University punished Rockingham with a big second half to run out comfortable 34-23 winners at McGillivray Oval in the RugbyWA match of the round, sponsored by KWIK Crane and Transport Hire.

Rockingham led 20-19 after a mostly even, see-saw first half where they had slightly more possession and looked better with the ball in hand, but Uni's rolling maul proved lethal close to the line.

To show that the rugby competition is not just about this year's top four sorting out their finals positions, University and Rockingham turned on a powerful and passionate battle for mid-table honours in which the lead changed hands a number of times before the home side finally took control.

University enjoyed the best possible start, securing a lineout 15 metres out from Rockingham's line after two minutes. The forwards pushed up in a rolling maul and the ball went out to inside centre Stephan Grobler who slipped through weak defence to score closer to the posts. Wing Levon Kvas-Rothwell added the fairly easy conversion for an early 7-0 lead.

From the kick-off, Rockingham moved into Uni territory and flyhalf Dan Penny landed a similar penalty goal to narrow the lead 7-3 after six minutes. Kvas-Rothwell narrowly missed the chance to restore University's margin with a penalty attempt a minute later.

Both teams ran the ball willingly although continuity was not always there to capitalise. Rockingham had slightly more possession and turned over a couple of University's ruck balls but there wasn't much in it.

After 20 minutes Rockingham won a lineout in their own half and wing Jordan Walsh came into the line and sliced through Uni's defence, handing out to bulky centre Tame Rereiti who bounced his tackler off and sprinted through to score beside the posts. Penny added the extras and the visitors hit the front 10-7.

Five minutes later University knocked on in Rocky's 22 but turned over the home side's scrum ball and the forwards poured ahead, crashing over Rockingham's line, number eight Jeremy Smith claiming the try wide of the posts. Kvas-Rothwell slotted the difficult conversion and the side was back in front 14-10.

The lead was short-lived though, Rockingham centre James Dougal -- newly returned to the southern club after a brief sojourn with Nedlands -- racing down the touch line and coming around to touch down under the bar. Penny converted the sitter to take back the lead 17-14.

The helter skelter pace continued after 33 minutes when Uni won a penalty in Rocky's 22 for not rolling away. University kicked for touch ten metres from the line and their forwards powered ahead in yet another rolling maul, openside flanker Ted Postal claiming the try. Kvas-Rothwell's touchline conversion attempt was narrowly astray but the home was again in front 19-17.

But Penny landed a huge 55 metre penalty goal from the touchline to take the visitors into the break with a narrow 20-19 lead.

By contrast to the first half, the second spell started with a long dour struggle as University dominated territory but couldn't finish to score. But after 17 minutes of thumping away they mutilated a Rockingham defensive scrum ten metres out and reserve number 8 Cain O'Connor scooped up the ball and charged over for the bonus point try close to the posts. Kvas-Rothwell obliged with the conversion and the home side were back in front again 26-20.

Penny pegged back the lead five minutes later with a penalty goal from the 22 when Uni failed to retreat 10, and the visitors threatened to break loose several times but Uni kept the pressure on, driving Rockingham back with long kicks.

A penalty lineout in the corner after 26 minutes looked like a perfect recipe for a trademark rolling maul but instead University sent the ball the width of the park at speed where wing Matt Johnson raced in for a try in the corner unopposed. The touchline conversion missed but at 31-23 the home side looked on the way to a worthy win.

Uni hammered back into Rocky's 22 but after several more rolling mauls and scrums bore no fruit, the home side settled for a simple penalty goal to flyhalf Ryan deFranck with six minutes to play and a 34-23 lead.

University controlled play for the closing minutes to bring home a solid and well-deserved bonus point win.

In other games, competition leaders Nedlands scored an important 28-14 win over Kalamunda at Sir Charles Court Reserve, dropping the Bulls to fifth place; third-placed Palmyra added to Wanneroo's woes with a hefty 36-13 thumping at Tompkins Park, leaving the Roo-dogs well adrift of the action in sixth place; Premiers Cottesloe could manage only a 20-16 win over a competitive Wests-Subiaco at Harvey Field, and Associates rose to fourth place with a 33-15 win over Perth-Bayswater at Allen Park.
By Rick Boyd

http://rugbywa.com.au/news/article,58378.html