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By RugbyWA Media
Contributors: Josh Zimmerman
Nedlands vs University
The Forseshore – 3.30pm
First round: University 17 – 24 Nedlands
With their 26 – 8 victory over Wests Subiaco on the weekend University has now strung together four wins in the row and risen to second on the ladder. On current form they would have to be considered among the best teams in the competition and will relish the opportunity to test themselves against leaders Nedlands at The Foreshore on Saturday.
Nedlands returned to the winner’s circle in round 10 but their 17 – 10 victory over a Cottesloe side that has now lost five on the trot was less then emphatic and Tony Ball’s side will need to lift considerably if they are to stop Uni’s hot streak and maintain their ten point lead at the top of the ladder.
The first meeting between these sides back in round two was close and if not for a couple of lapses in concentration Uni may well have taken the points on the day. UWA have improved considerably since then while Neddies have lost some of their aura of late and an upset could well be on the cards.
Wests Subiaco vs Palmyra
Rosalie Park – 3.30pm
First round: Palmyra 17 – 21 Wests Subiaco
Palmyra has quietly gone about its business accumulating 6 wins so far this season the most recent of which was a 29 – 7 drubbing of Associates at Tompkins Park. John Taylor’s side, currently fourth, has found its groove and firmly established itself as a contender this season.
Wests Subiaco, currently third, also has six wins and are one of only two sides that can lay claim to having stopped the Nedland’s juggernaut in 2011. However they were comprehensively outplayed in the wet by Uni on the weekend and will need to pray for sunshine, or improve their handling in the rain, if they are going to continue to play the run and stun style that has been so effective for them thus far this campaign.
Wests’ backline has proven it can score from anywhere on the park and they will need to be in killer form if they are to challenge Palmyra who, with only 148 points conceded so far this year, is the top defensive side in the competition.
Associates vs Wanneroo
Allen Park – 3.30pm
First round: Wanneroo 26 – 26 Associates
Wanneroo has recovered from a slow start to the year to win their last four and surge within a sniff of the top four. The Roo Dogs are fifth with just percentage keeping them out of a finals position. Their 32 – 29 win over Kalamunda on the weekend was the latest in a string of close victories and Elwee Prinsloo will be happy with the knack his side is showing for winning the tight ones.
Associates has shown promise at times this year with convincing wins over Kalamunda and Perth Bayswater but perhaps tellingly has beaten only one of the teams that currently occupy the top five spots on the ladder, that win coming all the way back in round one against Palmyra. Currently seventh, Soaks are not out of the running yet but will need to start beating the top sides if they are to enter finals consideration.
These sides played out the only draw of the year to date when they met in round two but neither will be happy to share the points for a second time this season.
Perth Bayswater vs Kalamunda
Pat O’Hara Reserve – 3.30pm
First round: Kalamunda 17 – 19 Perth Bayswater
After a fairytale start to the year Perth Bayswater have fallen off the pace of late and just aren’t displaying the same swagger that delivered them four wins from the opening six rounds 2011. A poor showing against Rockingham on the weekend on their way to a 3 – 23 loss hasn’t helped matters and Baysie (6th) need to quickly rediscover their mojo if they are to break back in to the top half of the table.
Kalamunda has struggled this year and is currently at the bottom of the log but the Bulls played with a lot of heart in a close loss to Wanneroo on the weekend and opposition sides will be wary of labeling this side an easy beat as their tenacity and fighting spirit mean they are capable of challenging anyone on their day.
Perth Bayswater will be targeting this game as a must win if they are to spark their season back into life while Kalamunda will be fired up and out for blood after just falling short in their last start.
Rockingham vs Cottesloe
Lark Hill Complex – 3.30pm
First round: Cottesloe 48 – 26 Rockingham
Cottesloe are a far cry from the team that finished second in 2010 and the Seagulls must be wondering what went gone wrong after round five which is the last time that the side won a game. Cott (9th) showed improvement, especially to their porous defense, in a close loss on the weekend to Neddies but have a long way to go if they are to have any chance of making finals in 2011.
Rockingham has also struggled for consistency so far but was impressive in its win over Perth Bayswater on the weekend and has pushed a number of sides this year. After ten rounds Rocky find themselves in eighth but will be confident of making a run up the ladder if they can play the way they did against Baysie on a regular basis.
Lark Hill is not an easy ground to travel to and Cottesloe may find it difficult to back up their effort against Nedlands from the previous round. Rockingham has momentum on its side and so the home team must start as favourites in this one.
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