy, 2 Jason Defreitas, 3 Kyle Edwards, 4 Glynn Edwards, 5 Eric Hannsen, 6 Marcus Walker, 7 Antony Stevens, 8 Ryan Tyrell, 9 David Hacking, 10 Shaun Cooper, 11 Duane Maraki, 12 Nathan Lansdell, 13 AJ Smith, 14 Samual Russell, 15 Jason Gush.
Wanneroo: 1 Goliath Nikora, 2 Mark Cornell, 3 Steve Mangan, 4 Brian Khaemba, 5 Nathan Yoder, 6 Glen Jessup, 7 Bryan Lush, 8 Sylvo Iro, 9 Jason Stewart 10 Common Terry, 11 Dallas Cameron, 12 Puli Mafi, 13 James Ross, 14 Andrew King, 15 Casper Nell.
Referee: Alexander Ninkov
Kalamunda v Cottesloe at Hartfield Park, Forrestfield
Kalamunda will forfeit their traditional playing strip this weekend for a pink one when they take on Cottesloe at Hartfield Park.
The alternate jerseys are in aid of the club’s annual breast cancer fundraising day with all proceeds from the day going towards the Breast Cancer Foundation. The club will also have bouncy castles, face painting and raffles available throughout the day.
Kalamunda’s undefeated start to the season came to an abrupt end last weekend when they fell to Wests Scarborough.
Assistant coach Kim Malcolm indicated (post match) that an element of cockiness may have been present in the preparation, but it is certain that the Bulls will approach this week’s home game with a focus on Cottesloe.
The Gulls have swept all before them thus far this season in convincing fashion, with their closest match coming last week in a comfortable 41-16 win over Perth Bayswater.
Both teams have improved significantly over the off-season, but Kalamunda’s defence and discipline will be the key if they are to upset the rampant Cottesloe.
Kalamunda coach Josh Heke has made several changes, with prop Sui Liaga, lock Natu Moalele and right wing Henare Hira all coming into the team.
Any changes to the Cottesloe team are unknown at this stage, however, prop Ollie Hoskins will be an absentee from last week’s team as he joins the Australian Under 20’s squad on the Gold Coast.
Kalamunda: 1 Ben Rumble, 2 Aaron Minett, 3 Sui Liaga, 4 Mike Muave, 5 Natu Moalele, 6 Shaun Skiba, 7 Tali Leasuasu, 8 Anare Kolivau, 9 Ryan Black 10. Tane Puki, 11 Quintin Tufoua, 12 Kane Allen, 13 Preston Elama, 14 Henare Hira, 15 Gray Gardiner
Cottesloe: Not provided
Referee: James Sherriff
Saturday, 27 April, 2013
Kick-off times:
First Grade: 3.30pm
Reserve Grade: 1.55pm
Under 20s: 12.35pm
Under 18s: 11.15
Third Grade 12.35pm (Field 2)
Fourth Grade: 1.55pm (Field 2)
Fifth Grade: 3.05 (Field 2)
Emirates Western Force players playing this round:
Palmyra: Will Tupou, Salesi Manu
Cottesloe: Sam Christie
Wanneroo: Tetera Faulkner